Using Macintosh
 

Dear Members,

This question is an outcome of the fact that Macintosh has made its new architecture Intel x86. I have a couple of questions:

1. Is it possible to install MacOSX on a x86 desktop ?
2. Is it possible to use Linux s/w, say .deb ones, on MacOSX, or one still have to port it to such machines ? Does the ppc version still work ?

Thanks, in advance,

1. *shrug* Google it.
2. PPC versions of anything won't work on the new Macs. Macs have been x86 for almost two years now (at least).

MacOSX has already been installed on x86 systems (non-apple computers) See the OSX86 project (Google it)

Linux has also been installed on both older macs (ppc) and new macs (x86). See Google.

Installing MacOSX on a none Apple PC is illegal, even though it can be done (with a lot of trouble pathing the Kernel Image, and breaking everything each update). You can use pretty much all Linux software on MacOSX, since MacOSX is a full Unix (even certified), .deb, .rpm are Distribution specific packageing formats for Linux (deb for debian based, rpm for red hat or suse ie). Therefor they cant be used on MacOSX (they cant even be used on many other Linux Distributions) but you can almost always compile from source, or use package menagers like fink or darwinports on MacOSX, which also resolve dependencies.
MacOSX software comes packaged in .app files (which are really folders) those most often contain what is called a universal binary, those binarys can be executed on both x86/ppc Macs, even though there are a couple applications which require intel, there are not much of them, since developing in XCode (the MacOSX IDE) makes it easy to build universal binaries instead of ppc or intel specific.

The problem installing Linux on Macs is that Macs use EFI instead of the very old BIOS now, so the distributions have to support that, or the Mac has to emulate BIOS (which is easyly possible) so installing Linux is easy after all. But why install Linux if you gut a great working Unix out of the Box with MacOSX?

I was using macs for a long time, but resently switched to an IBM Thinkpad because i wasnt satified with the Quality of the new Macs (since the intel switch).

You guys hear about that new PC company that sells Apple OS X on regular PC's? They claim it's not illegal. Not sure how they are getting away with it.

I heard of this 'company', psystar. It sounds more like a fake company to me, because there isn't a lot of information about them or on their site. I think it would be safer just to build your own and install OSX on it, rather than to rely on some dodgey company that does not give enough information or proof that their systems work.


Well, here is the company page:
http://www.psystar.com/

Macworld article about them:
http://www.macworld.com/article/1329...4/psystar.html

ZDNet:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=8518


[edit]

If it is true that their machines work with OSX and they are getting away with it, I would imagine that they wouldn't sell OSX pre-installed, but just the machine itself, and the user would probably have to install OSX. Not sure about that though.

Looks to me like Psystar's too unprepared, and too cocky. And to think they can just break the EULA, well, I'm sure they'll be hearing from Apple's lawyers. Chances are, they'll be out of business within a couple months.

I do not get the sense that they are actually an existing company.