Random Hackintosh Thoughts

I'm currently reading "OSx86 : Creating a Hackintosh" by Peter Baldwin. As he puts it in that book:

So many people deserve credit for making this book possible. Without them putting hoursand hours of their time into smoothing the path for others, this book would be impossible.It’s not something any one person could do.

When I first tried out OSx86 as a hackintosh noob about 2 years ago (MSI Wind U100), I was practically walking on a pathway full of roses already. Not that the installation could beat a real Macintosh installation at any given time but, for lack of other comparison, I'd say the process was already as normal as could get a typical Windows XP installation.

That aside, there's hardware compatibility - webcam, internal mic, WiFi card may not work etc. But that hardly spoils the game, at least for those who are logical and know what they are getting into. By knowing what it is OSx86 gets you in, we're talking not about getting a real Mac experience nor do we aim to replace real Macs, but rather it's the journey of acquiring knowledge about OSx86 or simply Mac OS X on a PC.

Then after that, I noticed something that most OSx86 noobs with no prior Mac experience fall into this trap: lack of OS X know-how. Sometimes people would tell me that such and such don't work on their hackintoshes and then just resign with the thought that nothing can be done because "Hey, it's OSx86, what did I expect?".

A perfect example would be connecting external displays to your Mac Netbook. Someone would say: "VGA port on the HP Mini 311 under OS X Snow Leopard does not work at all!".

Or my own story when I first had Leopard on my MSI Wind. Just a while ago I had Yahoo! Messenger and then now it's gone!!

In the first example; it's just that you have to check System Preferences > Display and then click on Detect Displays to configure that humongous new LCD monitor of yours.

As for Yahoo! Messenger, I was running the app from the USB flashdrive and so of course, after unplugging the drive, the app was also gone - I should have copied app to my Applications folder or anywhere in my disk where I can always access it. I was simply ignorant of how applications behave and/or are installed differently in Windows than in Mac OS X which I was then completely unfamiliar with.

So I'm not all surprised, in fact I'm even in all agreement with Mr. Baldwin, in that 3 chapters of his book was about, well, educating the reader on how Mac OS X functions.

Sometimes we forget that our hackintoshes are Macs too, after all -- well that is, in a way. Oh there's a ton of realizations waiting to dawn upon us if we only get the time to know Mac OS X outside of all the OSx86 detailed technicalities of installation and as an OS for everyday use, first and foremost.

Thus I invite you to read:

• OSXDaily
• CultOfmac's 100 Tips (for Snow Leopard)

Apple WWDC 2010

Retina technology.

iMovie for iPhone.

Apple A4 chip.

= iDrool.

Well what do you know? WWDC has come and gone once again, hit the image above for the links.

Imagine if there was a WWHC "World Wide Hackintoshers Conference".

I'd like that myself. :D

Ooh and there's also FaceTime. I wonder if Mac OS X/Macs will include this feature.

Hands-on video and review from Engadget.

mymacnetbook.com

InsanelyMac has created a page specifically for Mac OS X on netbooks. In the couple of years or so, the platform has been a popular device for OSx86 scene.

myMacNetbook.

For the want of having their own "mini hackbooks", individual developers created new or improve on previously existing OSx86 software, discovered new methods to be able to experience the slick computing experience that is Mac OS X, and by doing so, contributed immensely to the progress of the OSx86 "Hackintosh" community in the grander scheme.

While the prolific nature of the platform has caused the fortunate emergence of different PC/laptop makers offering their own flavor thereby making the devices more affordable via market competition, in terms of OSx86 Hackintosh activities, this has also led to more or less isolated factions of "MSI MacBook Winds", "Dell Mini MacBooks", "HP Mini MacBooks", "Lenovo MacBooks", "MacBook Eee's" - which is somehow unfortunate as development has also tended to be too brand specific.

I certainly think that "MyMacNetbook.com" is good start a convergence zone to unite all of us netbook hackintoshers.

The Battle Continues

I feel forever grateful to those great hackintosher legends in the OSx86 arena who just won't give up for the love of freedom and out-of-the-box thinking.

It's no recent news that Apple's about to unleash yet another update to Snow Leopard dubbed 10.6.3 which started to creep in Apple-centric sites in the websphere since December last year. This is the next point release after 10.6.2 which, like its predecessor, is expected to include a new kernel (10.6.1 preserved stock 10.6's kernel) and so, like its predecessor, we're expecting 10.6.3 to be hostile to the Atom processors our precious little MacBook Mini's run on as well.

Good thing the community is prepared and initial efforts have been put forward for OSx86 users even before 10.6.3 has been officially released as downloadable point upgrade at Apple's site.
Read more details at meklort's blog.

Chameleon On A Stick

Note: This guide was created with the HP Mini 1000 in mind.

I mean this kind of stick:

 

Actually it doesn't matter what the capacity is, even as little as 256 MB would do the job wonderfully. If you're like me who's accumulated USB flash drives in all sizes and capacities* over the years, you're bound to look at those old ones with storage capacity mentioned above and sigh - you can't use them to restore a Mac OS X retail DVD. Nope, they can't be made into installers.

Take Root

This isn't about sudoing in Terminal but still has a lot to do with the OSx86 community which we all love; noobs and seasoned hackintoshers alike.


Remember Psystar? Yeah, those selling PC systems compatible with Mac OS X that they call "Open Systems". They're currently in a long run of a legal suite against Apple. But they're continuing to sell their stuff as the trial moves on in court; the latest offering being what we know as "Rebel EFI". You can download Rebel EFI which promises to make installing Mac OS X on any PC and as easily as it's done on real Macs. But to get the most out of it, you gotta shell out $50; it'll take out the 2-hour usage limit the company has locked Rebel EFI in. It says:

**Must have purchased authentication code to permanently  install**

Dreaming Of a White (Snowy) Leopard

It's faster than Leopard.

It's got new hot technologies like Grand Central and OpenCL.

It's incorporating 64-bit experience right into the core.

In short, I want it. No, scratch that. I desire it.

But putting Leopard on x86 beige PC boxes and Atom netbooks hasn't been without issues and lots of talented hackers reigning supreme in geekdom have invested time and sweat or even blood so that lower-tier geek wannabe's like me can get a little taste of OS heaven. And now comes Snow Leopard.

Now why would someone whose only consumer electronic that comes from Apple is her 80 gig iPod classic and whose netbook is the only computer that could be classified as latest tech, dare to dream of an OS that's clearly out of her league?