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Modern “Hackintoshes” show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower

arstechnica.com

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Re: Modern “Hackintoshes” show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower

#31

Post by 542458 »

dawnerd wrote: post #24
eddieroger wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Drivers. Apple likes the control over the hardware and software, and packages all of the drivers needed to run macOS on any blessed instance of Apple hardware currently supported (and maybe even ever created, since Intel). If you wanted, and I have done this before, you can clone a Mac made HDD and boot it from any other Mac you can get your hands on, and other than the hardware swap it's basically a reboot. If Apple…

If it's for developers they don't have to guarantee it. I'm happily running a hackintosh right now. If they made it a little easier we wouldn't have to do weird hacks to spoof hardware ids just so messages work.

I think the iOS "developer previews" have shown that even if you label something as being "unstable and just for developers" you'll still end up with thousands upon thousands of people with no idea what they're doing running it anyways and subsequently being vocally horrified that not everything works perfectly.

Re: Modern “Hackintoshes” show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower

#32

Post by hengheng »

walterbell wrote: post #5

HP has stepped up to compete with the sealed Mac Mini. Their "Z2 Mini Workstation" is small, has user upgradeable RAM/disk, optional Xeon and Nvidia GPU, and can drive six monitors, http://www8.hp.com/us/en/workstations/z2mini.html

Laptops have roughly the same performance as that.

Re: Modern “Hackintoshes” show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower

#34

Post by kstenerud »

Can anyone tell me their experiences running a virtual hackintosh?

In my current job I don't need a mac anymore, so I'm switching to a NUC which I'm thinking it'll be best to run Qubes on. But I do have existing mac/ios projects that I'd like to support, thus the need for a virtual hackintosh.

Re: Modern “Hackintoshes” show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower

#35

Post by bischofs »

I wonder what the OS and software guys at Apple think about the lack of options in their own hardware department. It must be a little frustrating to be invested into the software as a developer but know that a lot of pro users (people like themselves) are moving away from the platform.

Re: Modern “Hackintoshes” show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower

#36

Post by protomyth »

imron wrote: post #12
protomyth wrote: post #8

How about Apple create a "Custom Hardware" program ala their Developer program and basically charge $99+ a year for a legal install usb image. Then they can skip building a Pro and concentrate on the portables and iMac they like.

Because the cost for supporting random hardware will probably run to more than they make from running such a program. Not to mention Apple doesn't seem to care about the developer and/or professional consumer anymore.

> Because the cost for supporting random hardware will probably run to more than they make from running such a program.

What support? NeXT once had a fax that they sent you with the listed hardware that it worked on. Its even easier now that Intel has shut out all third-party motherboard chipsets. Your paying for legality, not support.

Re: Modern “Hackintoshes” show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower

#37

Post by vbezhenar »

May be it's just me, but I don't really care about design at all. I'm perfectly fine with huge tower or some reasonable fan noise. What I care is price, durability, extendability, repairability, and, of course, performance. I'm not really into macOS, I can use Linux or Windows just fine, but macOS is not that bad.

I'm actually opposed to thin things or design aberrations like trash can mac. I'm paying for that after all, with money or engineering trade-offs.

The best of both worlds would be officially supported hackintosh (that is, curated list of hardware parts, which are guaranteed to work for some reasonable period (15 years or something like that). But I don't think that would happen, Apple is greedy corporation and wants piece of pie from everything.

Re: Modern “Hackintoshes” show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower

#38

Post by avtar »

walterbell wrote: post #5

HP has stepped up to compete with the sealed Mac Mini. Their "Z2 Mini Workstation" is small, has user upgradeable RAM/disk, optional Xeon and Nvidia GPU, and can drive six monitors, http://www8.hp.com/us/en/workstations/z2mini.html

Have you used this and can comment on what the driver support experience is like? I was eyeing the new HP Zbook Studio G4 laptop since it checks most of the boxes where the current 15" MBP is lacking (matte display, 32 gigs RAM, upgradeable components) but after doing a quick "Zbook driver issues" search I'm not so sure anymore.

Re: Modern “Hackintoshes” show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower

#39

Post by bischofs »

eli wrote: post #33

I'm not sure it follows that Apple should build it just because some people want it. Some people build Hackintoshes because they like building things or they want to save money. Neither would be addressed by an official tower.

Well to me it is important to remember who the people are that want it - These are professionals and developers that create applications for the OS (mobile and desktop) as well as creatives who have kept Apple afloat in rough times. I would think there is strategic value in keeping these people somewhat happy.

Re: Modern “Hackintoshes” show that Apple should probably just build a Mac tower

#40

Post by Operyl »

dawnerd wrote: post #24
eddieroger wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Drivers. Apple likes the control over the hardware and software, and packages all of the drivers needed to run macOS on any blessed instance of Apple hardware currently supported (and maybe even ever created, since Intel). If you wanted, and I have done this before, you can clone a Mac made HDD and boot it from any other Mac you can get your hands on, and other than the hardware swap it's basically a reboot. If Apple…

If it's for developers they don't have to guarantee it. I'm happily running a hackintosh right now. If they made it a little easier we wouldn't have to do weird hacks to spoof hardware ids just so messages work.

Those weird hacks exist because of the spambot problem they're trying to prevent. It's enough of a hassle for us that iMessage spambots are practically nonexistent as a result.
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