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HOW TO: Convert a Mac into an x86
inventgeek writes "With the recent announcements Apple
has made regarding its operating environment, Inventgeek.com
has a mod that seems rather fitting. They have converted a Mac
G3 to an Intel P4 System capable of running Windows or Linux. Full how to
is available on there site for those brave enough to bask in what many say could
be Apples greatest folly, and a
blow to Linux." Update: 06/08 17:53 GMT by T : A few further Mac-OS-X-on-Intel notes, about the new Intel development kit from Apple: Readers jimboman78 and shooflot sent in, respectively, links to (mostly positive) comments on the front page of Accelerate Your Mac and a more skeptical but equally preliminary description at Think Secret.
If and when Apple learns of this, the EULA will be modified to make any attempt to convert an Apple illegal. Time will tell.
RTFA, the description here is misleading.
The case mod for the G3 was interesting for the most part. The author includes several pictures and descriptions of the mod and is nice enough to include price points and a scale that makes no sense.
http://www.allometry.com
from the site:
So some wise guy thought that the content on this site was slashdot worthy, submitted us, and we were featured in the daily news in the hardware section. the link to the blurb on us can be found here. and yes we are working on the " spelling issues" I am a computer geek, not a english major... deal with it!
And now some wiser guy submited another story to the main page... hehe
Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
All pages (not just page 1) mirrored here. It's not as cool as Bender, but it's certainly clever. ~
"I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey
This is just another "fit a PC in a mac" mod. It has nothing to do with Apple's decision to move to Intel chips, nor is it a particularly inventive thing to do. And, ooh, he put an LED in the case. That's *classy*.
Area IV, here I am
...save yourself a few bucks and just buy an X86 box for much, much cheaper....
Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
It's just a case mod and consists of the following:
1. Buy a Mac G3
2. Through away all the electronicsy bits
3. Buy a PC
4. Put PC electronicsy bits inside the G3 case
5. Stick a Windows logo on case
6. ?
7. You are so not l33t
John.
The headline should read: "How to put an Intel based processor motherboard into a G3 chassis."
There is no "conversion" going on here.
This is no t the article you are looking for, move along.
Basically he installed a small PC into a Mac G3 case. Perhaps someone thought that the Apple demons would somehow prevent it from "Windows or Linux". But there is not much to see here.
I believe Phil Schiller said that Apple would not do anything to prevent people from running Windows on the new x86 Macs.
If that is their position on the new Macs, I doubt they would care about this at all either.
I still don't get the hooplah over this in terms of Linux usage. I see the two as being very distinct. Yes, I know OS X runs a BSD (?) variant, but it is still a vendor product. Even if I could run OSX on a whitebox system I probably wouldn't, since I know the backup and support for is going to be superior to any that Apple (single vendor) will give me.
Given that one of the major selling points of Linux (aside from the stability and lack of virus attacks) is the ability to be choosy with vendors, I can't imagine someone trading in Vendor M for Vendor A. If I were a network admin or a CIO, I'd be looking at being vendor free as much as possible.
Just my $.02 - whatever that's worth these days...
The Kai's Semi-Updated Website Thingy
It's a fucking case mod. It's like putting a dress on a man. And not in the good way that getting in touch your feminine side can.
so much confusion...
p.s. i'm being serious
-sj53
1) Buy x86 first
2) Spend $2000 less
3) Invest $2000 in MSFT
4) PROFIT!!!!
Well when you change the current macs so that they run a P4 processor... Can they still be called macs then? Isn't it a PC with a mac-case and with only one mouse button then?
This does not really convert a G3 to run with a Pentium4. It just put the new P4 mother board in the G3 case. Though, if you like windows and Mac cases, this is for you.
Also, if the G3 was working, it could run linux before "converting" it.
Coolness factor .9 - all they did was to use an old G3 case to house a Intel based PC. Now if somehow they were able to sandwitch in the new motherboard and have both the MAC hardware and PC hardware up and running in the same case..... Hummmm Idea for new project.....
Having ANOTHER story about the Apple/Intel issue, or the "humor" from that article....
I hope this is unintentional, but you just know who I thought of when I saw this picture of the Apple with MS logo.
liqbase
How is Mac OSX going to hurt Linux? I mean, people buy Macs to install Linux on them and its not like Apple is going to allow people to install OSX on commodity hardware. Apple is still a hardware company. If anything, the new machiens will just be overpriced commodity Intel gear. $500 for 512 megs of RAM, shit like that.
If anything, its hurts Microsoft bad. Linux is a server OS first, desktop second. There are far more Linux servers out there than desktops and the enterpise is looking for Linux servers to interoperate with their Windows desktops. I don't see OSX making any inroads into the Linux server market, hence, I don't see it to be a threat.
On the other hand, those company's looking to move an alternative desktop may choose OSX over Linux but might have anyway. Not to mention, in a recent survey post people choose Linux to avoid vendor lock in, which is Apple's specialty.
They didn't modify anything except the case!!
They put a P4 inside a G3 case. Nothing so extreme in there
I wouldn't mind you in my head, if you weren't so clearly mad -Lews Therin Telamon
http://www.w3sh.com/archives/2005/05/enfin_un_bon
Just as stupid and non-technical as the one the story is about, but at least i dont claim that its something cool or ingenius (like that summary of this story)
HI O WISE PRINCE. WHT TOOK U SO DAM LONG?
"NEXT WEEK ON SLASHDOT: We put a PC into.... A CARDBOARD BOX! Is there ANYPLACE that's too wacky for us to use?"
Not only is this a dupe of another lackluster "roflolol i put a pc ina mac case" story from a few months ago, but it's completely un-newsworthy on its own merits.
This is as akin "turning a mac into a PC" as "wearing Davey Crockett's hat" is to making you a raccoon.
Now, if it were something really clever, like, say, taping a camera to an R/C tank and calling it a 'basement exploring robot', that would be totally different. Why, anyone who would do that would be pure genius!
But unfortunately, I can't really wait a year or two while they transition over. And buying a current PowerBook isn't an option either--the hardware is already obsolete by PPC standards. I guess it's just a ThinkPad for me (or any other laptop with excellent Linux support).
Anyways, that is a cool case mod though.
US businesses that currently accept chip and PIN/signature
How to turn a Strongbad-computer into a Wet-computer.
With the processor change, should GNUstep change its name to "Free X86?" :)
of ignorant people prognosticating the demise of Linux. READ: It will NEVER happen. Apple's move is interesting and all, but it will change nothing. Linux has no one central owner. It is like the tide. It cannot be stopped. The ONLY negative impact this MAY have on Linux is to slow desktop adoption of Linux. The server space is the real target at the moment in any event, so it's really a moot point.
Anyone who thinks Linux is going to be damaged by this needs to realize that they have logged into reality as root. Log off now, get a grip. Log back on. Welcome to Linux.
A while ago there was a Slashdot story about how someone modded a dual G5 Mac into a PC. He said he got it as a present and wanted something which could run the software he already had. A lot of Mac fanatics attacked this as sacrilage. It was an interesting discussion. I haven't been able to find it so far though.
It's THEIR site. What fucking use is an editor that can't spell?
How to f**k a G3 case.
The right way is here: Mac-ITX (SE/30 case largely undamaged).
The wrong way is here: Wraith SE (SE case heavily modded).
It must be Windows. It needs half a gig of RAM and a hardware-accelerated graphics card just to run Solitaire.
What is the attraction of case lights? They look hideous (especially the ones in this article) and I can't imagine they don't generate heat. Why do people use these things?
Maybe I just don't get it, but what's the point?
Finance tutorials and more! Understandfinance
... to see a zillion of these articles once people get a hold of the version of OS X for intel.
People are going to mod either their box or the build of OS X to run on their dell or white box, whatever and for some reason, we're going to keep posting the same old screenshots over and over.
I understand this is slashdot, and we're all part of the geek community. However, I'm already dreading the forthcoming glut of articles on modded/hacked/whatever OS X installs.
*** For a better tommorow, change your life today ***
They have converted a Mac G3 to an Intel P4 System capable of running Windows or Linux.
WOW! a P4 that can run Windoze or Linux. Why didn't I think of that?
As if this is something new.
That's the most idiotic idea I've ever seen in my life. And I read slashdot!
Now if Apple decided to allow OSX to be run on commodity hardware, that would be threating to both windows, linux and every other OS. If Apple decided to open up the propriatary components that really define OSX, that could lead to people switching to OSX. As it stands now, the likelihood of Apple doing either is very slim.
"Full how to is available on there site for those brave enough to bask in what many say could be Apples greatest folly, and a blow to Linux."
h tml
I don't think their is any exclusivity to Apple's agreement with Intel, so conceivably some models could continue to be PowerPC/Cell based while others move to Intel. Seems like Apple would then be in a good position, if IBM's Cell processors are compelling, to keep some of its machines based on that platform. This could work out for both Apple and consumers.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2005/jun/06intel.
THEIR site ;)
Haven't we seen this with the fake of a G5 "gutted" and filled with PC parts?. Then, didn't someone do the same with a mini? (Too lazy to Google....there's a T-shirt waiting to be sold.)
The cool hack will be running OS X 10.5 (which I suppose will be the first Intel compatible version) on a PC and making work all the flakey PCI cards, printers, wireless adapters, external drives and everything else that makes using a PC such a joy.
Do that an You da man! Until then...not so much.
the future is here, it is just not evenly distributed - w. gibson
I remember they did this in 2002 and called it the rotten apple. http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MzUx
I also think what they did with the colors was a lot more interesting than this mod.
rm -rf
1. Wait 2 years.
2. Buy new Apple.
He spells so many thing correctly, yet somehow can not figure out how to spell "peel". Instead, the author of the site likes to "pill" things. How do people like this survive in the real world?
They didn't convert a mac into an x86, what they did was take the mac case, strip out all the mac innards and put x86 parts (Motherboard, CPU, Hard Drive, RAM, CD/DVD drives, power supply, etc.) into a G4 mac case. This is nothing more than a glorified case mod. If that is newsworthy, then I have a few articles for you where my friends have created x86 machines from things like 1) A teddy bear, 2) the dashboard of a car, 3) A BBQ grill, 4) And a sewing cabinet. This story should have been entitled, "Just another case mod".
... Was the section entitled "Putting it togeather[sic]". Somehow, I think I'd have a hard time following the directions of someone who couldn't properly spell the word 'together'.
BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
Notice that the web site has the same name as the user who posted that... And that is not a "conversion" in the sense that I think most people would think of, in that this was not a way to make OS X run on natively on an Intel chipset, but rather just putting a P4 into a mac chassis - big deal, and why would I want to blow my money and time doing that? I already have both a G4 and a P3, why would I want to switch them around???
...as soon as I come across a few hundred dollars that I would otherwise just flush down the toilet.
"Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
Mac OS X is BSD based. I don't see how this will be a blow to linux on the desktop to be perfectly honest. OS X and Linux are kin. More developers writting code for *NIX is better. Which means both of them will benefit.
The blow I see coming is one HELL of a blow to Windows. So many of my customers and clients are tired of Windows and the crap involved with it. Apple making this move, if handled correctly, will allow those users to begin moving away from Windows and to a *NIX style OS. To me, it doesn't matter so much if it's Linux or OS X, but that the client has a solid, stable system they can rely on. Granted, watching Microsoft get pommeled doesn't cause any lost sleep either.
I personally have a nice space lined up already to put OS X in our list of available OSes as long as they make OS X available for any Intel based system and don't try to lock people into using just their hardware.
Worst . . . casemod . . . ever!
Now if he'd put it into a Cube, that would have been interesting!
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
Want a cookie.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
12345
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
Companies don't use Linux because they like the UI. Companies go with Linux because it's highly customizeable, they have full access to the source and there are no royalties or licensing fees. Mac-Intel won't impact any desktop Linux users because you won't be able to run Mac OS X on an Intel whitebox.
Which would then require about a zillion additional hardware drivers for OSX.
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
Unless the whole point to this is a politically motivated tecnilogical statement
On slashdot?!!!
This would be like gutting my iPod Photo and putting my Diamond Rio in it.
'Same speed C but faster'
Their really pushing the envelope on there site, aren't they. They're - I said it! Are you happy?
It's IBM versus Intel, Intel versus AMD, and AMD versus Your Mother!
This guy's website about has-been computer mods is so bad, he can't even get it Slashdotted to his bandwidth limit or to the point of crashing a server.
IronChefMorimoto
So Dvorak, who is an idiot, claims that Linux will die because of this move. Remember, he's the guy who claimed that Microsoft will die in less than 10 years. And since when does "Dvorak" constitute "many"?
And now every fucking Mac article has to mention how "Macs on Intel" are a blow to Linux.
How about this. I propose that you blow Linux, instead of blowing all that nonsense hot air that has absolutely no merit.
or how to put a PC motherboard in a Mac case.
Not much different that putting one in a PC case, or an SGI case, or a Sun case, or a Tie Fighter case or a . . .
Raises an interesting question:
1. Apple will not be allowing OSX to run on standard PC hardware. Part of this will almost certainly be because of incompatible hardware, but Apple's had language in its EULAs saying you can only run MacOS on Apple hardware ever since the end of the clone era.
2. Given that Darwin, the underpinnings of OSX, runs quite well on stock PC hardware, it seems unlikely to me that someone won't figure out how to get OSX/x86 running on standard PCs.
3. Therefore, would it be against the Apple EULA to run OSX/x86 on a standard PC motherboard shoehorned into an old Mac?
Of course, this is all theoretical right now since OSX/x86 isn't really shipping yet.
If Apple ports their OS to Intel, so that it can run on standard PC architecture, then they become an OS vendor, rather than a Mac appliance vendor. Consumers would be faced with three options: Microsoft, with its reputation for unreliability and lack of security; Linux, with its reputation for difficult installation, not being ready for the masses, and no support; and MacOS, secure, stable, and widely supported.
I know which way I'd steer people.
"I'm not impatient. I just hate waiting." - My Dad
mmm running dashboard on my pc... tis what i want.
btw why would you ever want to take a mac and make it x86? maybe our military could go back to bolt action rifles or swords too?
Mike
I heart the RIAA & MPAA, im sure its mutual...
inventgeek you dumb retard. You put a P4 into a Mac case. Wow. timothy what were you thinking by accepting this as newsworthy. I can put a P4 into a cardboard box. Next on Slashdot: MAN CONVERTS CARDBOARD BOX INTO AN X86 or perhaps: LOCAL MAN RUINS EVERYTHING also, your writeup should say "an X86" not "a X86".
but everyone assumes that Apple is going to be running on a x86 chip. Couldn't it be some other Intel chip they'll be using?
Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
I think the most interesting thing about this Apple-Intel -switch is that it wasn't spoiled by regular Mac-rumor sites, rather than big news outlets like Wall Street Journal and C|net.
This is how Apple got that Intel-annoucement right:
I bet Steve Jobs was nervous that someone leaks information about the Intel-switch beforehand his keynote. If someone had done it, no-one wouldn't have bought new Macintosh while waiting the confirmation.
Thus Steve got this idea to post (or asked someone to) some other interesting things and possible rumors about Apple to Slashdot And As Seen On TV (857673) was born.
ASOT was here to get rumormill working like Apple wanted it to. Talk about Apple tablets, iTMS movie stores, next generation AirPort Extreme, ect. etc. Focus was completely elsewhere than Intel.
Jobs had one problem with Intel-announcement: How would ppl take the news from keynote. Especially when Apple's marketing had years said that Intel is a dogpoop. Well, they decided to tell WSJ and C|net about it. So ppl was ready to hear it from Jobs, not unpleasently surprised or betrayed.
Jobs just had to show that "It's True!" slide he had done weeks before keynote. And after that ASOT was useless. No new posts and all.
It could on the other hand be good for Linux. Load up GNUstep add a bit of code to the Linux kernel to run OSX binaries and it's conceivable that you could have OSX apps running natively on Linux under a very OSX like interface. Hang on, why would I need a Mac then?
Deleted
Not a slam against the modder, who did a fine job, but against the article poster for posting such a misleading article.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
The machines do not have Open Firmware. They use a Phoenix BIOS. That;s right, a Mac with a BIOS. (I asked if the Bios had any tweaks like Memory Timing which is common for many PC motherboards, although Intel OEM motherboards don't usually have any end user tweaks like that.-Mike) They won't tell us how to get in the BIOS. I'm sure we can figure it out when out dev kits arrive.
They run Windows fine. All the chipset is standard Intel stuff, so you can download drivers and run XP on the box.
Now this is regarding the DEV machines Apple is handing. I know everyone on slashdot has ASSUMED that Apple will control the hardware based on the CNET article that said Apple would not allow users to install OSX on non-Apple hardware. However, what if this threat is just Apple saying that they'll use the lawyers instead of a technological solution? Think about it, Apple will have limited driver choices out there since it wil be a limited Apple-controlled machine. So either someone writes the drivers or your machines is close enough to run OSX. I think those of us with Pentium M notebooks will have the easiest time with OS X. Now, what I want to know is... if these machines have EVERYTHING any other PC does, why is it not possible to run a copy of MacOSX on a normal white box PC.
why would i want to turn my beautiful Powermac g3 running OSX tiger into a p4 based windows box???
They announced the dev kit would be P4 3.6 GHz, the spec for building applications for it indicates two platforms, PPC and ia32 by name.
XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
Almost as cool as putting a PC motherboard into a Commodore SX-64. That was a great mod.
But I would suggest to the really ambitious modder to actually get hold of an Altair 8800, gut it, cut away those useless LEDs in the front and put a Pentium 4 inside! Now THAT would be worthy of bragging! Put up a "full how to" on the 'net so other budding modders can learn and imitate.
Don't forget to include a picture of yourself, and wear that had that reads "Tool", that would be truly fitting.
Sigged!
"They have converted a Mac G3 to an Intel P4 System capable of running Windows or Linux."
Linux runs on PPC anyway, what's so special about this "conversion"?
The only difference between genius and stupidity is genius has its limits.
Back in 2002, [H]ardOCP did a project called "The Rotten Apple".
Its far more creative and looks a hell of a lot nicer.
http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MzUx
Mac G3 to PC mods are (were) fairly common, due to the overall niceness of the G3 case.
Note that this isn't really a conversion so much as it is a "gutting and stuffing".
Of course, I've never thought case-mods were newsworthy.
The only probable reason this made it to the front page is to exploit the apple switch buzz.
Boo timothy.
if there were a way to mod the article, like comments i would rate it -1:offtopic, overrated
Thats if he's still the *Steve Man* we all know and love
He is now starting his move to fully enter the Wintel arena..
First this expansion of using more x86 chips. Then, as others (corps, programmers & hackers) from the Unices develope osX to run on regular x86 systems, he will release an osX specifically for x86's.
Even tho, like has been explained in this thread, that there will be many *glitches*.. well, so what, look how many *glitches* there are now with ALL the os's on x86's!
The benefit to Steve (and the rest of us) will be more choices, Mac OSX will be *sold* as a seperate package for a humongous new market..
ahhhhnd, for those who still don't want to worry about *compatibility* or driver problems, Steve will still be glad to sell you the latest (and greatest) hardware that'll run Darwin ;)
I will gladly loose all of life's battles.. in order to win the war..
OK i am alittle confused with all this apple switching to intel....does it mean that i will be able to run OSX on my PC and finally get rid of windows, or will i still have to buy and appple computer.
Think about it. If Apple runs on x86. They probably can lock it down so the OS won't run on anything but their machine. However, there are absolutely no reason they can't run window on their machince. Better yet. Make a system that run OSX with almost completely native support for windows's application will not be difficult. If that happens. Whoever bought an Apple will have less of a regrate since they can switch back to windows if it turns out they don't like OSX. Where those who buy a Dell or any other system in the world won't have the luxary of running both OS in the same system. Think of the appeal this will have for people who still have reason to stays on Window yet want to try out Apple! Apple really did thought it through this time. I tell you what.
1. Find a dead badger (try the sides of highways) /.
2. Remove fiddley biological bits
3. Insert fiddley electronic bits
4. Install Linux w/ apache
5. Write up process and post on deadbadger.dyndns.com
6. Submit article to
7. Watch as deadbadger gets slashdotted to death
why the fuck is this news people have been putting peecees in apple cases and vice versa for years.
Try this link
This has been around for a while. My ex-roommate did this 2 years ago, easily. Maybe /. has a different definition for the word "news" than I do.
Hell, Oprah gave some away as well.
This article made it sound as if there were some way you could build a daughterboard with a P4 on it that could plug into where the G3 processor is supposed to go, and with some weird soldering hacks to the chipset, a couple of extra wires added to the motherboard, maybe some resistors, a capacitor or two, adding a pin to the processor, and cutting one of the pins off the RAM and routing it to another location, and all of these weird hacks would cause the Mac to run with a P4 processor.
But no, it's an x86 mb thrown into a Mac box. Really imaginative, guys. Typical Slashdot Slashcrap
Now, if it were something really clever, like, say, taping a camera to an R/C tank and calling it a 'basement exploring robot', that would be totally different. Why, anyone who would do that would be pure genius!
Yea!!! I'm a genuis!!
http://www.thinkgeek.com/cubegoodies/toys/59eb/
As an aside, the camera is clipped, not taped, so I guess I would lose some points for that....
I for one welcome our new [insert main topic] overlords.
The devkit runs a P4 660, a stock proccessor that you can buy on newegg, it has Intel GMA integrated graphics, but will support existing (and future) PC video cards so long as the vendors have supplied a OS X driver. 533MHz DDR2 memory, SATA-2 hard drive. Firewire 400, USB 2, Pheonix BIOS. There is already a list out of wireless adapters that do and don't work with x86 OS X. I haven't read anything about the ethernet controller, but it is most likely a Realtek or something similar.
1)So best case senario, the x86 version of OS X will run on any PC with commodity hardware so long OS X drivers are available.
2)Mid case senario 1: OS X will require a certain Intel chipset (such as the 945G) and any mobo with that chipset will run OS X.
3)Mid case senario 2: OS X will require the same model Intel motherboard that Apple will be shipping with.
4)Worst case senario, OS X will require an "available to Apple only" motherbard and won't run on any other board.
Cases 1 & 2 would require minimal to no investment to get me running OS X on my existing P4 box. Case #3 would be something I would do with my next PC, but still very easy to manage. Cases 2 & 3 aren't even likely, or even feasible, beacause of upgrading issues. Case #4 would be the existing Apple lock-in.
Apple has been moving towards commodity hardware for years. The existing G5's use IDE hard & optical drives, a PCI bus for expansion cards, and 8X AGP. Now that Apple will be moving to an x86 proccessor, the only thing Apple could do to prevent OS X on a "Dell" would be a "Apple-Inside" chip.
Free MacMini
The benchmarks do not reflect native performance of the 3.6GHz systems, however, but rather provide an indication of how PowerPC-compiled applications will run under Rosetta on Intel-based systems.
This is something to keep in mind when reading the article; apparently the bench code is being translated from G3 PPC to Intel code on the fly by a pre-release version of Rosetta.
Even so...
The GCD Loop score for the Intel Mac, part of the CPU test, is a respectable 110, compared to dual-2.5GHz G5 Macs that score about 140.
and
Also, I can't say exactly what the Intel system they are using for the article is, but in the other referenced article, they indicate that the systems are currently using an Intel 900 graphics card (instead of the ATI/nVidia in the G5s). Something to keep in mind:
The Intel Mac scored well in both the Quartz graphics and OpenGL graphics tests--almost matching or exceeding dual-2.5GHz G5 score--although it's unknown which video card is powering the system.
Overall, I'd say that's a pretty positive review.
-Phoenix
although its quite fun hearing all the Mac Fans complain about their precious systems being exploited, i do in fact agree that its pretty lame to think of this as a new idea or concept.. instead of devoting so much time towards making a PC fit in a Mac case, why doesn't someone just design a better case for PCs ?? one of the reasons PC fans are so bitter (me) is because its obvious that Macs have always had the best cases.. so lets ditch the fuckin rectangular cubes and get something new.. i think its great that people are hobbyists, but i do agree with the other commenters that say this is old news..
*plays the Apogee theme song music*
The only reason I haven't purchased a Mac is because I do not have the option of dual-booting to play games on Windows. Sad, but true. I would but a x86 Mac today if I could, and use it as the main OS. And why the hell would I write open-source software for an OS I don't use every day? Let some Linux fan port the code if they want to use it.
There are lots of developers out there like me, who write code for the OS they use, and who would get a Mac86. Linux will be hurt by this move, but it will also keep growning well. Windows will be the real loser. People talk about how Mac will lose performance benchmarks, which is probably true, but forget that it will crush Linux and Windows on boot time, resume-from-suspend time, GUI l&f, and other benchmarks end-users actually care about.
Hopefully Apple will also be able to influence the direction of BIOS and other non-os-specific stuff to be less crappy...
I think this sums it up: http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/images/comics/200 50608.jpg
This is by far, the worst article that has ever made it to slashdot (with exception to the benchmark results). A box mod?? Are you kidding me? This no talent ass-clown made a box mod using all PC parts in a Mac case...good job buddy, you can use a screwdriver and stencils. Guess what? NO ONE CARES. I don't mean to be flamebait, but come on, are you serious? Anyone think the headline was a tad bit MISLEADING?!@ Garbage. That's the only word for this guys' how-to.
Ubuntu, the way linux should be.
Try Ubuntu FREE! --
Quick, someone call Dvorak. This has just gotta spell the impending dead of linux. I'm sure he'll think up something.
PJRC: Electronic Projects, 8051 Microcontroller Tools
Not so, in my humble opinion. The only thing that made a mac unique was the OS and the processor, and the processor was making the pc cost-prohibitive for joe america to own, and quite frankly making it impossible for mac to compete on any real level with intel and amd. Put an intel in a mac, and it's still a mac. It's all in the OS.
He's missing the most important part in light of the recent announcement by Apple. On a P4, the only thing that would be a challenge in the near future is to continue to run MacOS X. Otherwise it's another a PC in a pretty case, and that's something I'd rather see on a case mod site like yoshi's forums than slashdot.
Some people will probably want to dual-boot, at least initially.
That's what I may try to do if I ever get an Intel based Mac, well multiboot. As it now I'm planning on getting a G4 Powerbook and may set it up to dualboot Linux. I'll also get Virtual PC to run Win2000.
"Yes, we carry a few, but keep in mind that Macs can't run Windows software. If your old computer ran Microsoft Windows, you will need to buy all new software."
If an employee in a computer store says this I'd recommend the buyer either get someone familiar with Macs or walk out. For years Macs have been able to run Windows, and Windows apps, on a Mac. Anyone who works in a computer store or in the computer department of any store should know this.
FalconShould there be a Law?
You all are way behind the curve. Someone has been there and done that. See the article from overclockers.com.
your ignorance is amusing... linux is the future, apple has no future /happy linux desktop user
Meh.
Let me get this straight. Microsoft has just signed its second "deal of the century" with IBM, referring obviously to the XBox 360 chipset, thereby demonstrating the first bit of corporate agility since its first Altair upgrade, so Steve Jobs decides to play it safe and join the Intel armada? Jobs, who counts his iPods on the thumb of one hand and his Newtons on his toes, has probably chunked Apple, handed the future to Microsoft, and done absolutely nothing relative to Linux, whose price makes it a survivor in the Evo Devo sweepstakes.
``Tension, apprehension & dissension have begun!'' - Duffy Wyg&, in Alfred Bester's _The Demolished Man_
Making a Mac run MS or Linux? That's retarded. Running Mac OS on a PC would be much cooler.
They need to put loan places next to all the Apple stores.
Step 1: Create game consoles that consume all of IBM's PowerPC processor availability.
Step 2: Wait one year.
Step 3: ???
Step 4: Profit!!!
Wait a year, then order it from the Apple store! Presto chango, x86 Mac! :)
Thank you, thank you. I'm here all week. Don't forget to tip your waitress. Try the veal.
I just want to take over the world...Why does that automatically make me EVIL?
I'm shocked!
An Intel P4 that can run both Windows and Linux. Can it do something like dubble boot, or maybe 'dual' boot? Just guessing here.
.\.\att Clare
The article should be called:-
"How to turn a potential classic computer into a piece of junk"
Now taking an original IBM XT and turning it into a powerful Apple computer would be far more interesting
Next patient please!
=
Just because you can do something, does mean that you should do it....
While that may be true on a straight dollar comparison, you are glossing an important factor: volume. Apple makes the same profit (assuming both of your figures are profit/unit) if they sell 20 copies of the OS, or one unit of hardware. If there are any more sales of the OS, then it is more profitable to sell the OS. The question is: Is there enough potential volume of sales to issue the OS by itself? I think that there is, but I'm a field tech, not an economic forecaster.
"I'm not impatient. I just hate waiting." - My Dad
"We believe fervently in wasting our time on meaningless projects. Next week we plan on fitting a Cisco router into a dildo, though we aren't sure where we'll put the Ethernet ports."
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
I read the xlr8yourmac.com article and immediately started looking for a candidate motherboard from Intel that would probably be what the Intel PowerMac is based upon. I found the Intel® Desktop Board D915GUX which has the GMA 900 graphics adapter and the DDR2 support. Now all I need is a copy of Mac OSX Intel edition and I can make my own developer kit.
...is that it's a rental from Apple. They want the developer box back in 2006. They don't want you to think this is representative of hardware they're going to put in production machines, as far as performance, etc. Which is odd, because developers can't optimize until they know the platform, but that's the way it is. I'm guessing they're just having these out until they can come out with the first production model, and then everyone should build off that.
I really don't think that numbers generated from XBench running on Rosetta running on a developer preview of 10.4.1 for Intel, like ThinkSecret is showing, are truly indicative of the performance we'll get from native apps on Leopard, which will be the first shipping version with the Intel platform.
I thought macs had IDE hard drives and CD/DVD drives, if nothing else.
Solaris is just another Unix, but MacOS has Cocoa (TM) and Quicktime (TM) and other branded "technologies" that provide us with shiny widgets. Who can resist the shiny?
It would have been worthwhile, except it's just a PC in a foreign box. I prefer this "put a small computer in a random object" website.
but hold on, it seems that it is not far down the road. read my comment just below yours
I will gladly loose all of life's battles.. in order to win the war..
From TFA:
"Looking good me thinks. Real good. In fact I wonder if ole Steve Jobs is looking for some one to design the new G6 when it comes out...."
My guess is "not a fscking chance."
Let's play Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I'll be Pestilence.
Is this what is passing for news on Slashdot nowadays? An intel mobo and power supply inside a case made by apple? Big fucking deal.
of converting seemingly divergent technologies and achieving roughly the same result as our G4 to x86 "pioneers" I turned my GMC SUV into a motorcycle by simply removing the two wheels on one side and then welding the spider gears in the differential so I had consistent power transfer with only one back tire "technically" touching the pavement and, Presto!, a motorcycle! Now all I have to figure out is how to suppress the shower of sparks from the dragging undercarriage and adverse attention I seem to be getting from everyone else on the road. (At least I don't have to go out and pass the test required for a motorcycle endorsement on my driver's license, at least until the DOT figures out what the hell I'm trying to accomplish.)
How come nobody has commented on how hideously ugily that thing is, especially the front. Yes it has a sifi spaceship look, but it's "old grimy cargo hauler," not "pride of the fleet." In my part of the sticks I can't even find an $25 broken G3, but if I could, and had $800 for bits it would come out a lot better looking than that...
Whoever wrote this article must think that architecture must be based in the case. Oooh I think I'll convert my Alpha box to an x86... no wait, I think I'll convert my apple ][e to an x86.. it's a whole new world! This belongs in the 'Custom case' category. -cor-
Look at http://www.inventgeek.com/Projects/p4mac/Page3.asp x its title is Untitled Document. He must be useing a html editor...
What a loser!
And put the insides of a x86 in a mac case... Why?
I'm intrigued by the concept of having a mac that runs windows too. Although we'll probably get those next year, with the new Mactels, has anyone come up with a PC inside a working G4 Powermac?
That would rock, 2 machines in a single box, seperate power, video out, and monitors etc... maybe a keyboard/mouse thing you can use to work on both.
Thoughts?
Charlie
www.InGratia.org - Gratitude, Memorials and Giving
Ok, granted the spelling was appalling, and the topic was more off topic than on. But it's a lot more clever of a mod than 90% of the flames it received. Additionally I think it wise to look over the entire site. They have a LCD Window kit mod that is actually really very cool. Thats my thoughts.... Flame on!