You’ve probably heard from someone or read somewhere on the internet that it is possible to install Apple’s MAC OS X operating system on regular PC hardware (Gigabyte, Asus Motherboard etc) or Acer, HP, Toshiba laptop. Well, those rumors are not lies… the answer is that it is possible and the reason is mainly due to the fact that when Apple decided to start using the Intel processor (x86) instead of it’s own PowerPC (PPC) processor it opened its doors to have MAC OS X to be installed regular PC hardware.
These PC hardware based computers / laptops that run MAC OS X have been come to be know as Hackintosh’s. Some of them run a hacked version of MAC OS X (osx86 project), and some are actually running a live retail copy of Mac OS X DVD (can download update without problems) that you can buy from Apple.
In fact, I am writing this article on a HP NC8000 laptop with Mac OS X 10.54 installed. The specification of the 5 year old HP NC8000 laptop is as follows:
Processor: Intel Pentium M 725 – 1.6 GHz
Ram: 1.5 GB
DVD drive: Dual Layer – DVD -RW
OS: Jas Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.4 (see picture)
Network: RJ45 and wireless usb adapter (working)
I will be writing a tutorial on exactly how to install Mac OS X on this HP NC8000 model laptop in my next article on this website… so stay tuned.
Now more about Hackintosh’s. There have been companies out there that have been selling Hackintosh’s for years like PsyStar, and the OSX86 project has been around since Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger was out which is at least 5 plus years ago, so this knowledge is nothing new. There are also companie’s out there that sell USB devices so that you can install the retail DVD of Apple’s MAC OS X operating system. The Russian’s have been selling Hackintosh’s as well. Since a year ago, Apple have sued PsyStar and now PsyStar has stopped selling their version of Hackintosh online. However, that has not stopped the internet community from continuing on their own to install Mac OS X on PC hardware, cause in the end would you want to pay $1800 on a Mac Book Pro, when you can build one from a Toshiba laptop that is more powerful and half the price?
Make sure you check back frequently to learn more about how you can install the Mac OS X operating system on your PC hardware and get devices working with drivers. Many projects from myself and others will be articled here, in addition you can post comments and questions.
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