Reverse Boot Camp?

[FluffyWithTeeth]

Couldn't they simply not provide hackers needed updates and such? You know, scan the system for the basic hardware found on a Macintosh, if it isn't present or the same as it should be, no update.

They have to hack each major update (10.4.6 for example).

He did. Every one so far, and quickly.

The whole thing kinda died out when the intel Macs really came out, though. It was a pretty troublesome process, and they never got any good video drivers.

[Liquidmark]

Couldn't they simply not provide hackers needed updates and such? You know, scan the system for the basic hardware found on a Macintosh, if it isn't present or the same as it should be, no update.

They have to hack each major update (10.4.6 for example).

Oh yeah. Probably, Because there's no EFI.

Sorry, I'm not up to speed on what the haker community has done with OSX.

How about limited driver support or "always run in safe mode when hacked" or something?

[zizdodrian]

Just put code to check for whitebox PCs all through the operating system... permeate the kernel to such an extent that it would be impossible for any one person to remove.

That said - I'm liking the OS X on whitebox PCs thing - the only reason I haven't done it myself is because I don't have a PC fast enough to run it!

[Hellmark]

But that would be much more difficult than you make it seem to be, because while everything works together and functions the same way, they really are not the same. You cannot expect different computers to have the same parts, only to have parts that serve the same function. So then you'd basically have to have it be able to communicate with a shitload of different things, and hope that you got it all, and keep updating it as new shit comes out. It'd be simplier and easier to merely look for something that all macs halve, and lock things out if that is not present, and even that isnt fool proof.

[zizdodrian]

But that would be much more difficult than you make it seem to be, because while everything works together and functions the same way, they really are not the same. You cannot expect different computers to have the same parts, only to have parts that serve the same function. So then you'd basically have to have it be able to communicate with a shitload of different things, and hope that you got it all, and keep updating it as new shit comes out. It'd be simplier and easier to merely look for something that all macs halve, and lock things out if that is not present, and even that isnt fool proof.

But we aren't checking for PCs, we are checking for the absence of mac.
Besides, I never said it would be in everything! Imagine how slow it would become!

[nightolm]

It'd be simplier and easier to merely look for something that all macs halve, and lock things out if that is not present, and even that isnt fool proof.

Absolutely correct Hellmark, it isnt fool proof. Apple is already doing that with there current product, the parts being an EFI chip, performs effectively the same job as a BIOS chip some things are different though, the requirement for NX bit processor support, and finally a TPM which is a chip on the motherboard. Non of these things exist on a whitebox PC. They are also easy to get around due to OS X using a Unix core. Now, I am extreamly over simplifying, theres much more involved, but the OSx86 community is on top of allowing people access to MacOS no matter your hardware, milage may very.

[illitrate23]

i do wonder if apple are really quiet so bothered about people wanting to run os x on their pcs.
for sure, they aren't doing anything to encourage it, but then in today's litigious world, i guess no corporatiion can risk setting a preceedent of supporting something like that
but they aren't making it impossible to run os x on a pc, just difficult.
and as has been said, the more people that try it out on their pc, the more that will become converted, and of those, a percentage will switch, and another percentage later on when they get the cash, or get a bonus at work or something, will buy a mac, because then they'll enjoy the os with hardward that just works.
i suspect the steps they make to 'prevent' os x running on anything but a mac are those necessary to be 'seen' to trying to stop it from happening. and also, because they don't want the hassle of having to be compatible with any hardware other than their own

[nightolm]

And that, Illitrate, is what has so many of us in the OSx86 world scratching our collective heads. It really does seem like Apple isnt trying very hard to stop us from using OS X on non apple machines. Ive been told several times on this board that apple is a solutions company and that they wont give up their corner on the mac hardware as well as their hardware sales being their primary form of income. We're just going to have to do what they do in the military and hurry up and wait.

[zizdodrian]

And that, Illitrate, is what has so many of us in the OSx86 world scratching our collective heads. It really does seem like Apple isnt trying very hard to stop us from using OS X on non apple machines. Ive been told several times on this board that apple is a solutions company and that they wont give up their corner on the mac hardware as well as their hardware sales being their primary form of income. We're just going to have to do what they do in the military and hurry up and wait.

The truth is - even if someone develops an automated procedure - I don't think this is going to impact on Apple's hardware market at all. Its just the wrong demographic.

[nightolm]

I agree, there wont be an impact on Apple's hardware market, besides, as computer monitors go, they make some of the best. The rendering I've seen on an Apple monitor is just outnout stunning. Well worth the sticker price that goes with them.

[zizdodrian]

I agree, there wont be an impact on Apple's hardware market, besides, as computer monitors go, they make some of the best. The rendering I've seen on an Apple monitor is just outnout stunning. Well worth the sticker price that goes with them.

But it isn't just the computer monitor - it is the whole package!

[TheRealCaltsar]

From my understanding, and from an "official" statement (I'm not checking my sources right now, so correct me if I'm wrong), Apple has said that they don't discourage people from installing OS X on a generic PC *if* they buy their own copy, but installing it on a generic PC isn't supported by apple.  (In other words, don't install it on a generic PC and expect apple support to troubleshoot OS and application problems for you.)

The EFI check is really just a way of making it a bit more difficult to install on generic hardware.  As far as I know, they have never taken legal action against anyone breaking it, though there may have been some trouble with the OSx86 project in the past, but I think that was due to illegal copies of OS X that needed to be downloaded or something.

Just my 2cp as I remember it.

[nightolm]

Actually, I was able to pick up JUST an apple monitor at a bestbuy about 2 weeks ago, 23 inches of holy groovyness set up with two smaller crts in a 3 monitor display setup... ahh I'm in heaven.

[lg_alucard]

From my understanding, and from an "official" statement (I'm not checking my sources right now, so correct me if I'm wrong), Apple has said that they don't discourage people from installing OS X on a generic PC *if* they buy their own copy, but installing it on a generic PC isn't supported by apple.  (In other words, don't install it on a generic PC and expect apple support to troubleshoot OS and application problems for you.)

The EFI check is really just a way of making it a bit more difficult to install on generic hardware.  As far as I know, they have never taken legal action against anyone breaking it, though there may have been some trouble with the OSx86 project in the past, but I think that was due to illegal copies of OS X that needed to be downloaded or something.

Just my 2cp as I remember it.

I believe it was the other way around.  Apple would allow windows to be installed on apple PCs though unsupported.  Installing OS X on a non-apple PC is against the EULA.

[zizdodrian]

Actually, I was able to pick up JUST an apple monitor at a bestbuy about 2 weeks ago, 23 inches of holy groovyness set up with two smaller crts in a 3 monitor display setup... ahh I'm in heaven.

No no.... I wasn't talking about only being able to buy a display with the whole computer... I was saying that the whole package... from monitor to mouse to mac... is wonderfully spic and span, and as a consequence, will stand out from the crowd for people looking at OS X... even if a generic option were available.

Sadly - without their software exclusivity, their hardware exclusivity will die also. No - they will never release the OS for generic PCs.