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Run Mac OS X On Non-Apple Hardware, With a Dongle
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."
I'm a douche for not supporting a proven unreliable setup? Get real - unless you are running a *very* small subset of hardware, you are going to be installing one of the dozen or so different hacked OSX torrent releases. Oh, and not one single hackintosh user that I have come across in #MacOSX has ever said they are using a boxed copy of the software, the same names always come up - Maxxus, JaS etc etc.
If they want to try it out, then they can buy a second hand Mac - the same as the rest of us had to.
Oh, and your lack of information is showing - there are plenty of brand new Macs on the market for much less than $3000.
assuming that any hackintosh users must be pirating OS X is a rather condescending attitude towards PC users, and particular PC users who are interested in OS X.
The statistics don't lie. You help a guy with a hackintosh and 9 times out of 10 he's downloaded OSX from some torrent.
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
If you're not a hardware obsessive, why are you even bothering to follow this story?
Presumably these PC users are already sold on trying OSX given they are working on a hackintosh. And again, if these PC users are willing to shell out a few hundred bucks on dongles and a copy of the OS to try it out, they can buy a slighly used mac mini, or an older ibook. Or shell out just a little bit more and get an new mini.
Well, I "pirated" a copy of OSX to try it out. I'm glad I did. I would have been pissed if I had dropped several hundred dollars for a used Mac Mini and then been stuck with it.
I've been using OSX for about 4 months now on a hackintosh. Aside from some minor problems with the initial install, it's pretty stable and I've only had compatibility issues with printers (which I would have with a Mac Mini anyway).
That said, I am glad. After using OSX and wanting to like it, I've come to the conclusion that it is intended for neophyte users (Duh!) and it's a pretty crappy OS when it really break it down. It's absolutely great if you want to use exactly what Apple gives you in terms of functionality, but the moment you step outside Apple's vision, you are in a world of shit.
Add to the that the fact that the MacOS is absolutely hostile to multi-monitor setups (The menu bar on the primary monitor? Seriously? Thanks, I love having to scroll my mouse over 3000 pixels to get to the menu! Fucking idiots.) Samba sharing with Windows is completely non-functional (Maybe a newer OSX update addresses this, I don't know), Broken network permission system, inability to Save As to a network location (gotta mount those drives!), constant renegotiation of logon credentials when accessing mounted shares (ever hear of caching the connection Apple?).
Lets not talk about the stupid Red, yellow and green application window controls. When I press the Red X, I want the fucking application to close, not minimize to a DIFFERENT place than the yellow button minimizes it to. Seriously, who thought this was a good idea?
Lots of UAC popups after initial installation... just as many as Vista. I don't use Vista and that's one of the primary reasons, thanks Apple for giving me the Vista experience!
Trying to print to a network printer attached to a Windows box? Good luck!
iDVD - Complete joke.
iPhoto - It so badly wants to be Picasa but just isn't. It's like the retarded half brother no one wants to talk about.
The dock? Yeah, I love multiple instances of an application stacked onto a single icon... I turn that annoying bullshit off in Windows for a reason. Can't do that in OSX!
Want to use an Adobe product? Can't do it if you have HFS! Sorry. This is Adobe's problem, of course, no Apples, but none the less I can use it just fine on Windows.
The list goes on. So yes, I would be pissed if I dropped several hundred bucks for this bag of shit. I know the OS is great for some people, but for those of us who want to get real work done, OSX is NOT the way to go unless the only real work you need to do is video editing or graphic design. Neither of which I do.
The thing is, I really wanted to like OSX. I used a hacked version to see what all the hype was about and found it to be complete hype and no substance. OSX isn't nearly the OS every Mac fanboi claims it to be. It's a middle of the road OS on par with Vista (which I despise). It's not amazing. It's not incredible. It's not easier to use. It's just another OS with it's own quirks and problems. There is absolutely nothing in OSX to draw a power user. It's for Mom and Dad and Little Sister who just want to email and view the web as quickly and easily as possible. In that it excels, no doubt about it. Beyond that, it's nothing special.
Luckily enough for us non-christians there is no hell, and most of us would probably don't have much moral difficulties clicking thru that license and some would even go so far to say that the EULA is probably not valid either.
Though I personally think one should respect the wishes of the developers, if one don't do that just don't use their product.
But then often I don't behave as they expect, but at least I don't try to cover up my wrongdoings with lame excuses. I'm just too cheap / poor / want the best application for the work / "if it's there and I can get it, why shouldn't I?"