Dual-boot Mac/Windows?

Hondamaker · 04-26-2007, 01:59 AM

I was wondering, since Apple now uses Intel processors and such, is it possible to install OS X on an Intel board? Can I install the Mac OS on a custom built PC, or dual-boot from one? Can I now easily build a Mac?

**k0NG0** · 04-26-2007, 08:19 AM

Nope.

Hondamaker · 04-27-2007, 01:35 PM

Well, how does one build an OS X machine? Surely it can be done.

**pointreyes** · 04-27-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondamaker

Well, how does one build an OS X machine? Surely it can be done.

It's illegal to install OS X on non-Apple equipment, per Apple. AFAIK, yes it can be done but to do so will require searching the web - this is one of those places where posting the information here on ABX could get ABX in trouble with Apple.

Hondamaker · 04-27-2007, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointreyes

It's illegal to install OS X on non-Apple equipment, per Apple. AFAIK, yes it can be done but to do so will require searching the web - this is one of those places where posting the information here on ABX could get ABX in trouble with Apple.

Hmm, I did not know that (using Johnny Carson voice). Apple needs to lighten up a bit!

**k0NG0** · 04-27-2007, 02:30 PM

OK, well, it can be done as far as installing a patched OS X. But it's a clear breach of the EULA of OS X, so it's essentially illegal (even if you do buy OS X over the counter).

Tying OS X to Apple's branded hardware is their whole business model. It's very comfortable, since they have absolute control over which hardware will work together with the OS, so they can do serious (I do mean serious) driver torture testing and such, ensuring that they will have as little problem with the hardware/software interface as possible. Making for a more stable system altogether.

On a PC, you have bajillions of drivers and hardware (a very heterogeneous platform, despite the standardized protocols and interfaces) and in many cases Microsoft get the blame for a crashing Windows when it's poorly written drivers or malfunctioning hardware that's the real problem.

Making so you can run OS X on any PC means there's less incentive to buy Apple hardware (which makes up a large part of the revenue) and exposes OS X to the bajillion pieces of hardware, which will as time goes by mean they get blamed for "OS problems" that really are driver/hardware problems.

It's a shame, but makes a fair amount of sense to isolate use of OS X. Besides, I'm pretty sure you could buy the cheapest Mac Mini for about as much as you'd have to pay for OS X alone, anyway. Or thereabouts. (Or not at all, I'm not sure... Heh.)

**pointreyes** · 04-27-2007, 03:17 PM

OS X is $129. A refurb MAC Mini is around $400 or more. I like my MAC Mini and for $400 you get more than just the OS. I purchased mine straight from Apple; however, at this time it does not appear that they have any refurbs in stock.

**k0NG0** · 04-27-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointreyes

OS X is $129. A refurb MAC Mini is around $400 or more. I like my MAC Mini and for $400 you get more than just the OS. I purchased mine straight from Apple; however, at this time it does not appear that they have any refurbs in stock.

That cheap, huh? $129, not bad at all... I guess my estimate was clouded in a Microsoft haze...

**pointreyes** · 04-27-2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kONGO

That cheap, huh? $129, not bad at all... I guess my estimate was clouded in a Microsoft haze...

I don't know about cheap but better than other prices for Apple hardware.

$129 for the OS is good. Unlike MS - you can get the family pack (5 licenses) for $199.

**k0NG0** · 04-27-2007, 03:36 PM

Yeah, they do offset some of the cost by forcing the use of higher priced hardware, true.

I do think $129 for a full featured OS that's pretty much on par with, or one step ahead of, Vista, with a great bundle of software, is pretty cheap. If Vista cost $129 and didn't have WGA and activation, I think we'd see a lot less piracy, to be honest.

SpeedDMN · 04-27-2007, 04:19 PM

I wont dispute that a Mac + OS X may be more stable then a windows platform and may be ideal for some end users that have to call tech support to open an e-mail (my mother comes to mind), but there is too little software available for Mac IMHO and what you do find is often expensive. I can't think of a reason I personally would ever get one.

Hondamaker · 04-28-2007, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kONGO

OK, well, it can be done as far as installing a patched OS X. But it's a clear breach of the EULA of OS X, so it's essentially illegal (even if you do buy OS X over the counter).

Tying OS X to Apple's branded hardware is their whole business model. It's very comfortable, since they have absolute control over which hardware will work together with the OS, so they can do serious (I do mean serious) driver torture testing and such, ensuring that they will have as little problem with the hardware/software interface as possible. Making for a more stable system altogether.

On a PC, you have bajillions of drivers and hardware (a very heterogeneous platform, despite the standardized protocols and interfaces) and in many cases Microsoft get the blame for a crashing Windows when it's poorly written drivers or malfunctioning hardware that's the real problem.

Making so you can run OS X on any PC means there's less incentive to buy Apple hardware (which makes up a large part of the revenue) and exposes OS X to the bajillion pieces of hardware, which will as time goes by mean they get blamed for "OS problems" that really are driver/hardware problems.

It's a shame, but makes a fair amount of sense to isolate use of OS X. Besides, I'm pretty sure you could buy the cheapest Mac Mini for about as much as you'd have to pay for OS X alone, anyway. Or thereabouts. (Or not at all, I'm not sure... Heh.)

Kongo,
I guess that makes good (business) sense.

SpeedDMN, I agree with you, but I would like to run both a windows and a Mac, either on 2 machines or as a dual-boot on 1, but I guess the latter is not gonna happen!

SpeedDMN · 04-28-2007, 01:37 AM

You can run OS X on a PC but it is a little involved especially if you actually want to run it native instead of an emulation (yes it can be done). If you really want to run OS X on one of two machines, I would suggest that one of them is a Mac.

sandman55 · 04-28-2007, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kONGO

If Vista cost $129 and didn't have WGA and activation, I think we'd see a lot less piracy, to be honest.

I agree and why do they have so many versions of Vista? A person gets a lesser version then has to dig his hand in his pocket for better functionality. I wont be in a hurry to buy Vista

jenih_a · 07-09-2007, 04:38 AM

easy [: youtube.com/watch?v=nNZi5fLpqus and
youtube.com/watch?v=EXqTHNwTbQc&mode=related&search=

04-26-2007, 01:59 AM	#1
Hondamaker Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sidney, OHIO Posts: 246	Dual-boot Mac/Windows? I was wondering, since Apple now uses Intel processors and such, is it possible to install OS X on an Intel board? Can I install the Mac OS on a custom built PC, or dual-boot from one? Can I now easily build a Mac? __________________
(Offline)

04-26-2007, 08:19 AM	#2
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,630	Nope. __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
(Offline)

04-27-2007, 01:35 PM	#3
Hondamaker Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sidney, OHIO Posts: 246	Well, how does one build an OS X machine? Surely it can be done. __________________
(Offline)

04-27-2007, 02:30 PM	#6
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,630	OK, well, it can be done as far as installing a patched OS X. But it's a clear breach of the EULA of OS X, so it's essentially illegal (even if you do buy OS X over the counter). Tying OS X to Apple's branded hardware is their whole business model. It's very comfortable, since they have absolute control over which hardware will work together with the OS, so they can do serious (I do mean serious) driver torture testing and such, ensuring that they will have as little problem with the hardware/software interface as possible. Making for a more stable system altogether. On a PC, you have bajillions of drivers and hardware (a very heterogeneous platform, despite the standardized protocols and interfaces) and in many cases Microsoft get the blame for a crashing Windows when it's poorly written drivers or malfunctioning hardware that's the real problem. Making so you can run OS X on any PC means there's less incentive to buy Apple hardware (which makes up a large part of the revenue) and exposes OS X to the bajillion pieces of hardware, which will as time goes by mean they get blamed for "OS problems" that really are driver/hardware problems. It's a shame, but makes a fair amount of sense to isolate use of OS X. Besides, I'm pretty sure you could buy the cheapest Mac Mini for about as much as you'd have to pay for OS X alone, anyway. Or thereabouts. (Or not at all, I'm not sure... Heh.) __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
(Offline)

04-27-2007, 03:17 PM	#7
pointreyes The race for quality has no finish line- so technically, it's more like a death march. Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 18,159	OS X is $129. A refurb MAC Mini is around $400 or more. I like my MAC Mini and for $400 you get more than just the OS. I purchased mine straight from Apple; however, at this time it does not appear that they have any refurbs in stock. __________________
(Offline)

04-27-2007, 03:36 PM	#10
k0NG0 Remembering TQ Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 13,630	Yeah, they do offset some of the cost by forcing the use of higher priced hardware, true. I do think $129 for a full featured OS that's pretty much on par with, or one step ahead of, Vista, with a great bundle of software, is pretty cheap. If Vista cost $129 and didn't have WGA and activation, I think we'd see a lot less piracy, to be honest. __________________ Use Firefox - "the one that blocks all the schmutz" Feeling multicore elation? Remember this correlation: Amdahl's Law.
(Offline)

04-27-2007, 04:19 PM	#11
SpeedDMN Silicon Avatar Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hyde Park, NY Posts: 2,927	I wont dispute that a Mac + OS X may be more stable then a windows platform and may be ideal for some end users that have to call tech support to open an e-mail (my mother comes to mind), but there is too little software available for Mac IMHO and what you do find is often expensive. I can't think of a reason I personally would ever get one. __________________
(Offline)

04-28-2007, 01:37 AM	#13
SpeedDMN Silicon Avatar Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hyde Park, NY Posts: 2,927	You can run OS X on a PC but it is a little involved especially if you actually want to run it native instead of an emulation (yes it can be done). If you really want to run OS X on one of two machines, I would suggest that one of them is a Mac. __________________
(Offline)

07-09-2007, 04:38 AM	#15
jenih_a Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1	easy [: youtube.com/watch?v=nNZi5fLpqus and youtube.com/watch?v=EXqTHNwTbQc&mode=related&search=
(Offline)

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