“Did you hear the one about the Dell Mini Netbooks that run Mac OS X? You didn’t? The Dell Mini 7 and 9 (and probably the 10 also) can be easily modified with a small software download, which allows the user to install and run Apple’s Mac OS X v10.5. And it runs very well, too. Although this is actually quite old news, there’s an interesting aside to this that could have major implications,” Robert Peckham blogs for PCR.
“The question that begs asking in light of that is why is Apple are allowing this? The software download comes from Dell itself – not some small independent ‘hackintosh’ developer, and full instructions are available via Dell’s website. It’s very unlikely Apple would allow this without approving it, and there’s no Apple alternative to Dell’s excellent ‘Mini’ series of netbooks – not yet, anyway,” Peckham writes.
“But at the same time, Apple is preparing to do battle with three very small clone makers who have got Mac OS X running on Wintel hardware using a similar software modification to Dell’s,” Peckham writes. “So if Dell is allowed to broadcast the fact you can run the Mac OS on its netbooks via its website, I have a feeling that the legal teams for the clone makers will be watching developments very closely.”
Full article here.
why is Apple are allowing this?
There’s nothing on Dell’s website to corroborate this story. “Move along, these aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”
Nice grammar.
Dells web site is pretty large so where exactly?
Could this be Dell telling the world they really are Pystar backers?
looks to be just a ‘bootloader’ for installing another OS perhaps Linux?
I doubt the validity of this story. There are Dell Mini forums that tell you how to do it, not Dell itself.
@ nice grammar, that’s my job. Find yourself another neighbourhood!
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For a company with such high standards, allowing superior software on inferior hardware would be uncharacteristic . . . Not to mention disappointing.
Respect is hard to earn and easily lost. Let’s hope this is not the case.
Apple’s not allowing this. Dell just made a series of net books with Mac OS X compatible hardware and let nature take it’s course.
Another piece of smelly brown stuff from Shyster to make it appear that it is not on its own. The new lawyers hope to create a case where Apple inc. have to provide answers to an imaginary situation thus knocking them of course in their suit against them. Meanwhile, Shyster can try to sell more of their Kangaroo Poo in order to meet their new lawyers fees.
True or not, why should Apple care? It’s not as though Apple is actually SUPPORTING Hackintosh projects and spending money on support for dicey setups
If Apple is selling more copies of Mac OS X and more Mac OS X software is being sold to run on those systems, that’s a bad thing? It could be a great sales tool.
Let’s somebody has their Hackintosh rig running, but can’t reliably run software that requires Mac hardware. If they like running Mac OS X enough, maybe they’ll buy the real thing.
You never know.
“The question that begs asking … is … this”
Why would anyone WANT to run OSX on a Dell ?
Well, least anyone who doesn’t have their head up their you know what ?
Probably some who’d buy a Lamborghini to sit in traffic in New York City
BC
I agree, this smells really fishy. More cowboy tactics from Psheister’s new legal team, I expect.
“If Apple is selling more copies of Mac OS X and more Mac OS X software is being sold to run on those systems, that’s a bad thing?”
———————-
Yes, it is a bad thing because:
1. Though Apple is gaining a sale of OSX for $129, they are also potentially losing a sale of a Mac which costs between $599 (mini) and $3299 (MacPro.)
2. The Apple experience is a two part equation, great software and great hardware.. Removing just one of those ingredients will kill the user experience that Apple is known for.
I’m not sure it’s a good idea, but what about if Apple sells a kind of light version of OS X for standard PCs?
Microsoft is down on one knee and Apple smells blood. Apple knows that it isn’t the hardware that we go back for, it’s OS X.
OS X IS THE MACINTOSH.
so everybody can have a taste of it. And if you want to enjoy all of the advantages of OS X and the Pro Apps, just get a real Mac.
Hope not to be killed for this comments….
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it’s a slippery slope!!
They’re probably not even paying for the OS as it is!
No, if they were going to allow “Clones” then it needs a strict licence, not the easy going one for Mac’s. Perhaps sans certain higher level features.
Otherwise, it would make some sense – a new take on OS X.
OS X Mac (10.6), OS X Mobile (3.0), and OS X PC!
This is great news for those who want to be freed from Apple’s overpriced and low grade hardware. Psystar is putting up the good fight but Dell will easily be able to do more than Psystar.
“The question that begs asking in light of that is why is Apple are allowing this?”
Some people have a way with grammar. Others… not have way.
I think the difference is that Pystar is selling a product as a whole Mac Clone and as a whole legitimate product. They are hacking the OS to work and then selling it as a licensed product.
The Dell issue is an end user choice. We can buy the 2 products and merge them together ourselves. Once we own them, we can do whatever we want so long as we don’t mass produce them and sell them.
Apple most likely does not care because the user base that would actually hack the Dell to do this is so small it’s not relevant.
People are installing Leopard on Dell Mini 9s, which share some key specs with the Air and which, aside from a completely crappy nonstandard keyboard, are an excellent value given the sub-$300 price. Unlike most PCs, this model Dell has components and associated drivers that are entirely natively compatible with Leopard: blue tooth, wifi, usb, SD slot, touchpad, etc. Some have suggested that this was a deliberate move by Dell to boost sales for an unofficial, unsupported, word-of-mouth-only OS X-capable netbook
But that unproven theory is a far cry from the bogus premise of this story — that Apple and Dell are colluding and that Dell is actively hosting OS X enabling files. The writer just made that up — he’s either stupid or a liar, or both.
The enabling efi bootloader files are not from, made, hosted or sanctioned by Dell. They are user-created, to allow un-altered Leopard retail disks to be installed on the Dell Mini and a few other compatible netbook platforms. They can be found at a website called the Dell Mini Forum, which is not owned or operated by Dell Computers.
As far as I can tell, no one is making any money off these “hacks” — the bootloader is free, and does not include any Apple files, altered or otherwise. This is why Apple has taken no action, I’m sure. There is no Psystar type business behind it, and the numbers are no doubt miniscule.
Here’s an interesting tidbit, though: The EULA for Leopard states that it may be installed only on Apple labeled hardware. That’s why you might see Dell netbooks out there with Apple decals covering the Dell logo on the lid.
Ever wonder why Leopard ALWAYS comes with Apple logo decals in the box? Many people think it’s because these included decals allow non-Apple hardware to run the Mac OS and yet still comply with the letter of the EULA.
Just sayin…..
Excuse me, Peckerham, but Dell does *not* broadcast the fact that you can turn their Mini 7 and Mini 8’s into a hackintosh. They don’t offer software for allowing them to run OS X, either.
Next time, please make sure you’re sober before hitting the ‘ol keyboard, Rob.
“Nature take its course.”
Not “it’s.” Its, your, are possessive. It’s means it is, and you’re means you are.
What an illiterate country we’ve become. Enough with the texting- read a book! (An old book.)
I think we found out who is behind Psystar.
@rattymouse
Wandered in here by mistake? Is your Psystar hackintosh screwing up?