“Apple Computer fans are upset over a security chip found in a special x86-based PowerMac–a chip designed to prevent people from loading the company’s new Intel-centered OS onto non-Apple machines,” Michael Singer writes for CNET News. “Apple supplied the Intel-fitted PowerMac to members of its Apple Developer Connection, a group for software programmers. The PowerMac includes a microcontroller known as the Trusted Platform Module–TPM for short–that contains a digital signature necessary in order to install the Mac OSX operating system onto the box. An ADC member, who asked not to be identified, confirmed the microcontroller’s existence to CNET News.”
“The ADC source reported being able to install other operating systems like Windows and Linux onto the test box. But it was impossible, the source said, to install software from the DVD containing the Intel-configured Mac OS onto similar x86-based PCs that lacked a TPM,” Singer reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple VP Phil Schiller said after Steve Jobs’ presentation announcing Intel-based Macs, that Apple would only allow Macs run Mac OS X and wouldn’t do anything to disallow Windows from running on Intel-based Macs — preferably in a protected environment similar to VirtualPC, but without the need for emulation; running natively on the Intel CPU. That way, computer buyers will be able ask themselves “Why buy a Dell when Apple ‘Macintel’ computers will run both Mac OS X and Windows? This accomplishes two things: it sells more Apple hardware because buyers will like getting “two computers for the price of one” (three, if you could Linux) and it gets Mac OS X into the homes of Windows-only PC users. And once they get a look of Mac OS X, you just know what’ll happen next.
After Jobs’ presentation, Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller addressed the issue of running Windows on Macs, saying there are no plans to sell or support Windows on an Intel-based Mac. “That doesn’t preclude someone from running it on a Mac. They probably will,” he said. “We won’t do anything to preclude that.” However, Schiller said the company does not plan to let people run Mac OS X on other computer makers’ hardware. “We will not allow running Mac OS X on anything other than an Apple Mac,” he said.
In addition, Thomas Claburn has reported for InformationWeek, “David Moody, VP of worldwide Macintosh product marketing at Apple, says emphatically that [Apple’s decision to move to Intel] does not mean that anyone with an Intel-based PC will be able to install the Mac OS X. However, he notes that while Apple will not sell or support other operating systems with next year’s Intel-based Macs, the company has no plans to prevent users from concurrently installing a second operating system like Windows XP. The possibility of running Mac OS X and Windows on the same Intel box may make Apple hardware more appealing to enterprise customers.”
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple could use Trusted Platform Module chip to keep Mac OS X off non-Macs – June 14, 2005
Intel-based Macs running both Mac OS X and Windows will be good for Apple – June 10, 2005
Why buy a Dell when Apple ‘Macintel’ computers will run both Mac OS X and Windows? – June 08, 2005
If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. Get over it.
So, who are these “Apple computer fans” who are “upset” that OS X can’t run on a non-Apple box? The Apple Developers? They’ve already got an Intel box that runs OS X.
The only “upset” people I can think of would be PC people who don’t own Macs, who may hope to get an illegal copy of the pre-release Mac OS X for Intel. Which, probably isn’t a very large group of people.
The fact is, the only upset people at this point are probably MS/Dell/HP execs that won’t be in on the action when Apple ships.
I agree
If you don´t like it, don´t buy it. Get over it.
“Apple Computer fans are upset over a security chip found in a special x86-based PowerMac–a chip designed to prevent people from loading the company’s new Intel-centered OS onto non-Apple machines,”
Apple fans upset? This guy has it wrong. PC fans are the ones that will be upset because they won’t be able to run OS X on their existing equipment. Too bad…boo hooo….. Get a Mac for goodness sake if you want to use a real OS.
Me (Mac Fan) upset……..NOT!
(CNET….if figures)
Didn’t we already know all this?
The wording seems to imply the “install” won’t function. what if you “install” OS X on an external drive and then put that drive into a non-Apple brand x86 PC.
I thought I read somewhere that the check would be more “boot time” related and not just install based.
I don’t really care, I will buy Apple based hardware because I believe it is better quality and design than Wintel’s.
Are these people so stupid that they thought that Apple would sacrifice it’s hardware sales to go over to intel chips??
God guys get a reality check!
Apple is a hardware company – of course it’s not gonna let you install OSX on anything but an Apple Mac!
It’s called ‘protecting your business’.
If you want OSX buy a Mac because you aint gonna be able to install it on a Dell!
And if you do somehow – expect a long prison sentence courtesy of Apple Legal.
Using a little ‘3-D’ thinking, what’s to stop Microsoft from including a ‘feature’ in Vista which prevents that OS from being loaded on any machine with a TPM? Then, the whole idea of Intel based Macs being ‘stealthy’ ways of winning over Windows users, by allowing them easy access to their old software and/or direct comparisons to OSX, goes largely out the – ahem, no pun intended – window.
If I know Microsoft, and I think we all do by now, this is just the sort of tactic they embrace wholeheartedly. It’s like DRM for their own operating system – haha!
Ah, the immortal words of Robert Burns, that womanizing drunkard of a scottish poet (aka: Wiseman for the Ages), come to mind …
“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
Running OS X on a Dell like putting the Mona Lisa in a two dollar frame.
Regarding Microsoft doing the same thing (Odyssey 67), I agree they might like to, but anti-trust consdierations would prevent them from doing so. When Apple approaches about 80% in market share, they won’t be able to do it either.
Actually the upset people aren’t Apple fans they are OS X fans. They want to pirate the OS and play with it on their ugly X86 boxes and they can’t. Tough titty.
Odyssey… MS doesn’t make their hardware. To only allow TPM hardware to run Windows wouldn’t work… a work around would be found VERY quickly.
Apple is being anal again…
Why not allow OS X to run on any PC?
Probably because if it could, there would be FAR more problems than Windows could even DREAM OF!
Apple can’t even make their mouse work properly with Windows, how pathetic is that?
A Mac should stay on a Mac.
I would be “upset” if it didn’t!
RE: AP
Never underestimate the number of PC users who will steal software. As soon as the DRM is cracked (sadly it will be) the number of Mac OS users will double. But hopefully when they go to buy their next hardware, they will discover that it is a better to own the real thing … The truth is the Wintel near-monopoly waas built on this approach. If apple denounces it but does not clamp down (though adjust their DRM reoutines with each OS release – causing some headaches for the illegal users) Apple’s over all share will increase in the long run.
Makes sense to me. You knew that had to implement something like this the minute they announced the switch to Intel.
‘Duh
Hey, Im upset I cant get my current 10.3 to run on my sun box! Whats up with that?
In other word, OS X has never been able to run on hardware from another company, why is it so upsetting now? Its not
Of course if Someone where to get it on a beige box for real, OS X would probably be on 10-15% of the boxes on the planet within days, talk about year over year growth.
actually Robbie Burns said “the best laid plans of mice and men oft gang a glay!”
Macaholic,
Yeah I know, but I figured the anglicized version would be easier for the unwashed masses to understand.
Gard d zada says: “MS doesn’t make their hardware. To only allow TPM hardware to run Windows wouldn’t work… a work around would be found VERY quickly.”
I think we misundertsand each other here. What I’m saying is that if Apple can make their OSX installation disks look for and require a TPM chip before allowing an actual x86 installation to occur, then MS can just as easily make their Vista installation disks look for a TPM (or just an Apple ‘encoded’ one) and then FORBID an actual x86 installation to occur.
Thus MS would prevent Windows from running on an x86/TPM equipped Mac.
“Why not allow OS X to run on any PC? Probably because if it could, there would be FAR more problems than Windows could even DREAM OF! Apple can’t even make their mouse work properly with Windows, how pathetic is that?”
Umm, I think comparing Windows’ potential for problems vs. OSX’s potential for problems is going to favor Apple for the forseeable future. After all, MS is already having virus problems with their Vista beta only DAYS after it’s release! And I’m sure Apple will have a Windows CD for their mouse soon enough. They generally don’t release Windows equivalent versions of their software at exactly the same time as their Mac versions, regardless of the product. It’s corporate policy, not incompetence.
Pay for something for once.
Buffy
Have you not read the info that says Macs ARE ~16% of the installed base of PC’s, why? Because they last longer, and now Windozians just throw out their doorstops and buy new ones when they get plugged up with virii. I run a G4/400 circa 1998, Tiger runs perfectly. I just need a new graphics card so I can get the ripple effect for my widgets.
The uproar isn’t that you need the chip. it’s what the chip can do. Microsoft is already planning with the box makers to use such a chip. It will phone home to MS to make sure that the programs are ligit and if not, will either shut down the machine or disable the program. Can be used for subsscription plan for an OS or program and if you don’t keep up the payments, stops working. And worst case scenario, which isn’t so far fetched with the attitudes now, lets the government keep tabs on what you are posting and/or doing. Real scary stuff that MS has been planning on implementing for a long time. Hopefully Apple will just use it to ensure that it’s their boxes that OS X is being installed on.
Wonder if it runs under VMWare?
Prob. not. But it would be interesting.
I’m an Apple fan and iMac user and I’m NOT UPSET LOL.