First 'hackintosh' modchip surfaces - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 15th Sep 2008, 13:23

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/09...hip-surfaces/1

The first modchip - an internal USB dongle - aimed at getting MacOS X running on an off-the-shelf PC has started to surface in eager users hands around the globe.

liratheal · 15th Sep 2008, 13:26

I can imagine the Apple legal team in neon orange clothing, loading the shotguns.

I did catch something about this thing before it was released, but never figured it'd actually make it out before they got legal buckshot in the face.

Also loving the countries for sale, Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria etc?

DougEdey · 15th Sep 2008, 13:37

Me like. I never knew it was so complicated to install Mac OS.

Surely apple would make more money if they made it available to specific hardware setups running specific BIOS'

liratheal · 15th Sep 2008, 13:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougEdey

Me like. I never knew it was so complicated to install Mac OS.

Surely apple would make more money if they made it available to specific hardware setups running specific BIOS'

Entirely likely that they would lose money.

The extreme markup on their hardware is probably where they make the majority of their computer sales related wonga. If they opened the OS up to run on all platforms, where's the need for someone to spend (sometimes) twice as much as they could do on a non-apple machine, and just install OS X on it?

The only upside to buying the Apple hardware, really, would be the asthetics. Would you pay a hefty markup for the machine, and the typically unreasonable markup in the upgrade parts (Specifically graphics cards, since RAM etc. is pretty easy to go 3rd party for).

Limiting it to specific hardware/bios combinations is pretty much all they do right now - Except they put a pretty case on it, and a few extra zeros.

Jack_Pepsi · 15th Sep 2008, 13:47

Surely they'd lose more money if they sold OS X separately that worked on non-Apple hardware? It would slowly make i/PowerMacs redundant... right?

bowman · 15th Sep 2008, 13:52

Can't say I care. I'll stick to my laptop without the crazy markup, and some sweet, free, non-bloated Linux instead. They can keep their fancy OS X.

steveo_mcg · 15th Sep 2008, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack_Pepsi

Surely they'd lose more money if they sold OS X separately that worked on non-Apple hardware? It would slowly make i/PowerMacs redundant... right?

Plus you introduce the issue of having to work on multiple platforms, just look at the issues MS has every release or patch. Apple doesn't want that kind of problem there catch phrase is "just works" remember.

TreeDude · 15th Sep 2008, 14:36

Being sold for $165USD on Ebay. That is pretty steep if you ask me.

Vode · 15th Sep 2008, 14:47

Less than the mark-up on a real Mac :P

koola · 15th Sep 2008, 15:02

Pointless, Apple will block it with a update and that little usb modchip will be nothing more than a paper weight.

Madjock · 15th Sep 2008, 15:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by koola

Pointless, Apple will block it with a update and that little usb modchip will be nothing more than a paper weight.

I wouldn't under estimate the hacking community, they live for this cat and mouse stuff, especially when there's hardware to be sold.

TreeDude · 15th Sep 2008, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madjock

Quote:

Originally Posted by koola

Pointless, Apple will block it with a update and that little usb modchip will be nothing more than a paper weight.

I wouldn't under estimate the hacking community, they live for this cat and mouse stuff, especially when there's hardware to be sold.

I agree. Look at what happened when Nintendo tried blocking mods on the Wii. It honestly only made the modders try that much harder and now it is easier than ever.

Firehed · 15th Sep 2008, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougEdey

Me like. I never knew it was so complicated to install Mac OS.

Surely apple would make more money if they made it available to specific hardware setups running specific BIOS'

The process is as trivial as it gets on Apple hardware, as you'd expect. But no, they'd barely make anything if they sold OS X alone - the software is practically a loss leader once you figure in development costs, in order to sell the hardware and make their markup there.

But I've spent more than enough time trying to make hackintoshes work properly. I'll hang on to my Mac Pro.

-EVRE- · 15th Sep 2008, 20:42

Wow, youd really have to be happy with what you got in the box to buy an Apple... I was looking at the compatible hardware list from that site... there are so few gfx cards supported......

Apple buyer.. apple products or products that manufacturers went through the trouble to make drivers for

PC: Everything else.....

basically Apple is a democrat, they, the government decide whats good for you and PC is the republican, they let you choose what you think is best for you. Or you could compare it so socialism and free market.....

I dont see how a mod chip in this case can be illegal.. after all what is in violation is the END USER AGREEMENT
so..... there is nothing illegal about the chip, its the user who's breaking the agreement.

perplekks45 · 15th Sep 2008, 21:11

Off topic:

So republican = Laissez-faire?

On topic:

Someone's trying to make some money by making hacked tools and stuff available to the masses. Might actually work. Not my cup of tea though. If I wanted OS X I'd want to work my way there.

nemesis80 · 16th Sep 2008, 05:32

" Sure, the hardware is pretty identical to that supplied by Appe – but the company's "

Mispelled Apple.

-nemesis80

[USRF]Obiwan · 16th Sep 2008, 13:19

who the hell wants a mac anyway. Useless single mouse button overrated and over expensive crappy OS wit ditto hardware.

koola · 16th Sep 2008, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by [USRF]Obiwan

who the hell wants a mac anyway. Useless single mouse button overrated and over expensive crappy OS wit ditto hardware.

[USRF]Obiwan · 16th Sep 2008, 14:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by koola

Hahaha very funy, but useless because I work on a mac for design (photshop, illustrator etc), but can do exactly the same on my pc that cost a fraction of the mac (almost half). Thats why I think it is overated overpriced crap. And I stand by my opinion.

p3n · 16th Sep 2008, 18:06

Apple hardware aside (even if their laptops are awesome!), hands off the OS - Unix is so far ahead of windows its unreal.

Oh yeah mr. design boi, if your getting slowed down by a single mouse button in photoshop you want to buy photoshop for dummies and learn some keyboard shortcuts... (and buy a two button mouse?)

15th Sep 2008, 13:23	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,972	First 'hackintosh' modchip surfaces http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/09...hip-surfaces/1 The first modchip - an internal USB dongle - aimed at getting MacOS X running on an off-the-shelf PC has started to surface in eager users hands around the globe. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

15th Sep 2008, 13:26	#2
liratheal Just got a great book on tape Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: High Wycombe, UK Posts: 3,602	I can imagine the Apple legal team in neon orange clothing, loading the shotguns. I did catch something about this thing before it was released, but never figured it'd actually make it out before they got legal buckshot in the face. Also loving the countries for sale, Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria etc? __________________ Gigabyte MA790FX, X4 9950 Black Edition, 8gb Geil Black Dragon, 2x4870 512mb, Antec TruePower Quattro 850w I game, Do you?

15th Sep 2008, 13:37	#3
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	Me like. I never knew it was so complicated to install Mac OS. Surely apple would make more money if they made it available to specific hardware setups running specific BIOS' __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

15th Sep 2008, 13:47	#5
Jack_Pepsi LandsElite.com Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In the sticks, UK Posts: 313	Surely they'd lose more money if they sold OS X separately that worked on non-Apple hardware? It would slowly make i/PowerMacs redundant... right? __________________ http://cache.www.gametracker.com/ser...2/b_560x95.png

15th Sep 2008, 15:02	#10
koola Eat my... Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,210	Pointless, Apple will block it with a update and that little usb modchip will be nothing more than a paper weight. __________________ PSN: koola-uk

15th Sep 2008, 13:52	#6
bowman Multimodder Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 249	Can't say I care. I'll stick to my laptop without the crazy markup, and some sweet, free, non-bloated Linux instead. They can keep their fancy OS X.

15th Sep 2008, 14:36	#8
TreeDude Multimodder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 239	Being sold for $165USD on Ebay. That is pretty steep if you ask me.

15th Sep 2008, 14:47	#9
Vode Minimodder Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 25	Less than the mark-up on a real Mac :P

15th Sep 2008, 20:42	#14
-EVRE- Supermodder Join Date: May 2004 Location: Idaho U.S.A Posts: 343	Wow, youd really have to be happy with what you got in the box to buy an Apple... I was looking at the compatible hardware list from that site... there are so few gfx cards supported...... Apple buyer.. apple products or products that manufacturers went through the trouble to make drivers for PC: Everything else..... basically Apple is a democrat, they, the government decide whats good for you and PC is the republican, they let you choose what you think is best for you. Or you could compare it so socialism and free market..... I dont see how a mod chip in this case can be illegal.. after all what is in violation is the END USER AGREEMENT so..... there is nothing illegal about the chip, its the user who's breaking the agreement. __________________ (Phenom II 940)(Foxcon A7DA)(8gb OCZ DDR2 800 )(8800gt aka hair dryer)(Big yellow case, CPU, GPU)(Enermax Liberty 500w)(lite-on DVD-RW w/LightScribe)(Seagate 300gb sata)(Seagate 320gb x2)(WD 200gb)(Dell 3007WFP 30"LCD, 19" Samsung, Acer 1280x720 projector)

15th Sep 2008, 21:11	#15
perplekks45 BSc... finally Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 3,350	Off topic: So republican = Laissez-faire? On topic: Someone's trying to make some money by making hacked tools and stuff available to the masses. Might actually work. Not my cup of tea though. If I wanted OS X I'd want to work my way there. __________________ "The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far." Blame it on Cheaps! [now a social group]

16th Sep 2008, 05:32	#16
nemesis80 Modder Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: canada Posts: 52	" Sure, the hardware is pretty identical to that supplied by Appe – but the company's " Mispelled Apple. -nemesis80 __________________ Asus P4P800 SE\|P4 3.0E @ 3.6ghz \|Utra 1536 mb PC3200 dual channel\|Maxtor 80gb\| Maxtor 120gb\|Saphire X800 pro vivo-> xt pe @550/560\|Artic Cooling V4\|Thermalright xp-120\|Lian Li pc-6077

16th Sep 2008, 13:19	#17
[USRF]Obiwan Ultramodder Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,218	who the hell wants a mac anyway. Useless single mouse button overrated and over expensive crappy OS wit ditto hardware. __________________ Mascleta: "The most accurate simulation of thunder, humans can simulate..." The answer is 42, so... whats the question again? If you know what 'Peek' and 'Poke' represents, then you are probably as old as me.

16th Sep 2008, 18:06	#20
p3n Hypermodder Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 736	Apple hardware aside (even if their laptops are awesome!), hands off the OS - Unix is so far ahead of windows its unreal. Oh yeah mr. design boi, if your getting slowed down by a single mouse button in photoshop you want to buy photoshop for dummies and learn some keyboard shortcuts... (and buy a two button mouse?)