Can I dual boot Linux and OSX?
 

The title basically states the question clearly, but I was basically wondering if I can dual boot linux (openSUSE or Ubuntu) along with OSX 10.4.9 on a PPC G4.

Ubuntu, yes, suse no, at least I havent seen a ppc iso since intelmac came out. Going to be getting much harder to find common distro's that bother to compile for ppc.

uhh, openSUSE does have a ppc iso.

Ubuntu install with osx
 

I've tried to install Ubuntu (6.10) on my iMac and haven't been able to get it to run.

I put in the "live" CD and re-booted, and re-booted again holding down the C key. After a few flashes of white-ish screen I got some friendly and helpful looking instructions about just pressing <enter> and if that doesn't work, type "help" and so on. I pressed <enter> and the kernel loaded @ 019000000, 6467 Kbytes (if i remember right.) After this, it did nothing.

I turned the machine off and re-booted. For a minute or two there was a flashing square that looked like a button with an image of the Earth on it. <tab> and <enter> did nothing as far as I could tell. Then there was a folder icon flashing a "Finder" icon and then a "?" for a couple of minutes. Then osx booted up. I wanted Ubuntu to boot up. After re-booting several times, with and without holding down the C key, I realized that I can't get Ubuntu to run in any way I can use, i.e. as a "live" CD.

Maybe I'm missing something, but after Googling my fool head off, and searching for help from Ubuntu, I haven't found anything specific to my problem, nor any help I can understand how to apply. I wonder if I need a different distro.

My computer is:

Machine Name: iMac
Machine Model: PowerMac4,2
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (2.1)
Number Of CPUs: 1
CPU Speed: 800 MHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
Memory: 768 MB
Bus Speed: 100 MHz
Boot ROM Version: 4.4.1f1

I'd like to understand the basics of how installing on a Mac is different from installing on a PC. I've had success with PC installs, and I'm mystified about this Mac issue. I just don't know where to look. Help?