"Legal" Apple OS X "Hackintosh"

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

J

j2400

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
370
A while back, someone around here posted a question about making a "Hackintosh." I found an article mentioning that talks about a new method (not brand new, but I haven't heard of it before) that's said to be more legal than the older methods, since it doesn't involve any hacking of the actual OS X install disk.

Of course, there is still that pesky EULA which insists that OS X be run on an Apple branded computer....

LINK:

Building a Hackintosh Apple Can’t Sue You For – OSnews

www.osnews.com www.osnews.com
 
Leopard runs very nicely on Acer Aspire Ones...

Several of my students who need to run Mac software but can't afford to pay 3x more for a laptop run this...

And, here in the EU, that stupid little clause in their software contract is null and void. Hah!

I won't post the link here because there are always those out there who feel the need to "defend" apple and I don't want to start a flame war on the topic.

But a quick Google search involving the words
mechdrew oldguide leopard
will reveal muchos interessantos...

5-31-2009-03-41-3--panthera.jpg
 
Panthera . . .

That's funny, wanting to run Apple software on a regular computer! In my experience it's usually the other way around, since there's a lot of software that won't run on an Apple. When I had both kinds of computers I loved the Apple hardware: it was beautifully made, very quiet, and lovely to look at. However, that didn't make up for the shortcomings of the software and lack of applications so I eventually gave up on it.
 
Lot's do, tho'

Many people like myself are forced vice our professions to work with apple. I loathe their self-serving marketing and the oh-so-superior-know-nothing attitude of so many apple users (not all).

So when I encounter a project requiring a MacOS program, I bite the bullet and turn on my Mac.

My students can't afford the luxury - apple over here costs far more than in the US and customer service for apple over here is worse than bad - so now that the means exist to run their OS on non-apple systems, more power to them.

It's a pity, really.

You can talk all day to Solaris, Linux, OS/2, NT, Unix, BeOS users and they'll cheerfully discuss limitations and advantages across platforms. Dare to say one thing about the holy apple and you get flamed to death.

So, yup, I heartily support anyone who strikes a blow at the Imperium.

And, to be honest, Leopard runs so nicely on Netbooks, it would be a pity not to do it to it.
 
"That's funny, wanting to run Apple software on a regular computer! In my experience it's usually the other way around, since there's a lot of software that won't run on an Apple."

With the Intel chips in new Macs, one can run more than Apple software. A lot of Mac owners now have Windows, and I've seen one MacBook running Linux.

Although I'm not sure how interested I would be in bothering to try and run "foreign" software if I had a modern Mac. Most of what I'd need is available in a OS X version. Then, again, I don't use/need anything particularly exotic, so my needs are met by any major computer platform.

"You can talk all day to Solaris, Linux, OS/2, NT, Unix, BeOS users and they'll cheerfully discuss limitations and advantages across platforms. Dare to say one thing about the holy apple and you get flamed to death."

I'm not sure this is 100% true. Apple users do tend to fight for Apple. Some might date back to when Apple was seen as a choice that no one in their right mind would make. But I have seen some Apple users who are open minded.

I have also seen a lot of close-minded users of other systems. Back when I ran Apple exclusively, I had several Windows users ask me why on earth I used Apple. I always mumbled something about software or data lock in or something. I wish I had said something like: "Oh, I don't know. I don't really want to deal with the constant crashing in Windows 98. I really don't want to support Microsoft in their apparent quest to take the world over."

More recently, I've seen some strong "Linux is the only choice" attitudes in Linux circles. Some might be a defensive hold over from when Linux was for Geeks Only.

And meanwhile, there are a few people like me, who think there might be room in the world for more than one choice, and that what really matters is that there are choices, and that one makes the best choice for one's particular needs.
 
I am new to Linux but getting the hang of it. I certainly like the idea of choice. My first computer was an Amiga, then a Win 95 desktop PC, then the Win ME era laptop I am typing on now, on which I use Puppy Linux. ME is still loaded, I use Puppy as a live CD.
I also recently bought a second hand desktop computer, P3 600 Mhz, 500 Mb ram approx. It had no OS installed. I am playing with different versions of Linux, currently Dreamlinux seems to be doing what I need. I like the look/feel of Mepis Linux but I can't get the wireless to work. I like trying the different flavours, but I must say I find a lot of linux is clunky and rough to use. For example, I haven't been able to "print selection", eg highlight a slab of text in a document and print it, rather than print the whole page. In Windows it is dead easy. I have never used a Mac but I assume it would be easy there too. I love the look of Macs, especially the new desktops, but they are very pricey.

Chris.
 
I've used some hackintosh systems and been somewhat dissapointed. A friend has an MSI Wind that runs the OS pretty well, and another has Dell Mini 9. While the OS runs nicely, the whole experience left me only lukewarm. The hardware just doesn't feel like Apple hardware.

Of course, I am spoiled by 20 years of decent hardware (admittedly, to varying degrees). I used to use a PowerComputing mac clone way back, and it felt very mac like. Wonder why we don't get that same feel on the hackintosh hardware. Proliferation of different hardware bits, maybe?

Of course, if you find a machine that makes you happy, and you can run OS X on it, more power to you. People who make hackentoshes for economic reasons often end up becoming people who purchase the real deal when they are more flush.

I agree, John - the Apple fanboys I have dealt with in the last few years have mellowed. It seems that since Apple hardware and the Mac OS has become more mainstream, the religious fanaticism regarding OSes has shifted firmly into the unix camp. I work in a 50/50 mixed environment, and our users seem to move between both systems with ease. The only people who complain at tis point are the people who want us to increase staff and find funding to install and support a THIRD operating system, something thats just not practical. Especially when no one can decide which distro they want us to support in the first place!

Kevin, I'm confused. Isn't all marketing self-serving?

Shame about the service not being as good- can't speak to that, since its different everywhere and I've not heard many stories, good or bad, about Apple service in europe.

As far as Apple hardware costing more, yeah, thats weird. I looked at both Apple online stores, US and Germany, and can't imagine why there is such a price difference. Checking on the same with Dell, there is also a markup over the cost of US prices. Are there additional taxes in europe that account for the price difference?
 
Very bad service

and very high prices.

That's apple Germany.

Goes a long way to explaining my dislike for the company and their fanboys.

Great design, but it's 2009 and time to acknowledge that that is all they have: Great design.

And Sony does that even better.
 
At this point in time, I'd say the worst fanatics (at least from my view) are probably Linux users. I've used Linux as my "modern" OS for a few years now, and even so, I'm astounded by...how extreme some people are. And the amount of in-fighting is incredible, too. ("My distro is better than yours!") I spent some time a year or so ago reading a BSD forum, and was surprised at how mellow it was. Maybe they are right--BSD is what the grownups use.

As for Hackintosh hardware quality, I think the "base" computer (often a netbook) is usually is far removed from the quality Apple has. My former roommate had a MacBook, and I was impressed by the fit and finish of that computer. The only complaint I had was keyboard--but even that's better than most other laptop keyboards. (I've been spoiled by my 1980s Apple keyboard and my 1980s IBM.) Netbooks--a common choice for a Hackintosh--just aren't as good. (Although they are a lot cheaper, and be useful. I just wouldn't want a netbook, as is, to be my one and only computer!)
 
Hmm.... I wouldn't have chosen Sony, myself. They cost almost as much as Apples, and do all that annoying stuff Apple does - Sony Style retail stores, proprietary technology (like Memory Stick). I used to like them more before the Apple shift to intel CPUs... now, not so much. I can get it all in one machine now, so there is less of a reason for me to have a separate laptop for running Windows.

They sure are pretty computers, and durable as Apple hardware. My father bought a Vaio and took it to Iraq - 2 years in the sand and its still in great shape. I wish the MacBooks were as small as some of the Sony stuff, tho.

Does anyone make a metal case (cast or stamped aluminum) netbook yet? I tried installing onto a Panasonic Toughbook but honestly... it felt a lot less tough compared to a cast aluminum 13" MacBook and it was not having Mac OS at all. If I could find a really durable little netbook that ran Mac OS I would be sold.

Still miss my Duo 2300c. :-)
 
There are several

metalcases on the market.

Some Vaio have them (one of mine finally died last year, magnesium alloy.) My Vaio always ran bog standard NT, but yes, if a computer was ever just barely within the standards, it's Sony.

Avertec (not a brand I like) has some beautifully designed aluminum alloy cases. Poor quality innards.
Celsius models from Fujitsu-Siemens were also metal, but that was a while back - I have one which has worked for eight years without a problem.

Frankly, the tough series notebooks from Toshiba are up to anything, despite "only" being plastic.
 
Plastic can be tough--a lot seems to depend (as always) on how well its engineered/built. I've heard lot people mourn the plastic Apple G3 PowerBooks as having been better built and tougher than some later models (the Titanium G4 PowerBook comes to mind).

The IBM ThinkPads were apparently great--I've never heard anything negative--and I think those were all plastic.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top