My roommate wants a Mac D: (should I build him a hackintosh?)

[maniac5999]

So, I hate Macs. (It's nothing personal with you guys) I don't think the UI is any better than windows, I think that the hardware is rediculously overpriced, and I hate the religous tones that certain people who don't know the first thing about computers speak in when they're talking about Macs.

Unfortunately my roommate is one of those people. He's currently got an iPad, an iPhone 4 and a 2006 15"MBP. The Phone/Pad he do everything that he needs except for certain 'video watching' and playing WoW. Unfortunately, the MacBook is on it's last legs, he's beat the snot out of it for 5 years and his mom spilled coffee on it a month ago.

So, his big performance demand is WoW, and I have issues with him dropping $2k+ just to play a game that I can almost completely max out on my 2 year old $800 desktop. He isn't willing to even consider windows, (he's as windows-phobic as I am Mac-phobic) so I was wondering if I should build him a Hackintosh. I do have some questions however:

*If I buy the right components can it be as hardware/OS trouble free as a standard windows box?
*Do you think it's worth the hassle?
*Should I wait for the SB re-launch to build it or just suck it up with LGA1156?
*What would a reccomended build be, and which components besides mobo/CPU/GPU do i need to worry about mac compatability for?

Thanks in advance for all the help.

 

[Ns1]

not unless you want to be his 24/7 tech support.

 

[Kaido]

not unless you want to be his 24/7 tech support.

This.

 

[Gooberlx2]

not unless you want to be his 24/7 tech support.

This x10. Unless you want to be hassled with potential issues at every update, don't even bother. If you're concerned about his wallet, tell him to look at refurbs for the last generation MBP.

FWIW, I think 5 years is pretty good for any laptop that's been abused and spilled on.

 

[TheStu]

not unless you want to be his 24/7 tech support.

Absolutely, positively, 100% this.

This x10. Unless you want to be hassled with potential issues at every update, don't even bother. If you're concerned about his wallet, tell him to look at refurbs for the last generation MBP.

FWIW, I think 5 years is pretty good for any laptop that's been abused and spilled on.

5 years is a great run for an abused system, no matter who makes it.

If he wants a laptop, the new MBPs are pretty good looking, great battery life, Sandy Bridge CPUs and 6000 series AMD GPUs.

For the same $2000, he can get the 27" iMac, which has a huge, gorgeous screen that costs $1000 on its own (from Apple, Dell, or anyone else that might sell it).

Again, unless you want to be his 24/7 tech support when some new thing all of sudden doesn't work with the Hack because of some little reason, then his best bet is to get a real Mac.

Tell you what, have him get the Mac, that way you get to feel smug and superior over his inferior, more expensive choice, and he gets to feel smug and superior about the fact that he doesn't use Windows, and 'gets' whatever it is that he thinks makes Macs better. Win Win really.

 

[speg]

Refurbed iMac ftw.

 

[maniac5999]

This x10. Unless you want to be hassled with potential issues at every update, don't even bother. If you're concerned about his wallet, tell him to look at refurbs for the last generation MBP.

That sounds like a reasonable option (although As always mobile graphics stink) Just a quick question, how long until refurbs of the current generation go up for sale? I'm just wondering because the performance jump from a Nvidia GT330M to a 5750m looks to be pretty big.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

That sounds like a reasonable option (although As always mobile graphics stink) Just a quick question, how long until refurbs of the current generation go up for sale? I'm just wondering because the performance jump from a Nvidia GT330M to a 5750m looks to be pretty big.

You'll see current gen stuff hit the refurb store almost immediately in small quantities. (customer returns can't be sold as new.)

But it's 2-3 months for reliable supply, seems like.

 

[TheStu]

That sounds like a reasonable option (although As always mobile graphics stink) Just a quick question, how long until refurbs of the current generation go up for sale? I'm just wondering because the performance jump from a Nvidia GT330M to a 5750m looks to be pretty big.

It is a 6750 actually, so an even bigger jump there.

And as Dave said, give it a couple of months for a reliable stream, but you could start seeing them in limited quantities any time now. A returned system has to be sent back to the factory, checked, re-certified, and then repackaged into the more boring plain cardboard. But you can save hundreds of dollars for a good-as-new system with the same warranty.

 

[MotionMan]

not unless you want to be his 24/7 tech support.

Absolutely this.

And, why is it such a concern of yours (this is not your sig other, is it?). He is obviously happy with Apple products and, as long as he has the money, why can't he buy what he wants?

BTW, I hate computer evangelists on both sides.

MotionMan

 

[maniac5999]

Absolutely this.

And, why is it such a concern of yours (this is not your sig other, is it?). He is obviously happy with Apple products and, as long as he has the money, why can't he buy what he wants?

BTW, I hate computer evangelists on both sides.

MotionMan

Quite simply, money that he doesn't put towards this is money that he can use to buy the wrap-around leather sofa and 70" TV for the living room.

With of the shelf components I could build him an awesome WoW computer for $800 with windows. (4+ ghz Clarkdale, GTX460 1gb, Sugo SG05 etc.) where is the mac equivalent? The cheapest mac pro is $2500 and comes with less graphics muscle than that. Is there a solution to get something similar to what I'm looking for that's even only 50% more expensive than the windows equivalent?

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Absolutely this.

And, why is it such a concern of yours (this is not your sig other, is it?). He is obviously happy with Apple products and, as long as he has the money, why can't he buy what he wants?

BTW, I hate computer evangelists on both sides.

MotionMan

It's his "friend".

 

[TheStu]

Quite simply, money that he doesn't put towards this is money that he can use to buy the wrap-around leather sofa and 70" TV for the living room.

With of the shelf components I could build him an awesome WoW computer for $800 with windows. (4+ ghz Clarkdale, GTX460 1gb, Sugo SG05 etc.) where is the mac equivalent? The cheapest mac pro is $2500 and comes with less graphics muscle than that. Is there a solution to get something similar to what I'm looking for that's even only 50% more expensive than the windows equivalent?

You are asking an intentionally rhetorical question there, the answer is obviously no.

Why not pitch him the following idea... if he is willing to spend $2000 on a new 15" MBP, then how about he gets the $800 PC/Hack, and then drop the rest on a 13" MacBook Air. The Air will match or exceed every aspect of his 15" MBP (aside from connectivity and ability to watch a movie), will weigh less than half as much and get better battery life, and he still gets a true Mac.

So yea, pitch that to him, see if he bites. It is yet another potential win/win solution.

 

[MotionMan]

Quite simply, money that he doesn't put towards this is money that he can use to buy the wrap-around leather sofa and 70" TV for the living room.

With of the shelf components I could build him an awesome WoW computer for $800 with windows. (4+ ghz Clarkdale, GTX460 1gb, Sugo SG05 etc.) where is the mac equivalent? The cheapest mac pro is $2500 and comes with less graphics muscle than that. Is there a solution to get something similar to what I'm looking for that's even only 50% more expensive than the windows equivalent?

So, basically, you know more about computers, you have explained everything to him and he still does not want to follow your advice, so you are going to try to impose your will on him.

Got it.

MotionMan

 

[Zaap]

Neither of you sounds like a candidate for a Hackintosh. (Mac-phobe building a 'Mac' that's really a PC, for a 'PC-phobe'.) Yeah, sure, that can't possibly end badly!

And no offense, but you sound like quite the manipulative roomie! Dictating your roommate's computing choice so that he can buy other stuff that YOU want? Classic!

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Neither of you sounds like a candidate for a Hackintosh. (Mac-phobe building a 'Mac' that's really a PC, for a 'PC-phobe'.) Yeah, sure, that can't possibly end badly!

And no offense, but you sound like quite the manipulative roomie! Dictating your roommate's computing choice so that he can buy other stuff that YOU want? Classic!

It's his "roommate"...

 

[KeypoX]

So, I hate Macs. (It's nothing personal with you guys) I don't think the UI is any better than windows, I think that the hardware is rediculously overpriced, and I hate the religous tones that certain people who don't know the first thing about computers speak in when they're talking about Macs.


*If I buy the right components can it be as hardware/OS trouble free as a standard windows box?
*Do you think it's worth the hassle?
*Should I wait for the SB re-launch to build it or just suck it up with LGA1156?
*What would a reccomended build be, and which components besides mobo/CPU/GPU do i need to worry about mac compatability for?

Thanks in advance for all the help.

*yes
*for you hell no, its fun for me
*thats what im planing, why pay the same for less performance?
*i plan on building something based off tonymacs work. I will use the dsdts that he edits, then do my own install with a separate chameleon partition, the blackosx method. All kinds of little things dont work on hacks or regular macs. Webcams, wireless cards, pci cards, printers etc.

 

[HaukSwe]

Tell you what, have him get the Mac, that way you get to feel smug and superior over his inferior, more expensive choice, and he gets to feel smug and superior about the fact that he doesn't use Windows, and 'gets' whatever it is that he thinks makes Macs better. Win Win really.

Classic. Really all that was needed to be said here,

 

[Unheard]

Mac-phobe building a 'Mac' that's really a PC, for a 'PC-phobe'.

Sounds like the plot for a bad sitcom.

 

[Paperlantern]

Classic. Really all that was needed to be said here,

Agreed. Apple is an incredible company. What I mean by this, is they have made products that people buy because they are Apple. Now dont get me wrong, im not saying Apple could take a bag of poo and slap an apple logo on it and call it iPoo and people would still buy it. People arent that religious, and as much as a lot of mac phobes would like to claim that would happen, it simply wouldnt, and Apple would be in a world of hurt. What I mean is Apple is VERY good at what they do. I have used thousands of laptops (i used to be a tech at a break fix depot that was authorized for HP, Dell, IBM/Lenovo, Compaq (before it was bought and after), Sony, Winbook Toshiba, Gateway and more...) Ive used them all. but as far as what I personally want in a laptop, what I want it to feel like, what I want it to do, what I want it to BE, is matched only by a Mac product.

Again, not saying it is far SUPERIOR to any of the others, just personally it fits MY interpretation of what a laptop should be. The other brands didnt feel as solid, look as good or quite measure up as well. but again, just my opinion.

I realize a lot of non mac products (I cant use the term PC because a Mac IS A PC, here forward known as "PC") are cheaper and offer "more muscle" than what is in a mac. BUT, if you compare a top dollar mac, side by side with a top dollar "PC", you may find the performance is roughly the same, even though the processor is faster or the GPU is better in the "PC". This is because Apple engineers thier stuff AND writes the OS for it. HP, Dell, etc don't have that luxury. Apple can optimize performance in ways the others cant.

Just my $0.02.

PS: I'm not a fan of any particular OS or hardware, i just like macs laptops. I use Windows, countless distros of linux, and Mac OS all in a day's work, each is a tool and i implement that tool where it is best utilized.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Quite simply, money that he doesn't put towards this is money that he can use to buy the wrap-around leather sofa and 70" TV for the living room.

With of the shelf components I could build him an awesome WoW computer for $800 with windows. (4+ ghz Clarkdale, GTX460 1gb, Sugo SG05 etc.) where is the mac equivalent? The cheapest mac pro is $2500 and comes with less graphics muscle than that. Is there a solution to get something similar to what I'm looking for that's even only 50% more expensive than the windows equivalent?

If you insist on tying him to a desktop solution, a Mac Mini will serve the purpose as a WoW client. It's not like he absolutely must max out WoW anyways, seeing as he was playing it on his 15" MacBook.

But based on the fact that he had a MacBook, I'd assume that he prefers flexibility and portability over stationary work. For that reason alone, I'd suggest that you pitch him a 13" MacBook at the cheapest, or a 13" MacBook Air if he can make the stretch (plus it has a 4GB RAM option). It doesn't absolutely have to be a $2000 purchase make or miss.

And at least you won't have to worry about him turning back and asking you what those blue-screen errors are or why he can't update his hackintosh build or something of the sort. Marrying a hackintosh or PC to someone who doesn't even have the knowledge to come up here and ask for himself is really asking for trouble.

 

[Kadarin]

You have issues with your "roommate" getting a Mac? Dude, unless you guys are a couple, stay the fuck out of his business and let him get what he wants. What's wrong with you?

 

[maniac5999]

You have issues with your "roommate" getting a Mac? Dude, unless you guys are a couple, stay the fuck out of his business and let him get what he wants. What's wrong with you?

He came to me with the question, if you must know, Mr Collins. and we would both like a 55" TV for the livingroom.

If you insist on tying him to a desktop solution, a Mac Mini will serve the purpose as a WoW client. It's not like he absolutely must max out WoW anyways, seeing as he was playing it on his 15" MacBook.

But based on the fact that he had a MacBook, I'd assume that he prefers flexibility and portability over stationary work. For that reason alone, I'd suggest that you pitch him a 13" MacBook at the cheapest, or a 13" MacBook Air if he can make the stretch (plus it has a 4GB RAM option). It doesn't absolutely have to be a $2000 purchase make or miss.

And at least you won't have to worry about him turning back and asking you what those blue-screen errors are or why he can't update his hackintosh build or something of the sort. Marrying a hackintosh or PC to someone who doesn't even have the knowledge to come up here and ask for himself is really asking for trouble.

This is one of the things that I was thinking, He's been very interested in the idea of something like I have, and most of his portable needs are taken care of between his iPhone and iPad. He has said "I'd think about something like you have, because all I use my Mac for anymore is to play WoW." I was thinking about suggesting the mac mini, but I'm wondering how big of an upgrade it'll be graphically, especially given that he'd be going to a bigger screen with more pixels to push. I know that my netbook struggles with WoW on anything above "Fair" settings, and it's only a 1366x768 screen.

His actual demand was the best/prettiest WoW performance possible, and less expensive is better. but it must run OSX.

 

[sourceninja]

the mini has a nvidia 320m in it. My macbook pro has a 330m and it can max out wow on my 24 inch display. Of course I stopped playing before the last expansion.

Just make sure it's got at least 4 gigs of ram. (upgrade aftermarket, not at purchase)

 

[runawayprisoner]

This is one of the things that I was thinking, He's been very interested in the idea of something like I have, and most of his portable needs are taken care of between his iPhone and iPad. He has said "I'd think about something like you have, because all I use my Mac for anymore is to play WoW." I was thinking about suggesting the mac mini, but I'm wondering how big of an upgrade it'll be graphically, especially given that he'd be going to a bigger screen with more pixels to push. I know that my netbook struggles with WoW on anything above "Fair" settings, and it's only a 1366x768 screen.

His actual demand was the best/prettiest WoW performance possible, and less expensive is better. but it must run OSX.

Then the 2010 Mac Mini should take that task on effortlessly. It has been shown to run WoW at Ultra Settings at 1920 x 1080 quite effortlessly.

Here's a nominal video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG8uoza4VAY

Unless, of course, you guys break the bank and purchase a super high resolution monitor just for him to play WoW on...