How to keep the PPC iBook up to date on browser--Linux or what else?

Question

Folks:
Got two older PPC units that I'd like to keep going forever; just went through what would be the ultimate updates for my usual browsers--Camino, Sea Monkey, FF--as far as 10.4.11 will take me. I figure that in 6 months or so those browsers will begin to not provide total functionality on web sites as they do when I don't do the regular updates. I spent a little time looking into Linux, including Ubuntu which on the boot CD was OK, but when I tried to install on an external HD I got an error code . . . . Any other options in terms of installing an open source program to run next to 10.4.11 that would let me update browsers to current security but still have the user friendliness of OSX? Mostly it's about checking emails on the two 10.4.11 units and I'm satisfied with what they do, but wondering if there's a way to not partition the HD and yet be able to run a Linux version of the browser? I've heard that "OSX is Unix, which is Linux" but I'm a GUI driver kinda guy and wondering what KDE or BSD would mean as far as getting to newer browsers, at least. Would rather not buy a PPC Leopard install disc, wasn't too impressed with the wife's Leopard computer, seemed buggy. Any user friendly GUI options for PPC that could be had for . . . ah, "open source" type prices? Also looking at Debian Squeeze and/or the Squeeze with MintPPC option, but I'd like to test them on an external HD boot before installing on the computer; is that possible to do? Thanks.
e.e.p.

Answer 1

Linc Davis wrote:
 I really can't tell you anything about Linux. What I would suggest is this: Install Xcode, or the Developer Tools, from the media that came with the iBook, and then install Fink from here:
http://www.finkproject.org/
Once you've done that, you can build reasonably up-to-date versions of X11, KDE and/or Gnome, and most of the usual Linux applications, which will indeed run alongside the Mac OS. In fact, I think you can run X11 full-screen, which will make your iBook almost indistinguishable from a Linux box, but it will still be a Mac.
@LD, et al:
I just wanted to post back on this topic, over a year later to update the process that I've gone through since then.  Quickly I'd have to say that the "fink" idea was not worth the time and effort that I went through and within a short period of time fink was ejected . . . as not practical.  Firstly it took some 8 hours to try to install the system, and then every 3 hours or so some dependencies would break and I'd have to post a question on the fink forum and basically received some very condescending attitudes . . . especially considering how busted up fink was for ppc . . . .  Secondly, by the Fall of 2011 it looked like fink was no longer supporting PPC, meaning that even if after the many hours of having the processor spinning madly to install . . . it would no longer be update-able and therefore it defeated the purpose of finding a long term system that would continue to work with my PPC computers . . . .  I would simply say topeople looking for the upgrade-able browser in PPC to not go in the direction of fink . . . I guess unless you know exactly how it all works . . . .
I then started looking at Linux distros, Ubunutu, Debian, MintPPC . . . the moderator at MintPPC was very helpful in terms of offering help on his forum to get it set up . . . each of those distros is based on debian anyway.  I partitioned my HD in Disc Utility, reinstalled OSX using CCC and then installed MintPPC, which took 4 hours using netinstall CD.  I did that first in my iBook . . . needed to install the proper Xorg.conf file and a few other things to get wireless working and things seemed to be going well . . . .  The iMac was very difficult to get a working Linux OS . . . many hours to try to get a system working . . . eventually I went to a straight Debian Wheezy system on the iMac and it was working OK until the recent system upgrades . . . .  I eventually switched the iBook over to Deb Wheezy running next to an OSX partition and only proble is wireless right now . . . .  And, I've got an LMDE  Linux MInt system running on my MacBookPro . . . which has been the most problem free system after a few installation hiccups . . . .  The iMac again is causing difficulties as the display drivers are proprietary . . . in spite of Apple's lack of support for the PPC computers . . . .
Ultimately, its been a learning experience . . . but a time consuming one . . . and in terms of my question, the gentleman who recommended simply using Ten4Fox probably offered the best advice--OSX does do the best job of running its computers, but unfortunately they don't offer any upgrade or support for the PPC and so the question remains, will the computer live long enough to where Linux will be necessary?  Or, will the computer expire long before the issues with Ten4Fox not allowing plug-ins would becoome a problem??  Even this AM I was trying to look at some simple powerpoint slides online and none of my OSX PPC browsers would give me a flashplayer new enough to do that . . . so it's growing closer to where less and less will be do-able by OSX 10.4.11 . . . .  But, fink is not the way for peole looking for more life out of their PPC computers . . . that much is very clear . . . .
e.e.p.