Building a Mac?

[Teclis2323]

Hey all,

I'm sure this is a very stupid question, but here goes - I'm hoping to build a small desktop for my girlfriend. While I would normally just go ahead with the build, I know that she LOVES Macs. I am wondering whether it's possible to install OS-X on a home-built computer. I know that OSX accepts Intel processors, and that Windows XP can run on Macs, so why not the other way around?

Is this possible, or am I just dumb?

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Teclis2323
Hey all,

I'm sure this is a very stupid question, but here goes - I'm hoping to build a small desktop for my girlfriend. While I would normally just go ahead with the build, I know that she LOVES Macs. I am wondering whether it's possible to install OS-X on a home-built computer. I know that OSX accepts Intel processors, and that Windows XP can run on Macs, so why not the other way around?

Is this possible, or am I just dumb?

impossible

 

[jhu]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd


impossible

not quite. there was a website that documented one man's journey to assemble his own mac using parts obtained from ebay. bottom line - it's less hassle and about the same price to just buy a pre-assembled mac.

 

[Teclis2323]

So what is it about OSX that disallows me from installing it on a normal PC? I'm really trying to know.

 

[Ayah]

Originally posted by: Teclis2323
So what is it about OSX that disallows me from installing it on a normal PC? I'm really trying to know.

The newest Mac OS thingy that runs on Intel chips require hardware purely from Intel. and there's some hidden sh!t in it. I believe that when it was released in beta, people were hacking it to run on their all-intel hardware compy.

 

[Teclis2323]

well, rats! I don't really think it's worth building the desktop if she's goign to prefer the mac, and I'd rather not spend 800 bucks on a mac desktop when I can spend 400 and build my own.

Any suggestions? How compatable are Macs with PCs?

 

[Leros]

If your girlfriend likes Macs, then she probably loves the Mac exterior too. You can buy similiar cases, but not THE case.

 

[Mikey]

Just buy a mac, take it apart, and then build it. there you have it.

 

[Teclis2323]

How compatable are Macs with PCs? Can I sync certain programs (MS Office, especially) if I hook up a PC and a Mac?

 

[slayer202]

don't go mac...really no use with what you want it sounds like

 

[Shawn]

You can do it if you buy a mac motherboard and case from ebay.

 

[Evilhomer99]

If it's for your girlfriend, just buy it for her. All you have to do is plug the damn thing in and it will work. Girls want to send email, do IPOD video and surf the net. If I didnt game I would use a mac , plus they are more pricey. I don't think macs are a big hit in these forums, but you cant deny what macs are good for. Plus, a couple of hundred bucks will be worth it in the long run, everytime your windows PC crashes (which it will at some point) your gf will give you a huge guilt trip. $ vs. Bitching.............

 

[Raduque]

With OSX, it's all about the BIOS.... or lack thereof. Macs use some sort of new bios-less mobos(that vista is compatible with, maybe native vista on mac hardware?!), and I doubt OSX is compatible with normal BIOSes....so, yea no-go. Just buy her a cheap (hah!) mac and upgrade the ram/hd/optical as you need to.

 

[DJCrunkMix]

I think you can install Mac OS X on intel chips (its illegal)

more info here: http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

 

[ForumMaster]

it's possible to get OS X to run on PC's, but it's a hassale. the right mobo has to be used as well as special RAM. just get her a mini.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
it's possible to get OS X to run on PC's, but it's a hassale. the right mobo has to be used as well as special RAM. just get her a mini.

QFT. While we have succesfully installed OSX on some HP PCs at work, it was a PITA! Not worth the hassle, plus it runs like crap. We were bored.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Leros
If your girlfriend likes Macs, then she probably loves the Mac exterior too. You can buy similiar cases, but not THE case.

Good idea, then just slap an OSX theme/skin onto WIndows XP and she will never know......

 

[Geomagick]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: Leros
If your girlfriend likes Macs, then she probably loves the Mac exterior too. You can buy similiar cases, but not THE case.

Good idea, then just slap an OSX theme/skin onto WIndows XP and she will never know......

Until the windows underneath crashes.

Unless you game then Macs are certainly a viable alternative to PCs at the moment.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: George Powell

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: Leros
If your girlfriend likes Macs, then she probably loves the Mac exterior too. You can buy similiar cases, but not THE case.

Good idea, then just slap an OSX theme/skin onto WIndows XP and she will never know......

Until the windows underneath crashes.

Unless you game then Macs are certainly a viable alternative to PCs at the moment.

Are you implying that OSX doesnt crash? Puhlease! That baby crashes more than my XP user's computers at my job! I have an equal number of Mac users and PC users and my call database shows more trouble-shooting on my macs than the PCs. And when OSX crashes, it usually crashes badly. Other than cosmetics the macs provide no substantial benefit over a PC.

 

[Evilhomer99]

Dude, I'm sure all this stuff above will work. But just buy her a mac.................You can get a mac mini for like 600 Bucks, and it will do everything SHE needs.

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: Oyeve

Originally posted by: George Powell

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: Leros
If your girlfriend likes Macs, then she probably loves the Mac exterior too. You can buy similiar cases, but not THE case.

Good idea, then just slap an OSX theme/skin onto WIndows XP and she will never know......

Until the windows underneath crashes.

Unless you game then Macs are certainly a viable alternative to PCs at the moment.

Are you implying that OSX doesnt crash? Puhlease! That baby crashes more than my XP user's computers at my job! I have an equal number of Mac users and PC users and my call database shows more trouble-shooting on my macs than the PCs. And when OSX crashes, it usually crashes badly. Other than cosmetics the macs provide no substantial benefit over a PC.

...crickets...

 

[Smartazz]

It's called Mac OSX X86, it works on intel processors, I'm not sure if it works, but I've heard about it, and it's illegal. I don't understand why Apple can use Windows XP, but PCs can't have Max OSX, not really fair.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Smartazz
It's called Mac OSX X86, it works on intel processors, I'm not sure if it works, but I've heard about it, and it's illegal. I don't understand why Apple can use Windows XP, but PCs can't have Max OSX, not really fair.

because MS is a software company whereas apple is an oldschool integrated hardware/software vendor.

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Smartazz
It's called Mac OSX X86, it works on intel processors, I'm not sure if it works, but I've heard about it, and it's illegal. I don't understand why Apple can use Windows XP, but PCs can't have Max OSX, not really fair.

because MS is a software company whereas apple is an oldschool integrated hardware/software vendor.

yeah. apple makes it's money on their hardware sales. they tried clones for awhile, didn't go so well. now that prices are becoming competitive it's not such a big deal, and apple hardware is uber sexy. you buy an apple because you like os x, not because you want to tinker with it's guts. besides, keeping the hardware simple helps with driver issues, which helps with stability.

 

[AmigaMan]

You could spend $599 and get a mac mini that has a Core Duo processor in it. It's definitely a viable alternative to Windows IMO. More stable and less prone to spyware and viruses. Although I do have to admit my XP box hasn't crashed in a while either and I've yet to get infected with a virus or spyware. But that probably has to do with me being a geek and who knows how to take care of a machine. Newbies like my father-in-law would be better off with a safer machine like a mac.