“The folks at Apple must be nervous. What else would explain why the world’s most rebellious technology company would be out squashing a rebellion? I’m talking about the OSX86 rebellion,” Tom Gromak writes for The Detroit News. “What’s OSX86? It’s the long-awaited marriage of the Macintosh OSX operating system with Intel’s x86 architecture (so-named for the original processor with the code number 8086 and all those that followed). It’s not a beautifully orchestrated reception at MacWorld. It’s more like a Vegas-style cheapo-chapel wedding hatched by a bunch of rogue hackers, crackers and posers who want OSX to run not on Apple’s blessed hardware, but on their own.”
“I’m one of them,” Gromak writes. “A few weeks ago, I got my hands on a hacked and patched version of Apple’s 10.4.3 Tiger operating system. It was the culmination of a scheme that began late last year with my last PC motherboard upgrade to a speedy 3GHz Intel dual-core processor. When the hacked version dropped in my lap in late January, I was elated. I quickly formatted a hard drive, slipped in the CD, and thirty minutes later, I was running OSX on a home-built PC. I was amazed… Apple says it has no plans to sell the operating system apart from its hardware. It’s taken the extra step of going after a couple of key Web sites in the OSX86 movement, including the excellent OSX86project.org, a site for all sorts of Mac enthusiasts and switchers. And that’s too bad. But then, they are in the business of selling computers. And I’ve enjoyed the experience so thoroughly that I may just have to pony up the cash to buy one.”
Full article here.
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Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple restricts access to Mac OS X source code bits in effort to curb Mac OS X on x86 hacks – February 24, 2006
Apple’s Mac OS X 10.4.4 for Intel cracked – February 15, 2006
BrianD wrote:
“Let Windows users experience OS X and iLife. A good percentager will consider converting with their next computer purchase.”
“Consider” isn’t good enough. If the user says “Well maybe I’ll look at Apple next time”, the conversion will never happen. They’ll just buy another cheap PC and run another hacked OS X install on it. Apple needs an approach that’ll seal the conversion right away. Make the user say “That’s it! I’m going to the Apple Store right now!”.
Officially supporting OS X on generic PC’s would be an extremely dangerous gamble, it’d have to be a very well calculated move. Seeing the effort Apple’s putting into fighting OSx86, Apple apparently doesn’t see it working in their favor.
“Tom Gromak wrote: “But then, they (Apple) are in the business of selling computers. And I’ve enjoyed the experience so thoroughly that I may just have to pony up the cash to buy one.”
This sums it up. Let Windows users experience OS X and iLife. A good percentager will consider converting with their next computer purchase.”
Are you so dense that you imagine that the people who get their taste of OS X the way Gromak did are going to BUY their next OS X? The next version would “drop in their lap” just like the first one.
Hey, Majikthize — GET A CLUE!
hubkap was being . . . are you ready? . . . say it with me:
S – A – R – C – A – S – T – I – C ! ! ! !
Here’s a nickel, Majik. Buy a clue.
It ain’t stealing if the author of the above article actually purchased a Tiger DVD, then it’s merely a contract violation of a generally unenforceable EULA.
Gromak? UG! Isn’t he in the next cave down from Gorog? The genus and species Homo Thefticus is still polluting the gene pool.
Report him to the BSA. Maybe you’ll get a $50,000 reward.
“It ain’t stealing if the author of the above article actually purchased a Tiger DVD”
Hmm. From the article:
“When the hacked version dropped in my lap in late January”
“Dropped in” is about the same as “acquired” or “procured”. Anyone can read between these lines.
Why didn’t he just say “bought” if he purchased it?
VERY good point, Tommy Boy.
I have a copy of windows that I run on my Mac (VPC). I don’t use my PC anymore, so I transferred it to my Mac.
If someone BUYS the software, it’s not STEALING!
Just some stupid EULA that isn’t even enforceable in Court… and Apple knows that.
Not to mention it’s kinda hard to legally buy a hacked OS X install.
Reminds me of a song by the Georgia Satellites
I said baby oh baby why do you keep me this way,
You know I’m still your loverboy, I still feel the same way.
That’s when she told me a story ’bout free milk and a cow, She said no huggy no kissy ’til I get a wedding vow.
… They can look, but they can’t touch until they buy the whole package. I’m sure Apple will always keep at least one step ahead of the pirateers.
tipping point wrote: “Officially supporting OS X on generic PC’s would be an extremely dangerous gamble, it’d have to be a very well calculated move.”
MacFinn wrote: “Are you so dense that you imagine that the people who get their taste of OS X the way Gromak did are going to BUY their next OS X? The next version would “drop in their lap” just like the first one.”
First of all, I am not advocating Apple support OS X on generic PCs. I am very against that. It would destroy Apple as we know it. I think Apple should be actively preventing OS X from running on generic PC any way they legally can.
Having clarified the above, I will state that I have faith in the human race. In my rose coloured world, I imagine the majority of people will be honest when given the opportunity.
hubcap may have been sarcastic, but there is a large number of people who actually would say what was said and would NOT be sarcastic about. A lot of people actually believe stealing software is not hurting anyone. I agree with Majikthize on this. IP theft is a very serious issue and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Lighten up pino. Your age is showing through. Get back to class.
Gorufo –
go tell that to SCO, who is suing everybody & his brother because supposedly “their” code is being illegally used in Unix and variants.
Not that I agree with SCO, but ripping proprietary code and inserting into a hacked end product is infringement upon the IP rights of the IP owner.
Even if you buy a legitimate copy of OSX from Staples, then install an OSx86 hack-job on your PC, you have not covered your arse as far as using stolen code.
My quick note to the author:
I have no idea who you are, but I’m shocked. Doesn’t happen to me often. Have you publicly endorsed theft under the guise of rebellion before?
My note to Americans:
Just because your country has stupid IP laws, doesn’t mean that something like converting OS X to run on plain x86 is unethical. Only that it is illegal, which is something different altogether.
For example, If I buy a copy of OS X, why should not I be able to run it on my x86 PC if I want to (and can hack it or find instructions to do so?).
The responsibility of the journalist is not to defent any and all laws! It is also to QUESTION stupid and/or unethical laws.
What is considered “theft” and what is not in a historical and ethical development. It is not god given. Hundreds of great civilizations worked under NO IP laws just fine. Shakespear did his work in such an era. Leonardo Da Vinci. Bach.
Macaday: I’m in the “KEEP MAC (A BIT) EXCLUSIVE CAMP”. I’m happy to convert enlightenable people to convert to Mac, but I don’t want the entire world on WinBoxes to crash the party.. that would bring Apple to its knees with complaints and idiotic lawsuits and heaven knows what other crap.
I’m totally with you on this one.
foljs wrote:
What is considered “theft” and what is not in a historical and ethical development. Indeed. This is EXACTLY why this is an issue TODAY, rather than in Da Vinci’s time. In case you hadn’t realized, back in Da Vinci’s time, it was a little difficult to create perfect, high resolution scans of your paintings (or Word files outlining your inventions) and be able to distribute and re-create them anywhere in the world instantly. <FOR FREE JUST BECAUSE IT IS POSSIBLE>
What is considered theft today IS a fair and accurate historical and ethical development.
Another bozo journo…
Those guys are pathetic. And that Gromak one is dumb on the side. This is the easiest court case you’ll ever see: he is declaring himself guilty from the start…
An excerpt from the email I sent to the author of the Detroit News story:
“Your ethical exercise has inspired me. I’m thinking about writing an article about how to jimmy open Detroit News vending boxes and “obtain” a copy of your employer’s product in order to test-drive that reportedly fine publication. If I thoroughly enjoy that experience, I might just have to pony up the cash to actually buy a copy.”
Well I think the main reason Apple does not release OSX for non mac use is that it would be an act of war agimst Microsoft. And that would be a total end to Office for mac at a stage where it would make great deal of damage to Mac sales/switching.
And I belive even such a live cd would be a very strong provokation as well.
Now regarding this “encuraging” piracy and theft, give me abreak.
He had to admit to it in order to write the pice, and I think it is a valid point he makes. The point of the flexiblity of hardware for OSX, apple needs competition like everyone else. So far thay have not got it and as far as I can see they are not likely to get it anytime soon, but as so many complaining posts have said recently about the new mini it’s the lack of chice for the sometimes prime money you pay beyond the hardware value.
But in the end he is actually promoting Apple, in a sort of rounabout way…
And as for theft: who watches the watchmen (if who steals from who)
“come on lets go do some crimes”
Little Stevie shoots himself in the foot again. OSX is a beautiful, stable and secure OS and it’s proliferation can only drive more to the Mac platform.
Pino –
“hubkap was being . . . are you ready? . . . say it with me:
S – A – R – C – A – S – T – I – C ! ! ! !”
Let’s let hubkap tell us that he was being sarcastic. I don’t think you know any better than I do what his intention was. If hubkap was, in fact, being sarcastic, I will apologize for the accusation.
But, my comments about IP theft stand. As you know perfectly well, there are a whole lot of folks out there, including some posters here, who believe exactly what hubkap wrote. P2P is such a huge problem for exactly this reason – people allow themselves to believe, for the sake of personal convenience, that if they can’t see the face of their victim, their theft doesn’t hurt anyone. I’m just trying to set the record straight.
If you have an issue with that, stand up and tell us why.
g$: I think IP theft is a crime too . . . especially since I’m in the business of CREATING IT!
But you STILL need to lighten up. Bring your sarcasm detector in for a tune up.
BTW, I’m 35 and a self-employed artist. What the hell are you?
Hey, guys, lighten up.
No, I didn’t steal the OS. Yes, I guess I may have violated a EULA by using the patch. No, I’m not continuing to use OSX. What I had hoped to do was simply and publicly make the case that OSX can and does run on other hardware. I did it without telling anyone else how to get it or how to do it — hopefully most folks will figure out that it’s not exactly easy.
I know Mac-o-philes have a vested interest in protecting their platform of choice. They should. It’s excellent. But, as good as Apple is, why couldn’t or shouldn’t they make the OS available off their hardware? It’s certainly not a technical problem.
Sure, I know the task of making it work on zillions of combinations of hardware and software isn’t easy — just look at the problems we Windows users face. But this is Apple. These guys are good. They turned Unix into OSX while the rest of that community has bumbled along with the mostly unusable (by the general population) Linux distros.
And the argument that people are just gonna steal OSX isn’t fair either. I’d much rather pay $129 for Tiger than $199 for WinXP Pro. Wait. I did. And I would again.
Now I’ll flip a little: The whole experience has me seriously thinking my next machine will probably be a G5. And, hopefully, by the time I’m ready to buy one (and I was just drooling over one at CompUSA a couple days ago) I’ll have a way to dual-boot into Windows or run critical Windows apps (maybe with something like Wine) for which I’ve not found a satisfactory replacement on the Mac (and which really are the only reason I haven’t switched entirely anyway).
I respect your comments and concerns about the piece I wrote. But it wasn’t about theft, nor was it an endorsement of it. It’s not in the text I wrote, nor is it in between the lines.
Finally, the idea of a live disc would be amazing. Who wouldn’t seriously look at the Mac platform if they had the chance to check it out that way?
here the thing…listen up closely…mac hardware is not better than pc hardware any more, (if you know computers, that should not be hard to understand). In fact, mac is having a hard time keeping up with current hardware standards. currently (july 2007), it is possible to buy a barebone notebook with a conroe dual core process (2.93 ghz, 1066 fsb), 3 gigs and the top mobile nvidia graphics card for $2,000. The best laptop you can buy from mac cost $3,799. Considering the hardware specs, the $2,000 laptop is leaps and bounds better than best mac you can buy. Computer users who know this differences are not going to waste the difference of 1,799 on a computer that is not up to pare (its stupid). This is why apple needs to sale there os. it makes business since. If osx 10.5 is truly better than vista ultimate, apple could sale there os for at least $500 – 600 and it would cut their lost in computer hardware sales. maybe that’s easy for folks to understand…maybe it’s to hard, and thats why people spend 1,799 dollars more on a computer that has sucky hardware. (hey I know, macs look nice !!!)