OS X x86: Install OS X on Your PC
If you’ve passed by digg during the last few hours you’ve seen the incredibly popular OSX 10.4.3 on your PC post. From the comments it appears as though this works. Some one has even tracked down the appropriate torrent, prepatched for SSE2 (OS X x86 requires an SSE3 instruction-set enabled processor, such as a Prescott Core Intel) alongside ATi video acceleration and Rosetta translation in the comments. I can’t verify if everything works, but it seems to be thorough so there’s no reason it shouldn’t work. If you attempt this and run into problems, and you will, osx86project.org has your answers. Installing OS X on your PC hasn’t been a terribly new thing; people have been doing for quite sometime now ever since Apple announced the move to Intel chips and developer dmg’s of OS X were leaked. It’s only until now that someone has put all of this helpful information in one place that it’s really starting to catch on.
I’m using OSx86 right now, and I can say it’s wonderful. With the recent announcement of the real Intel Macs this thing is really starting to fly. More and more programs are being ported to native Intel code, and things are beginning to run very smoothly.
Now regarding the legality issues, I said from the beginning I was only using this as a trial, and I’m sticking to it. As soon as we start to see some Intel Mac Minis I’ll be first in line (provided I have some money at the time :wink:). I probably would have never decided to make the switch if it wouldn’t have been for this trial.
Oh man this is really tempting…. too bad I didn’t bring the Shuttle up this semester - the mini feels slower and slower now. :-0
I’ve never used a “real Mac” so i can’t comment on speed between the two, but comparing OSx86 to Windows, OSx86 destroys Windows. It’s quite amazing that a Celeron 350 with 512MB of RAM and no graphics acceleration running OSX outperforms my AMD 2500+ with 768MB of RAM and a 9800 Pro running Windows. I can’t even imagine how the real Intel macs perform with the Core Duo chips.
For those doubters out there, Apple has definitely made the right move by switching to Intel. Not only have they picked the perfect hardware to switch to, but they have the tools to back it up. Although Rosetta is sluggish, it gets the job done. And, like I’ve said already, more and more apps are going native Intel code. By the time the average Mac user gets hold of an Intel Mac there will be a great library of Intel software. And it’s only going to get better with time.
Mmm World of Warcraft Intel Binary. I’m not a WoW fan but it’s the only real Mac game, so I might have to try it out down the line. They really need to get CS:S on the Mac…. and BF2 while they’re at it.
Not to be a drag or anything, but many say that. You are using it illegally, trial or not! This will not help Apple. The fact that you want one (and hoping to have the money by then) is irrelevant. You may actually buy one, but many will say the hell with it. They got OS X for free and don’t think they should support Apple (Hardware or Software).
This will hurt Apple in the end and many don’t see that. I just hope that Apple implements super strong security chips and they begin to do the same thing Microsoft is doing now. I know they will get around it, but I really hate to see pirates abusing the software. How come I have to pay $2000 for my PowerMac and others can download and use OS X for free? It’s illegal and hope everyone does get prosecuted. Again it won’t happen with everyone bypassing this and that. I still hope that us paying users get the advantage.
It’s nothing but an excuse to me when people that say they illegally downloaded it for trial purposes. Do you see me illegally downloading Windows 2003 Server for trial usage? No, I use the demos and screenshots that are out there and any other resources about it.
Not to get into a flame war, but for OS X there really isn’t a legitimate way to try it. I don’t have an Apple store close by, and I don’t know anyone which uses a Mac, so that’s out of the question. Using it illegally is really the only way I can try it. I need a trial because I’m not the kind of person who will buy something blindly unless I know about what I’m purchasing.
Now I agree you will get some people who will just say screw Apple and not by the real thing, but would those people buy OS X if they couldn’t steal it? Most likely not. They would continue to use Windows or Linux which is easily available for free. So the way I look at it, Apple can only gain from this.
I understand you have a different viewpoint, and I’m fine with that. I just thought I would share my side of the story.
I understand your viewpoint, but would I steal a Ferrari to test it out before I buy? Of course not! It’s illegal, but the only way to I can try it out. I don’t have a local dealer, and I don’t know anyone with a Ferrari I can test. Does it still make it right for me to steal the Ferrari to test it’s performance vs a Ford? No!
To me, if you have to “trial out” OS X illegally .. it means that you know OS X is not for you OR you want to justify illegally using it. If people were 100% sure they wanted OS X, they would go now and buy a Apple computer. Mac Mini computers are not that expensive, you know. The Intel Mac Mini is going to be the same price ($499), like the PPC version. It’s people that don’t want to shell out $2000 bucks for a computer, like people don’t want to shell out $200,000 for a Ferrari. They can get a cheap Dell for $300 or a Ford for $30,000 that can essentially do the same, but with less performance.
The first time I bought an Apple in 98 was with OS 9 and I had no idea if it was going to suit my needs. I didn’t need a trial or anything. I did the same with OS X in 2001 and thought I was going to regret it. Looking back at those times, I know I made the right decision. All I needed was some articles about OS 9 and a few screenshots. If you have the money and are thinking about OS X … STOP THINKING and get one. It is well worth it. Anything you can do with Windows, I can most likely do with OS X.
I can do everything I do in Windows on my Mac with the exception of those small programming IDE’s required by my compsci classes such as Visual HAM for GameBoy Advance coding and emulation. For me the choice to go mac was easy - I had been using Macs for several years on my school yearbook staff and OS X was amazing compared to working with OS 8 - 9. That being said I grew up on a Mac Centris 650 but had been plagued with a bunch of PCs in between and finally made a return with the Mac Mini. I also intend on upgrading to the new intel mac mini when it comes out or another Apple desktop… no MacBook for me - just got a Cinema Display.
I’m sure there will be people who disagree with my opinion but:
It’s one thing to pass this stuff around on Digg where things are fairly anonymous, but it’s another thing all together to spread it around a personal blog. I obviously can’t speak for your opinion on the matter, but in your shoes, I wouldn’t expect a future employer (esp a tech/programming company) to look particularly favorably on finding that I had been so publicly aiding the distribution of warez’d software releases.
Hmmm… I’m a dedicated mac user but I’m forced to use a PC at work… I’d love to be running OS X on my work box!
I’m setting it all up using the guide here: http://profit42.com/guides.php?id=3 which is a variation of the one posted at digg. I can’t use that one because I have no DVD Rs at the moment, only RWs, so I’m doing it from my harddrive.
I’ll be sure to tell you how it goes.
I just installed OS x86 on my laptop several days ago. It’s smooth and slick! I compared the XBench between my brother’s $999 iBook and my $999 Acer Travelmate, my x86 macos is surely faster.
However, since this is hack/patched version, it’s not very suitable for production computer. My laptop can’t even boot without external monitor.
Hi, does anyone know how where to get this version of tiget intel!
Thanks, if you know anything please email me at adam@adamsever.com
hey everyone I need help please i have got this system (os x x86) and i would like to install it in my pc oh now i have windows xp and i want to know how can i install this os x x86 in my intel machine thanks
Marcus,
It’s not an appropriate analogy if you’re equating copyright infrigment to stealing, they are not the same. There are a lot of significant reasons why that’s the case. It is often not clear if there is any actual loss in the case of infringment, whereas it is 100% clear in the case of theft of property that has value.
I am SO sick and tired of ignorant people wrongly refering to infringment as stealing. Ugh. Any software company that does such deserves to not have any sales.
I’m not saying that you can’t argue against copyright infringment. It’s like a dentist trying to tell us what’s wrong with cavities, but saying hemoroids instead. Brush your teeth so you don’t get hemoroids, eh?
Hello..:) I just wanted to know. can I install MAC 10.4 on my Intel pentium3 1ghz and 512 ram..??:))
The real difference is: Control of hardware.
You can build a PC and buy XP and install it no problem. Take the same intel machine and try to buy OS 86 and install it. You can’t because you didnt buy the computer from Apple. Thats the problem. And thats why there is a market for patched copies of OS X.
Hello All!
I’m trying to install os-x on a core duo system (aw9d-max), but i use my drives in a raid, so the installer didn’t see any of them :( Is there any solution for this? (like when installing xp and putting raid driver in to the floppy drive). Or maybe i’m using an old version (i think its the 10.4.0, downloaded at the beginning of 2006)
thanks for answers
Zsolt
Just a quick question… I’m running an athlon 64 x2 with 2 gigs of ram, a 320 gig hard drive and an x1600 iceQ video card. I’m scheming to set up a multiboot with multiple installations of xp pro, osx and etch. For those of you who have already set up OSX, will I have any extra hoops to jump through with my hardware? I want to get osx on my box for recording and video editing applications. Thanks! Great site!
If Apple want to avoid this issue why dont they begin selling OSX as a viable alternative to Windows.
There is a very fine line between the hardware of a Mac and a PC these days.
If I buy Mac OSX Tiger, am I then entitled to install it on what ever machine type I wish.
I got it running on my PC, I also wrote a short, easy set of instructions on how i accomplished this http://www.jake.phatoproductions.com/blog
in the “Operating systems” category
Hi there Paul. I hope you could help me with my problem.
Can someone teach me how to install Mac OS X here in my notebook. I’m using Acer Travelmate 6291 which is an intel-based laptop running with Windows Vista.
I’m very fascinated with the features and graphics of Mac OS X. Can someone teach me how to change my Windows into OS X. Step by step procedure will be greatly appreciated since I’m still a neophyte.
Thank you very much.
This was what brought me to Apple and OS X, and I’m eternally grateful. I can’t imagine being stuck to Windows without an alternative. Yikes!