Mac OS X 10.6.2 Will Block Atom Processors

Archeopteryx writes "According to Wired's 'Gadget Lab' blog, Snow Leopard's next update, OS X 10.6.2, will block the Atom processor and will disable many 'Hackintosh' netbooks. It is indeed true that OS X will run just fine on some netbooks if you install the right drivers and ktexts, but Apple's EULA has always specified that the license was applicable only to Apple hardware. There have always been processor types specified in OS X and that have to be worked around now for those who want to use an Atom or similar non-Apple-adopted processor, so this is likely no more than a hiccup on the road for the OSX86 crowd. But, it raises the question: is it time for Apple to sell a license for non-Apple hardware — priced accordingly of course — for those people who want OS X on platform types Apple has not yet adopted, like the netbook? The only reason OS X is not on my Eee is that I want to comply with the licensing terms. I could just pay for a license to use it."

Comments

Re:Informative?

[jawtheshark]

Not going to repeat myself

Obligatory car analogy

[noidentity]

So you're saying that this is like a car manufacturer making a special fuel only for its own cars, other people finding that this fuel improves the performance of cars not made by the company, and then accusing the company of intentionally locking them out when it makes an improvement to the fuel that works in the company's cars but fails in other brands? If the company somehow made the fuel dispenser so that it could only be operated with their cars, people would accuse it of blatantly locking others out. So I guess they want the company to be sure the fuel works (and improves performance) in all brands of cars, even though it specifically states that the fuel is only for its own cars.

(sorry for the long post... sadly I don't think I could have shortened it much, even given an eternity)