Before I got my MacBook I had osx running on a custom built athlon64 setup. So yes, technically possible, however apple is gonna make it difficult. Apples hardware is top notch though. Of course, things like video cards, ram, pci stuff is all upgradeable with their hardware.Jixxor wrote:My question is if it is at all possible to run OSX on a custom hardware setup? I enjoy the freedom of being able to design and build my own machines and thus far, the only OS choices I know of predominantly come from either a Windows environment or a *nix environment. If Apple has not broken in with OSX into this arena, I would love to see them do so. I don't necessarily run windows by choice, but virtually by the fact that it is the easiest to use at this time.
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I don't see how Apple's hardware can be top notch when compared to PC hardware. Both have processors, both have memory, both have hard drives, and so on. It's all relative.
I think the difficulty of running OSX on a custom hardware system is what is keeping me from buying into Apple. It's that "you must buy my hardware in order to run my software" mentality that gets me irritated. Sadly, I deal with Microsoft's "you must buy my OS in order to run my software" mentality, not voluntarily though.
I think the difficulty of running OSX on a custom hardware system is what is keeping me from buying into Apple. It's that "you must buy my hardware in order to run my software" mentality that gets me irritated. Sadly, I deal with Microsoft's "you must buy my OS in order to run my software" mentality, not voluntarily though.
Previously, it was hard to compare them. Now that its the same architecture, its quite easy to do so.Jixxor wrote:I don't see how Apple's hardware can be top notch when compared to PC hardware. Both have processors, both have memory, both have hard drives, and so on. It's all relative.
Just like with PC's, you can compare on memory, cpu speed, core count (single, dual or more), and so forth. Of course its relative, but right now the MacBookPro competes very well at the top of the line with PC hardware. Meaning, its specs are very similar to PC laptops at a similar price point.
That puts it at "comparable". Then you factor in thinner cases, less noisy fans, smooth interfaces like the magnet powerplug, and the ultra-smooth OS, and well.. its top notch.
You are looking at a Mac as a PC replacement, and wanting it to have the same paradigm (cheap, easy available clones).Jixxor wrote:I think the difficulty of running OSX on a custom hardware system is what is keeping me from buying into Apple. It's that "you must buy my hardware in order to run my software" mentality that gets me irritated. Sadly, I deal with Microsoft's "you must buy my OS in order to run my software" mentality, not voluntarily though.
The problem is that the Mac wanted something Windows doesn't have: Consistently reliable ease of use. To get that, they locked out clones, bad hardware, and the like. By having a consistent platform, they have produced an OS that is incredibly easy to use. Want to add a printer? Plug it in, PERIOD. No messy config boxes, "signed" driver checks, etc.
Going from PC to Mac requires you making changes. You gain ease of use in exchange for less flexibility in the hardware.
If you don't like that exchange, stick with PC's! If you do, however, then embrace it as part of the value - not a downside.
I do understand that Apple, in the laptop area, has far outdone that of PCs (arguably) and agree with you. Had I the money for a Mac laptop at this time, I'd have one.Just like with PC's, you can compare on memory, cpu speed, core count (single, dual or more), and so forth. Of course its relative, but right now the MacBookPro competes very well at the top of the line with PC hardware. Meaning, its specs are very similar to PC laptops at a similar price point.
That puts it at "comparable". Then you factor in thinner cases, less noisy fans, smooth interfaces like the magnet powerplug, and the ultra-smooth OS, and well.. its top notch.![]()
I realize that going from a PC to a Mac will require changes, as would every other thing in life. However, being raised a Mac hater in the PC world, I'm limited in my views, thus the purpose I'm writing here. If Mac intends to keep the "ease of use" an advantage, how does that affect my want to upgrade my Mac when and where I feel on my own, without having to send it into a "professional" (I.E. a person on the factory line that probably doesn't know as much as I do about Macs or even PCs).You are looking at a Mac as a PC replacement, and wanting it to have the same paradigm (cheap, easy available clones).
The problem is that the Mac wanted something Windows doesn't have: Consistently reliable ease of use. To get that, they locked out clones, bad hardware, and the like. By having a consistent platform, they have produced an OS that is incredibly easy to use. Want to add a printer? Plug it in, PERIOD. No messy config boxes, "signed" driver checks, etc.
Going from PC to Mac requires you making changes. You gain ease of use in exchange for less flexibility in the hardware.
If you don't like that exchange, stick with PC's! If you do, however, then embrace it as part of the value - not a downside.
Giving up the white-box customizing isn't a big deal, I can still slake my thirst for that by building gaming PCs for people or even myself, but the ability to decide for myself what I need to upgrade without having to buy a complete new unit or sending it back to the factory is something I'm rather picky about.
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You can upgrade most things on a whim in Macs, even more so now that they share "our" architecture. The only problem is you can't just arbitrarily stick in XYZ. So in that aspect, you are more limited in selection, but the quality of those parts is amazing. I know I'm totally tired of having to deal with X driver not liking Y component that's in my motherboard so they act up or USB devices that are supposed to be plug'n'play, but aren't.. I've still got to load drivers quite often with them to get them to fully work.Jixxor wrote:I realize that going from a PC to a Mac will require changes, as would every other thing in life. However, being raised a Mac hater in the PC world, I'm limited in my views, thus the purpose I'm writing here. If Mac intends to keep the "ease of use" an advantage, how does that affect my want to upgrade my Mac when and where I feel on my own, without having to send it into a "professional" (I.E. a person on the factory line that probably doesn't know as much as I do about Macs or even PCs).
Giving up the white-box customizing isn't a big deal, I can still slake my thirst for that by building gaming PCs for people or even myself, but the ability to decide for myself what I need to upgrade without having to buy a complete new unit or sending it back to the factory is something I'm rather picky about.
You know, just a thought, but I think gaming will take off on macs once they release their intel based desktops. In the past, developers had to deal not only with porting high level code which isn't *too* hard, but the low level assembly stuff too which has to be a bitch since its an entirely different instruction set. So, with apple using intel, its no longer an issue. Now think about this-- developers might start favoring openGL since windows is making dx10 exclusive to Vista. From a business standpoint, game devs are simply excluding a whole bunch of potential buyers if they develop a game using dx10. If a game goes with openGL, porting from pc to mac would be nearly brainless.