Torvalds, who initially created Linux for the Intel x86 platform, revealed to the Linux Kernel Mailing List in February during a discussion on kernel size reduction that his main desktop machine no longer featured an x86 processor. Hence, Torvalds said, a patch specific to the x86 platform that he was submitting to the list for consideration was totally untested.
Builder AU's sister site, ZDNet AustraliaÃ, was intrigued by this remark, and sought to question Torvalds on why the man who has single-handedly revolutionised the use of Unix on the x86 platform would move away from it, and where he had moved to.
Torvald's response came quickly and succinctly. "My main machine these days is a dual 2GHz G5 (aka PowerPC 970) - it's physically a regular Apple Mac, although it obviously only runs Linux, so I don't think you can call it a Mac any more ;)" he said.
"As to the why ... Part of it is simply that I wanted to try something else, and I felt like there were enough people testing the x86 side that it certainly didn't need me. Part of it is that I personally believe there are two main architectures out there: Power and x86-64 are what _I_ think are the two most relevant ones, and I decided that I had to at least check the other side of it out seriously if I really believed that," said Torvalds.
However the kernel guru stopped any potential accusations of favouritism in their tracks, saying: "And don't read anything really deep into that - Linux supports 20+ architectures, and the fact that I personally think that two of them are more likely to be the most relevant really doesn't mean all that much. It's just a personal quirk of mine."
But it turns out that the man who created a revolutionary operating system which he initially described as "just a hobby, won't be big and professional like GNU", is probably not all that different from any other technology enthusiast.
"Oh, and part of it is that I got the machine for free," said Torvalds, "I'm really a technology whore."
1
Dr. A. Avots - 10/03/05
OK, and WHO the hell really cares about THAT??? Come back to the Earth!
» Report offensive content
2
Jason Oksanen - 10/03/05
The man is a genius and he created the kernel. It is but one small piece of the system in whole. Please see www.gnu.org and get your facts straight and give credit where credit is due when you talk about the origin of the GNU/Linux operating system. A kernel is next to useless without programs to run on top.
» Report offensive content
3
a - 10/03/05
He doesn't say whether he's using Mac OS X along with Linux though
» Report offensive content
4
Allen Crider - 10/03/05
Actually, he does say that it only runs Linux.
» Report offensive content
5
Pietro Pesci Feltri - 10/03/05
Ok, Linus saw the light :)
Seriously, I am a PowerPC user runing Linux fro 5 years ago, and Power arch has Pros and Cons.
--------------------------------------------
Pros:
Apple quality is likely the best on the market. My machis has 5 years old and runing like a charm. For my work I got an HP vectra 2 years ago but I experienced some Hardware failures.
Fantastic design and good looking. For some people that thing matters.
Don have money to get a dual G5 (64 bits) and test but that machine must be really fast.
---------------------------------------------
Cons:
Software availability in some cases is a big problem, x86 users can hold the hope Linus come back by this.
Apple is not so open, some Hardware specification remains obscure.
----------------------------------------------
This move from Linus is very wellcomed for Power users, may be some software companies take a note.
Please Linus, stay with us a while!!!!!
Pietro Pesci Feltri
» Report offensive content
6
Sid Boyce - 10/03/05
With IBM jettisoning their PC (x86) buisiness with strong hints that Power PC is about to enter mainstream, I can see even me adding it to my x86 and x86_64 home farm probably as my next purchase. Although I run Solaris 10 on SPARC also, I'm middle of the road platform agnostic. If it will run Linux, is price competitive and performs, few should care.
» Report offensive content
7
Sid Boyce - 10/03/05
With IBM jettisoning their PC (x86) buisiness with strong hints that Power PC is about to enter mainstream, I can see even me adding it to my x86 and x86_64 home farm probably as my next purchase. Although I run Solaris 10 on SPARC also, I'm middle of the road platform agnostic. If it will run Linux, is price competitive and performs, few should care.
» Report offensive content
8
Gab from Paris - 10/03/05
The problem with this article is the topic. Torvalds switched to a PowerPC arch machine. Saying he switched to Apple Mac is like saying it switched to a Dell or HP machine.
The topic should of been "Linux creator Torvalds now runs Linux on PPC (Apple G5 - PowerPC 970).
» Report offensive content
9
richard - 10/03/05
Which version is he running? YellowDog?
» Report offensive content
10
me - 11/03/05
Yeah, I'd be interested in knowing what he uses. I have Debian running on the PPC.It's a good inquiry. I'd like to know what he runs.
» Report offensive content
11
djc - 12/03/05
My guess would be Linus uses LFS... without the guide.
» Report offensive content
12
weakish - 02/07/08
In a recent talk, Linus said he have used fedora on his Power PC machine.
» Report offensive content