Terra Soft, which develops Linux solutions for use on Macintosh computers and sells Macs with Yellow Dog Linux pre-installed, on Wednesday announced support for bootable iPods and FireWire drives. The external devices, both of which are available from Terra Soft, contain a full installation of Yellow Dog Linux on a partition, enabling users to add their applications, data and /home directory information and boot from any G4 or G5 computer while leaving internal drives unchanged.
The company sells the standard 20GB iPod and the 30GB or 60GB iPod photo with Yellow Dog Linux pre-installed for US$388.95, $438.95 and $538.95, respectively. LaCie Porsche FireWire drives with Yellow Dog Linux pre-installed are available in 40GB, 160GB and 250GB capacities for $226.98, $229.98 and $278.98, respectively. The 40GB LaCie drive is a pocket model while the other two are full-size 5.25-inch drives.
A hybrid Yellow Dog Linux 4.0.1 #1 install CD contains the operating system changes required to use the bootable iPods and FireWire drives. Terra Soft notes that users with YDL.net Enhanced accounts — which add Web space and early access to Terra Soft products to the lifetime e-mail offered by YDL.net Basic accounts — can immediately obtain the new version.
4:45 P.M. EST, 3/14/05: Fixed pricing of LaCie drives per phone call from Terra Soft.