Run Mac OS X on PC Hardware

[rhoenix]

First, the blurb from /.:

An anonymous reader points out Gizmodo's review of a USB dongle, made by a company called Efix, which allows for an effort-free transformation of a non-Apple computer into one that runs Mac OS X. According to the reviewer, the transformation is perfect (aside from a few quirks he describes as "trivial"); the included screenshots sure make it seem that way, too. The dongle costs $155, and works only on a subset of PC hardware. Non-Apple machines running OS X will no doubt make Apple unhappy, though, so, the reviewer concludes, "it's understandable if you wanna approach this with caution."

According to the linked review, it appeared to work flawlessly (even with updates), apart from the 2 minute initial boot-up times.

The downside to this EFiX dongle is that its only compatible with a small set of PC hardware:

CPU's:
Intel® CoreTM2 Extreme Processors
Intel® CoreTM2 Quad Processors
Intel® CoreTM2 Duo Processors
Intel® Pentium® dual-core Processors: E2xx0
Intel® Celeron® dual-core Processors: E1200
Intel® Celeron® Processors: 420, 430, 440.
Intel® 45nm Multi-Core Processors
Intel® AtomTM Processors
Intel® XeonTM Processors

VIDEO CARDS (nVidia):
Geforce 7300 GS *
Geforce 7300 GT *
Geforce 7600 GS *
Geforce 7600 GT *
Geforce 7800 GT *
Geforce 7800 GTX *
Geforce 7900 GS *
Geforce 7900 GT *
Geforce 7950 GT *
Geforce 8800 GS **
Geforce 8800 GT **
Geforce 8800 GTS (320/640 mb)
Geforce 8800 GTS 512 mb **
Geforce 8800 GTX
Geforce 8800 Ultra
Quattro FX 5600

VIDEO CARDS (ATI):
Radeon HD 2600 XT
Radeon HD 3870 **

* Maximum VRam size 256 MB
** after updating to Mac OS X 10.5.2

MOTHERBOARDS (Gigabyte):
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3P
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS4
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS4
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS4P
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS5
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DQ6
Gigabyte GA-EP45-EXTREME

WIRELESS LAN:
U.S. Robotics PCI Adapter 5417 WLAN 125Mbit
D-Link DWA-547 RangeBooster N
Dynex DX-BNBC

SOUNDCARDS:
SoundCards based on ALC889A codec
USB Audio
M-Audio USB Sonica Theater 7.1 channel
Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit External (USB)
Speedlink USB Audiocard
Griffin iMic External Sound Card

HDD/CD-ROM/DVD-ROM:
Only SATA Devices AHCI required, No PATA Supported

Well. This certainly has me rethinking my computer purchase.

[B4UTRUST]

Question: Why would anyone want to ruin a perfectly good normal PC by desecrating it with the mark of the Cult of Jobs?

[rhoenix]

Question: Why would anyone want to ruin a perfectly good normal PC by desecrating it with the mark of the Cult of Jobs?

So you can smirkingly use OS X in a dual- (or triple-)boot scheme without paying the Apple Tax for one of their overpriced computers?

[B4UTRUST]

Or I could skip that whole step and smirkingly use an OS that wasn't designed by Crapintosh and avoid paying the Stuckup Condescending Asshole Cultist Tax for one of their overpriced pieces of shit.

[rhoenix]

Or I could skip that whole step and smirkingly use an OS that wasn't designed by Crapintosh and avoid paying the Stuckup Condescending Asshole Cultist Tax for one of their overpriced pieces of shit.

Ok, so don't.

For the people who don't have a bias one way or another however, something like this would be rather useful, as long as Apple doesn't do their usual "Kill it with lawyers" tactic.

[The Cleric]

Apple really doesn't have much advantage over PC anymore, and FAR less in the way of games.

[rhoenix]

Apple really doesn't have much advantage over PC anymore, and FAR less in the way of games.

Having used Mac OS X 10.4 on my Powerbook G4 (the only Apple I've ever owned) for the past two years, I can agree with the latter, but not the former.

Quite honestly, I view OS X basically as a professionally-designed window manager for *nix - nothing more, and nothing less.

I'm fully aware that I can install Linux, install Enlightenment DR17 and Compiz, and have basically the same sorts of effects and "shinies" available in OS X (if not far better), without the Apple headaches.

The main reason I'm interested in this is that purchasing one would allow me to buy a desktop PC as my next computer (instead of a laptop) that would be able to triple-boot into Linux, Windows, and OS X.

The resiliency of the dongle device, and what Apple will do about it remain the unresolved questions.

[rhoenix]

Another user on another forum pointed out that a random update later on from Apple could in theory break the system, and the update wouldn't even have to be maliciously-aimed to do so.

Though my current laptop has been good to me, I'm certainly not set on getting another Apple at this point.

[B4UTRUST]

that and the last people who tried to jailbreak apple's OS-X onto a PC platform were sued by Apple until there was nothing left...

[rhoenix]

that and the last people who tried to jailbreak apple's OS-X onto a PC platform were sued by Apple until there was nothing left...

Red herring. Psystar was actually making Apple clones.

[The Cleric]

Macs are pricey, hard to work on, have limited software and hardware options, and are almost entirely non-upgradeable. And their speed is no faster than a well-taken care of PC; it's a computer with training wheels and no balls.

[Ace Pace]

Macs are pricey, hard to work on, have limited software and hardware options, and are almost entirely non-upgradeable. And their speed is no faster than a well-taken care of PC; it's a computer with training wheels and no balls.

Wrong. It's a computer for people who want to use it for daily home tasks. You know, browsing, writing emails, managing picture collections, chatting. For that, it's far simpler. It just works. All Apple software integrates with each other perfectly. If I drag an image to Mail, it's automatically an email with the attachment, if I want to edit stuff around, it's all built in.

The true value is really the "It Just Works.", I get an Apple Laptop, I don't have to worry about loads of programs, I just open it up and open it. Safari is easily Firefoxs equivilent (shame Opera for OS X is..lame) if not stabler.
If someone isn't a gamer (and even if he is, Parralels now supports GPU virtual), it's a perfectly legitimate option.

[rhoenix]

The one downside I'm seeing so far is the cost.

I'm including these following links mostly for my own research, but I'm also posting them for the morbidly curious.

Guide to install OS X on x86

HCL for OSX86

The main thing I'm looking for with the above links is seeing how stable this is. If its as I suspect and the answer is "not very," I'll just save up for a Macbook Pro.

Otherwise, it'll likely be Lenovo or Dell.

[Ace Pace]

Just...avoid hackintoshs. Not because they might not work now, but for the lack of garuntee they'll work in two years. Because really, do you want to spend your time making sure the rig is stable and figuring out odds and ends, or just bloody use it?

[rhoenix]

Just...avoid hackintoshs. Not because they might not work now, but for the lack of garuntee they'll work in two years. Because really, do you want to spend your time making sure the rig is stable and figuring out odds and ends, or just bloody use it?

Good point.

Time to start saving, then.

[Ace Pace]

What I mostly reccomend is spend a day trying laptops at some local place you can actually use them without paying for them, seeing what you prefer. Sure, that delays things but you're not buying now anyway are you?