Can You Now Build Your Own Mac?

JRV · JRV #1 (**permalink**)

01-10-2009, 11:58 PM

Now that Apple is using the Intel processors can you build your own Mac? Is there anything stopping me from buying OSX and loading it onto a PC? I have a really nice Dell but I'd love to be able to put OSX on it instead.

Santino · Santino #2 (**permalink**)

01-11-2009, 12:27 AM

Legally you cant, its in Apple's EULA.

Eric559 · Eric559 #3 (**permalink**)

01-11-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRV

Now that Apple is using the Intel processors can you build your own Mac? Is there anything stopping me from buying OSX and loading it onto a PC? I have a really nice Dell but I'd love to be able to put OSX on it instead.

NO.

bobtomay · bobtomay #4 (**permalink**)

01-11-2009, 05:38 AM

It is against the EULA to install OS X on a machine that is not an Apple.

Even so, you would not be able to install it on your Dell. The hackintosh crowd has pretty specific hardware requirements for the hacks they've made of OS X to enable them to install it on their PC's. Half the hardware in your Dell would not function, inclg the motherboard.

zongamin · zongamin #5 (**permalink**)

01-11-2009, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobtomay

Even so, you would not be able to install it on your Dell. The hackintosh crowd has pretty specific hardware requirements for the hacks they've made of OS X to enable them to install it on their PC's. Half the hardware in your Dell would not function, inclg the motherboard.

Who told you that? Its complete rubbish.

Its possible to get OSX running on almost anything with an Intel Processor, including Netbooks, Dells, whatever.

bobtomay · bobtomay #6 (**permalink**)

01-11-2009, 06:23 AM

Have already done the research and the testing... And it is a royal pita and not worth the effort except for the geekiest of the geeks.

Beside which, it is still against the EULA you agree to when installing it.

martyp · martyp #7 (**permalink**)

01-11-2009, 06:29 AM

As zongamin states, it would be possible to install OS X on to your Dell however it wouldn't be legal - even if you bought a copy of OS X for it.

If Apple were willing to sell it to the PC market they would probably see their market share rise very quickly, just look how cheap Leopard is compared to Vista and it is a lot better!

At the same time though, the amount of work to get it working on various hardware configurations would be silly. So I feel they are right to keep it to Mac's only.

zongamin · zongamin #8 (**permalink**)

01-11-2009, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobtomay

Have already done the research and the testing... And it is a royal pita and not worth the effort except for the geekiest of the geeks.

Beside which, it is still against the EULA you agree to when installing it.

Its really not that hard - I had tiger running on an old Dell Inspiron with out any trouble - easier than installing Windows to be honest! I would say on standard hardware you would be up and running in 3 or 4 hours.

Also its almost certain that the EULA is not legally binding. The problem is that you can only get the required files illegally, although some people suggest that if you buy a copy of Leopard as well you might be covered.

BlueMac · BlueMac #9 (**permalink**)

01-11-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zongamin

Its really not that hard - I had tiger running on an old Dell Inspiron with out any trouble - easier than installing Windows to be honest! I would say on standard hardware you would be up and running in 3 or 4 hours.

Also its almost certain that the EULA is not legally binding. The problem is that you can only get the required files illegally, although some people suggest that if you buy a copy of Leopard as well you might be covered.

Look, we can't talk about that here... it's illegal.

Kthanksbye.

Alexis · Alexis #10 (**permalink**)

01-11-2009, 12:56 PM

Chill. Apple aren't going to come around your house with a baseball bat.

It is possible to put OS X on, but it's a lot of messing about. The fact you posted the question in the first place says that I don't think it's going to be for you. Buy a Mac - you get something much nicer than just the OS.

cwa107 · cwa107 #11 (**permalink**)

01-11-2009, 01:11 PM

Folks, we don't permit discussion of illegal activity on this forum. We're done here.

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JRV #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 19, 2005 Location: USA Posts: 387	01-10-2009, 11:58 PM Now that Apple is using the Intel processors can you build your own Mac? Is there anything stopping me from buying OSX and loading it onto a PC? I have a really nice Dell but I'd love to be able to put OSX on it instead.

Santino #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 30, 2008 Location: Argentina Posts: 224	01-11-2009, 12:27 AM Legally you cant, its in Apple's EULA. Intel iMac 24" 2.8Ghz / 4gb PowerBook G4 12" 1.33Ghz / 1.25gb 2Gb Black iPod Nano 1G Canon 30D, recently inherited!

bobtomay #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,786 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	01-11-2009, 05:38 AM It is against the EULA to install OS X on a machine that is not an Apple. Even so, you would not be able to install it on your Dell. The hackintosh crowd has pretty specific hardware requirements for the hacks they've made of OS X to enable them to install it on their PC's. Half the hardware in your Dell would not function, inclg the motherboard. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month

bobtomay #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,786 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	01-11-2009, 06:23 AM Have already done the research and the testing... And it is a royal pita and not worth the effort except for the geekiest of the geeks. Beside which, it is still against the EULA you agree to when installing it. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month

martyp #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 14, 2008 Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 638 Mac Specs: 27" iMac, 3.4GHz i7, 20Gb, 3TB HDD, OS X 10.8	01-11-2009, 06:29 AM As zongamin states, it would be possible to install OS X on to your Dell however it wouldn't be legal - even if you bought a copy of OS X for it. If Apple were willing to sell it to the PC market they would probably see their market share rise very quickly, just look how cheap Leopard is compared to Vista and it is a lot better! At the same time though, the amount of work to get it working on various hardware configurations would be silly. So I feel they are right to keep it to Mac's only.

Alexis #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 20, 2006 Posts: 2,255 Mac Specs: Al iMac 20" 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo	01-11-2009, 12:56 PM Chill. Apple aren't going to come around your house with a baseball bat. It is possible to put OS X on, but it's a lot of messing about. The fact you posted the question in the first place says that I don't think it's going to be for you. Buy a Mac - you get something much nicer than just the OS.

cwa107 #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2006 Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania Posts: 25,916 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, Core i7/2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB Crucial M4 SSD	01-11-2009, 01:11 PM Folks, we don't permit discussion of illegal activity on this forum. We're done here. Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!

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