How stable are Hackintoshes, really?

[Nothinman]

With the hackintosh, the son would have to pop the side off, undo a few screws and pull the offending part. Not so easy to do with the iMac since you need magnets and suction cups to remove the screen and get access to the rest of the system.

But would a Mini be just as gay? Or just plugin a USB DVD drive and ignore the busted one until you have time to take it to an Apple store.

 

[Zaap]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Thinking his mother should have a system with a warranty and can be supported by someone other than her son is conformist?

No, it's the proselytizing on and on and on about how she has to get an iMac even after the pros and cons of both sides have been discussed. People need to give the hype a rest and let the OP and his mom make their own choice.

As for a warranty, when you buy parts for a PC, each part generally has its own warranty. So if the hard drive (for example) goes down, replace it. The same would be true of a Mac, just as others have noted, it's just a different process.

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
Did you really type this out without thinking?

I'd ask have you used much thought while typing most anything in this thread? So far, you've expressed that you think people focus too much on upgrades, floated a lot of gloom and doom, expressed your own preferences, but not offered much to actually help the OP make up their own mind. WE GET IT: Apple's the only way to go for you. Great. Now consider it's not your computer or your choice being discussed.

 

[VinylxScratches]

You're funny.

Her Mom runs a business. If she runs a business she should be using a official Apple computer. Not some patched up PC that can break anytime with OS updates. If this was for a hobby, then by all means whatever. But she is running a business on it. She should just use Windows if she's going the custom route.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Zaap

Originally posted by: Nothinman
Thinking his mother should have a system with a warranty and can be supported by someone other than her son is conformist?

No, it's the proselytizing on and on and on about how she has to get an iMac even after the pros and cons of both sides have been discussed. People need to give the hype a rest and let the OP and his mom make their own choice.

As for a warranty, when you buy parts for a PC, each part generally has its own warranty. So if the hard drive (for example) goes down, replace it. The same would be true of a Mac, just as others have noted, it's just a different process.

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
Did you really type this out without thinking?

I'd ask have you used much thought while typing most anything in this thread? So far, you've expressed that you think people focus too much on upgrades, floated a lot of gloom and doom, expressed your own preferences, but not offered much to actually help the OP make up their own mind. WE GET IT: Apple's the only way to go for you. Great. Now consider it's not your computer or your choice being discussed.

The Pros and Cons have been listed, the OP is almost 100% certainly going to go the Hackintosh route, he seemed dead set on it from the beginning as well. The advantages of getting something like a refurbed imac are the unified warranty from an established, good company (check all the reports you want, Apple tops the lists in customer support) which would be the same as her getting a Dell or something. Also, the IPS screen on teh 24" model is a huge boon especially consider that his mother does photo work.

The advantages of the hackintosh, son can do the repair work, cheaper to set up (maybe, a lot depends on the monitor in this case), more specs for the same amount of money.

I am not going to list upgradeability as a plus because really... most people don't care.

 

[Zaap]

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
You're funny.

Her Mom runs a business. If she runs a business she should be using a official Apple computer. Not some patched up PC that can break anytime with OS updates. If this was for a hobby, then by all means whatever. But she is running a business on it. She should just use Windows if she's going the custom route.

Notice all your "she should" this and that. She should do what SHE wants, not what some fanboi insists on. Like I said, WE GET IT: Macs are your only choice. Once again, this choice isn't yours. Is that so difficult to grasp?

It's partially this attitude of (yes, conformist) Apple fanboi types that drove me to a Hackintosh solution myself. I've been doing freelance work since May of 2008 on a Hackintosh without a single problem. I know of and have personally built systems for over 20 people in that time that also do freelance work with their machines.

Had I listened to all the fanboi noise screaming "Get a Mac! Get a Mac! Everything else will blow up gloom doom gloom doom gloom doom gloom doom..." rather than making an informed choice, I'd be stuck with something that cost me way more than my current system(s) running the latest retail OSX with zero problems, that get my work done faster than any of Apple's "Laptops disguised as desktop" systems would have. That, or I'd be out $3k for a MacPro, which is a great choice for what it is, but it was actually overkill for my needs and intended budget.

Cite the facts, and let the person decide. I'm not bashing the iMac choice, because if that's what she wants and needs, great. On the other hand, you ARE proselytizing in typical fanboi fashion about the Hackintosh choice without knowing what the F you're really talking about. It's not actually helpful of informative to anyone but you.

 

[sourceninja]

I wouldn't run my company on hand built windows machines anymore then I would on hackintoshes. I'd want full support and the ability to make my problem someone else's problem.

 

[fatpat268]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
I wouldn't run my company on hand built windows machines anymore then I would on hackintoshes. I'd want full support and the ability to make my problem someone else's problem.

I'd rather deal with my own problem then some other idiot who doesn't have a clue what's going on.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: fatpat268

Originally posted by: sourceninja
I wouldn't run my company on hand built windows machines anymore then I would on hackintoshes. I'd want full support and the ability to make my problem someone else's problem.

I'd rather deal with my own problem then some other idiot who doesn't have a clue what's going on.

I think I am with Sourceninja on this one, if I am running a business downtime is money out of my pocket, and I would rather have the ability to, blame?, someone else in event of problems. For example, if I were to get a Dell small business machine (assuming I would get a Dell, which well.. Windows would have to come much further along for that to happen) I would also get the 3 year Next Business Day warranty. Because once I have exhausted what I would have tried immediately after the problem presented, it would be nice to know that someone would be on my doorstep the next day with the parts to fix the problem.

If I were to get a Mac, I have an apple store less than an hour away.

I can and have built my own systems. I already had existing parts and wanted to build a new gaming desktop anyway, hackintoshing it became a bonus, not the point. If I were to open a business, even a computer repair business like I want to, I would still be hesitant to have a hackintosh as one of my business systems, in my opinion it sends the wrong signal. Part of it is 'cuts corners/flaunts rules' and the other part is that well... a mac looks flush. It looks like you have the coin to drop on your company, and appearances can mean a lot. If I walk into a doctor's office and it has tattered upholstery and the doctor looks untidy, then I am less likely to deal with that business, regardless of how well reviewed s/he is.

 

[fatpat268]

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: fatpat268

Originally posted by: sourceninja
I wouldn't run my company on hand built windows machines anymore then I would on hackintoshes. I'd want full support and the ability to make my problem someone else's problem.

I'd rather deal with my own problem then some other idiot who doesn't have a clue what's going on.

I think I am with Sourceninja on this one, if I am running a business downtime is money out of my pocket, and I would rather have the ability to, blame?, someone else in event of problems. For example, if I were to get a Dell small business machine (assuming I would get a Dell, which well.. Windows would have to come much further along for that to happen) I would also get the 3 year Next Business Day warranty. Because once I have exhausted what I would have tried immediately after the problem presented, it would be nice to know that someone would be on my doorstep the next day with the parts to fix the problem.

If I were to get a Mac, I have an apple store less than an hour away.

I can and have built my own systems. I already had existing parts and wanted to build a new gaming desktop anyway, hackintoshing it became a bonus, not the point. If I were to open a business, even a computer repair business like I want to, I would still be hesitant to have a hackintosh as one of my business systems, in my opinion it sends the wrong signal. Part of it is 'cuts corners/flaunts rules' and the other part is that well... a mac looks flush. It looks like you have the coin to drop on your company, and appearances can mean a lot. If I walk into a doctor's office and it has tattered upholstery and the doctor looks untidy, then I am less likely to deal with that business, regardless of how well reviewed s/he is.

Yea, I think it really depends on what size of business you're running. If it was a small business with 10 computers or less maybe, I'd definitely do my own tech support. The time spent attempting to communicate the problem to someone else can be used to fix your own problem.

But anymore computers than that, I'd definitely want tech support as problems can multiply.

But, at the same time, I haven't had any major problems with my computers, and I'm highly cynical of tech support.

 

[swbsam]

Buy a refurb, let her get the real experience and the tech support she'll need.

 

[VinylxScratches]

Originally posted by: Zaap

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
You're funny.

Her Mom runs a business. If she runs a business she should be using a official Apple computer. Not some patched up PC that can break anytime with OS updates. If this was for a hobby, then by all means whatever. But she is running a business on it. She should just use Windows if she's going the custom route.

Notice all your "she should" this and that. She should do what SHE wants, not what some fanboi insists on. Like I said, WE GET IT: Macs are your only choice. Once again, this choice isn't yours. Is that so difficult to grasp?

It's partially this attitude of (yes, conformist) Apple fanboi types that drove me to a Hackintosh solution myself. I've been doing freelance work since May of 2008 on a Hackintosh without a single problem. I know of and have personally built systems for over 20 people in that time that also do freelance work with their machines.

Had I listened to all the fanboi noise screaming "Get a Mac! Get a Mac! Everything else will blow up gloom doom gloom doom gloom doom gloom doom..." rather than making an informed choice, I'd be stuck with something that cost me way more than my current system(s) running the latest retail OSX with zero problems, that get my work done faster than any of Apple's "Laptops disguised as desktop" systems would have. That, or I'd be out $3k for a MacPro, which is a great choice for what it is, but it was actually overkill for my needs and intended budget.

Cite the facts, and let the person decide. I'm not bashing the iMac choice, because if that's what she wants and needs, great. On the other hand, you ARE proselytizing in typical fanboi fashion about the Hackintosh choice without knowing what the F you're really talking about. It's not actually helpful of informative to anyone but you.

Yes I am a fanboi. Fuck off and go back to Off Topic because you add nothing of value.

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: fatpat268

Originally posted by: TheStu

Originally posted by: fatpat268

Originally posted by: sourceninja
I wouldn't run my company on hand built windows machines anymore then I would on hackintoshes. I'd want full support and the ability to make my problem someone else's problem.

I'd rather deal with my own problem then some other idiot who doesn't have a clue what's going on.

I think I am with Sourceninja on this one, if I am running a business downtime is money out of my pocket, and I would rather have the ability to, blame?, someone else in event of problems. For example, if I were to get a Dell small business machine (assuming I would get a Dell, which well.. Windows would have to come much further along for that to happen) I would also get the 3 year Next Business Day warranty. Because once I have exhausted what I would have tried immediately after the problem presented, it would be nice to know that someone would be on my doorstep the next day with the parts to fix the problem.

If I were to get a Mac, I have an apple store less than an hour away.

I can and have built my own systems. I already had existing parts and wanted to build a new gaming desktop anyway, hackintoshing it became a bonus, not the point. If I were to open a business, even a computer repair business like I want to, I would still be hesitant to have a hackintosh as one of my business systems, in my opinion it sends the wrong signal. Part of it is 'cuts corners/flaunts rules' and the other part is that well... a mac looks flush. It looks like you have the coin to drop on your company, and appearances can mean a lot. If I walk into a doctor's office and it has tattered upholstery and the doctor looks untidy, then I am less likely to deal with that business, regardless of how well reviewed s/he is.

Yea, I think it really depends on what size of business you're running. If it was a small business with 10 computers or less maybe, I'd definitely do my own tech support. The time spent attempting to communicate the problem to someone else can be used to fix your own problem.

But anymore computers than that, I'd definitely want tech support as problems can multiply.

But, at the same time, I haven't had any major problems with my computers, and I'm highly cynical of tech support.

Well there is a time sink issue even on 10 computers.

You have to build them. That's the easy part. Now unless you were building all 10 at the exact same time, you probably won't be getting the exact same hardware (and build your own guys tend to want to 'upgrade' stuff as prices drop in their builds). So each one will require it's own windows install with it's own driver installs, etc.

If you bought a HP, apple, dell, etc you could make a single build, configure it, and then drop it on the same model over and over. Work machines tend to have a 5 - 7 year replacement cycle anyway, so you can usually buy the same model from dell for that term. I did this when I worked for a company with 8 users, and we (I don't do this anymore) do the same thing today with 1500 users.

I wonder if you could do image drops on hackintoshes if they didn't have identical hardware. I know it doesn't work very well with windows in many cases (well as of XP anyway).

We had a computer lab of 40 imacs to setup. I unboxed one, set it up with all the apps we needed, then imaged it on to the other 39. To me, building anything yourself is always the 'hard way'.

And to think, this coming from a huge linux guy who has always built his own personal machines LOL.

 

[Zaap]

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
*emotional blather*

Heh. Clearly you have an unusual emotional attachment over someone else's computer choice. I'd recommend unbunching your panties and try getting some fresh air.

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
Yes I am a fanboi. Fuck off and go back to Off Topic because you add nothing of value.

I've read this thread through, and I find that your comments are the one that have the least value, BUT this isn't what this topic is addressing, let AstroMan make his own choices on what is best for his mother should they want to go the Hackintosh or Apple route. Considering she is doing freelance work, a little down time won't make that much of a difference.

 

[A5]

Originally posted by: zerogear

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches
Yes I am a fanboi. Fuck off and go back to Off Topic because you add nothing of value.

I've read this thread through, and I find that your comments are the one that have the least value, BUT this isn't what this topic is addressing, let AstroMan make his own choices on what is best for his mother should they want to go the Hackintosh or Apple route. Considering she is doing freelance work, a little down time won't make that much of a difference.

Yeah. From what the OP is saying, his mom is a freelancer who is much closer to quitting the game than going big. If he wants to build her a hackintosh, then he's going to build her one. No big deal.

 

[JKing106]

Then why is he here, looking for validation? Why ask at all? The information he's seeking is easily Googled. He's trolling, as far as I'm concerned, and from the last 2 pages, it seems he's done what he came here to do: start a shit fit.

 

[KeypoX]

hacks are not very stable... you buy hardware one day that is 100% compatible but the next day 0%. And remember some apple software requires updates.

Though my only mac experience is from hacks, so maybe i dunno what 'stable' is when speaking about macs. I know some problems i have had were not unique to hacks.

But you can't beat the price 🙂

 

[Tyranicus]

Originally posted by: KeypoX
hacks are not very stable... you buy hardware one day that is 100% compatible but the next day 0%. And remember some apple software requires updates.

Though my only mac experience is from hacks, so maybe i dunno what 'stable' is when speaking about macs. I know some problems i have had were not unique to hacks.

But you can't beat the price 🙂

That may be true, but personally. I enjoy the challenge. My desktop is currently running 10.5.7. I first built it when 10.5.2 was new. I have used various different installations and upgrades since then and occasionally had to use different kexts to get certain hardware working, but as of now, it works perfectly with all features. Sure, I may have to do all sorts of things to get the next update to work correctly (although I have my fingers crossed hoping it will be like 10.5.7, which I installed via the combo update), but until that update comes around, i would say my hack is very stable. It hasn't been turned off in over a week (and that was only because of a power outage). I have run it for over a month continuously before with no problems. If that's not stable, I don't know what is.

 

[swbsam]

I betcha she's going to update it. Or a friend who's over will. Or her nephew will check his email one day and click OK to the update. then she'll lose everything, in her mind. Sure, it can be recovered but after lots of work.. And I bet she won't back up, and it'll be your ass who will make everything work again.

Your question is sorta like "My dad drives a taxi part time, do you think he can steal a car, paint it yellow, and call it a day?"

If she must use a mac for her job and can't afford a mac, then she shouldn't work in the field. I work with macs for a living and it would be embarrassing and foolish to use a hack, even if I had only one client.

Get a mac mini, it'll be fine for everything she needs to do.

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: Tyranicus

Originally posted by: KeypoX
hacks are not very stable... you buy hardware one day that is 100% compatible but the next day 0%. And remember some apple software requires updates.

Though my only mac experience is from hacks, so maybe i dunno what 'stable' is when speaking about macs. I know some problems i have had were not unique to hacks.

But you can't beat the price 🙂

That may be true, but personally. I enjoy the challenge. My desktop is currently running 10.5.7. I first built it when 10.5.2 was new. I have used various different installations and upgrades since then and occasionally had to use different kexts to get certain hardware working, but as of now, it works perfectly with all features. Sure, I may have to do all sorts of things to get the next update to work correctly (although I have my fingers crossed hoping it will be like 10.5.7, which I installed via the combo update), but until that update comes around, i would say my hack is very stable. It hasn't been turned off in over a week (and that was only because of a power outage). I have run it for over a month continuously before with no problems. If that's not stable, I don't know what is.

yeah sometimes there are fixes. But I have yet to find one for my laptop, that I originally started using a hac with. It uses GMA 950 which worked (almost perfect) 10.5.2 to 10.5.4 (ithink it was 4). But now I cannot find a proper kext, solution, for qe/ci.

My desktop does pretty good nowadays though.

 

[Zaap]

Gloom and doom much? Amazing what a point of contention this subject is. You'd think hardware choice was a religion or something. 😉

Let's clear something up for those that may read this thread and don't know: running Software Update doesn't automatically kill a hack. If the Hack is running the latest system software (IE: currently 10.5.7) and there's no SYSTEM update available (it's not like Apple updates the system every five minutes) then ANY other update is just fine. Most times, even the system updates are fine- it's just some point updates can be trouble. It's easily avoided. Right now, my software update is empty- I've run them all like any other Mac user. There is no 10.5.8 out, and until there is, I've no reason to care a thing about software update- IE: 90% of the time.

If the OP goes with EFI-X (as he's indicated he will) then even system updates don't present a problem, same as a real Mac. Can people understand that, and knock off all the misinformed gloom and doom so someone else can make their own choice?

As for clients- heck, many of mine are now Hack users themselves after seeing a working alternative to Apple with their own eyes, and then figuring out for themselves, or having me build one for them. The IT dept at my work (a major studio here in LA) is now swarming with Hackintoshes, and I or one of the IT guys is building someone at work one just about every week. To say Apple underestimates the huge demand for a mid-range tower Mac, is a severe understatement.

 

[TheStu]

I think the appeal to the Hackintosh is taht you can build one for $300 (less if you are upgrading an existing system like I did). It isn't the form factor, it is the price. And even if Apple came out with the form factor you say people want, tomorrow, it won't be at the price you want. Apple's profit usually is around 30% I believe, so take a system you think is fair, and add about 60% to the cost (marketing, R&D, assembly, shipping, all that stuff in the background) and now you have the price they will charge.

 

[Zaap]

Originally posted by: TheStu
I think the appeal to the Hackintosh is taht you can build one for $300 (less if you are upgrading an existing system like I did). It isn't the form factor, it is the price.

Respectfully disagree- though price is a major factor too. Many people I've run into want a computer with full-sized parts, a non-all-in-one design (IE: they already have a monitor they like, or multiple monitors) despite the weird derision over it, many DO want to be able to do easy upgrades (it's a thing of beauty to go from a cheap Celeron or Pentium to quad core/high clock performance by merely changing one part- it appeals to a LOT of people). Ditto: changing from a cheap graphic card, to a high-powered one, adding multiple full-sized internal hard drives easily, etc. Slots are less important than they used to be, by it is nice to have the option when you need it. If one wants all of these options from Apple, you're pretty much looking at a MacPro. Like I say, a fantastic choice for what it is, but not everyone is interested in shelling out 3k for a computer vs. $600 to $1000 for 90% of the same performance. No, not even all working professionals.

And even if Apple came out with the form factor you say people want, tomorrow, it won't be at the price you want.

I agree- it wouldn't be as cheap as a similar PC, but even if Apple came out with, say, a $1200 upgradeable mid-tower, I believe they'd sell them like hotcakes. The problem is, they'd probably cannibalize a lot of sales of the MacPro, so it's hard to blame them. I see perfectly well why they don't offer it, and I agree it's a smart business move.

 

[zerogear]

Originally posted by: swbsam
I betcha she's going to update it. Or a friend who's over will. Or her nephew will check his email one day and click OK to the update. then she'll lose everything, in her mind. Sure, it can be recovered but after lots of work.. And I bet she won't back up, and it'll be your ass who will make everything work again.

Your question is sorta like "My dad drives a taxi part time, do you think he can steal a car, paint it yellow, and call it a day?"

If she must use a mac for her job and can't afford a mac, then she shouldn't work in the field. I work with macs for a living and it would be embarrassing and foolish to use a hack, even if I had only one client.

Get a mac mini, it'll be fine for everything she needs to do.

LOL WTF?

 

[swbsam]

Originally posted by: zerogear

Originally posted by: swbsam
I betcha she's going to update it. Or a friend who's over will. Or her nephew will check his email one day and click OK to the update. then she'll lose everything, in her mind. Sure, it can be recovered but after lots of work.. And I bet she won't back up, and it'll be your ass who will make everything work again.

Your question is sorta like "My dad drives a taxi part time, do you think he can steal a car, paint it yellow, and call it a day?"

If she must use a mac for her job and can't afford a mac, then she shouldn't work in the field. I work with macs for a living and it would be embarrassing and foolish to use a hack, even if I had only one client.

Get a mac mini, it'll be fine for everything she needs to do.

LOL WTF?

Ha, I don't know where that came from.

I just have these weird ethics - stealing is fine for my personal life, but I would never use stolen/hacked/compromised gear for work... it's just not fair - some people had to work their butts off to afford the tools of their trades.. Short cuts don't seem fair.