News First 'hackintosh' modchip surfaces

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/09/15/first-hackintosh-modchip-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.

 

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?

 

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.

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

Less than the mark-up on a real Mac

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

Mispelled Apple.

-nemesis80

 

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

 

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.

 

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?)