MAC OS X on PC specs

FormFactorFormFactor At the core of forgotten
edited June 2005 in Science & Tech
Ive heard that Apple has this already, and has for quite some time now behind closed doors.

Does anyone have any Idea if its at all possible to somehow hack or mod OS X to run on PC periphs?

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    It isn't.

    All the libraries, the kernel, everything is specifically tuned to the computers for which it was designed. The GUI is fully dependent upon mac-specific hardware, and 128bit CISC processing etcetera.
  • FormFactorFormFactor At the core of forgotten
    edited September 2003
    Yeah but that "mac specific hardware" that gui, at least the graphics part of it is only running on a non-mac specific nvidia geforce mx.

    and if Apple has it running behind closed doors, then there must be a build that can run on a PC.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Yes, but that non-mac-specific GeForceMX is running on mac-specific drivers again compiled for MACUNIX (Neologism) libraries, kernel, and mac-specific CPU registers/instruction sets. The video card simply displays the GUI, the GUI is fully operated by mac-specific coding. The fact that the video card is standard AGP means little to nothing, it's just a gobetween from the computer to the monitor. Everything's still designed for MACUNIX operation.

    Just like Windows 32bit runs on X86 architecture, and Windows 64 bit doesn't. You can slap some new drivers in and the video card would work, but if you're not running an Itanic the OS would be specifically tooled for a processor you don't have. It's just like that with a Mac:

    1. You can change the video drivers
    2. Video will work
    3. The OS is still tooled for the hardware on hand
    4. Without some serious recoding (I believe Mac OSX series is the second longest (Programming lines) fully-retail OS) which may or may not be capable of being logically engineered in reverse for a recoding and recompiling for x86.

    Do I make sense?

    There IS a build that can run on a PC, but it hasn't seen the light of day in 5 years, and I don't think it will.
  • FormFactorFormFactor At the core of forgotten
    edited June 2005
    OSX on Intel
    And just as everyone had been expecting, a secret Intel build of OS X had been kept in house for the past half decade, just waiting for a reason to be loosed upon the world.


    Just had to share that. I doubt it will even get read.


    Now would be a good time to own Intel shares.
  • CammanCamman NEW! England Icrontian
    edited June 2005
    I watched Steve Jobs WWDC Keynote yesterday and in it he said they had in fact been "secretly" developing OS X on Intel for the past 5 years along with the PowerPC version, so, whether it is anyway "Hackable" to like a consumer working on a PC, probably not, but according to (which I'm sure is very over-embellished) Steve Jobs speech, it will be a seamless transfer, but, applications will have to be converted to run on x86, so, its not like you can just stick on the machine and run it.

    On a somewhat related note, I'm not sure if Apple is planning on doing this, but if they do start selling OS X independent of Mac hardware and able to run on any x86 system, I think that would be a step in the right direction for them, for all the good things I've heard about it, I'd definitly give it a try, I just hate Apple's "OMG WE'RE SO MUCH BETTAR THAN PC USERS" marketing approach. Like, if you have a good product, then just let it speak for itself.
  • RWBRWB Icrontian
    edited June 2005
    I'll buy OSX for my Intel PC. But is it only Intel? WHy the hell not AMD.... those bastards.
  • entropyentropy Yah-Der-Hey (Wisconsin)
    edited June 2005
    I heard wind that it won't be just "Intel processors." That's, well, incredibly vague, you know. It's VERY possible, even likely, that Apple will have their own processor, different from every other Intel/AMD cpu out there.

    Which just takes all of our dreams and beats them lightly over the head with one of those FunNoodles. Not all that painful, but goddamn annoying.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited June 2005
    trust me, apple will never make a CPU.

    This deal is with Intel proper- no hope of this thing being on AMDs, at least for the forseeable future.
  • entropyentropy Yah-Der-Hey (Wisconsin)
    edited June 2005
    Er, no, I think you misunderstood me (and I probably didn't make it clear). I was saying Apple will probably commission a special cpu from Intel. Just because it's made by Intel doesn't mean it has to be a standard P4 or whatever.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited June 2005
    no, it's already running on standard P4s. It's an x86 build, it'll work on any x86 processor they throw in there. However, I promise you that OS:X will only boot and work on apple motherboards and bios. I'm sure someone will hack it at some point so that it works on any PC, but it will probably require some BIOS mods or crazy hardware hacks or something equally crazy.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited June 2005
    It's VERY possible, even likely, that Apple will have their own processor, different from every other Intel/AMD cpu out there.
    Nope, not at all. Apple is partnering with Intel for CPUs, because of their less than beautiful experience with Motorola and very frustrating experience with IBM. Apple does not have the resources to research, develop, test, and mass fabricate their own CPUs. If I am correct, the ONLY hardware Apple makes is motherboards and cases, and those are contracted to Taiwanese manufacturers. Apple notebooks are built by the same factories that make Wintel notebooks under different brands. (BTW, there are only five manufacturers of notebooks and laptops.)
  • edited June 2005
    So if it's running the x86 archetecture, why couldn't it un on an AMD proc?
  • GrayFoxGrayFox /dev/urandom Member
    edited June 2005
    Becasuse the os will be looking for a mac bios :P
  • NomadNomad A Small Piece of Hell Icrontian
    edited June 2005
    Apple is trying to expand their market because the iPod has grown to such a great percentage of their income there is no other option. In the second quarter of 2004, the iPod was a total of 16.9% while their Computer/Software sector was just over 70%. In the second quarter of 2005 iPod has consumed their income, swelling to 37.9%, more than double. While their iPod market has grown, the Computer/Software sector shrank to just about 50%.
  • FormFactorFormFactor At the core of forgotten
    edited June 2005
    personally, I would gladly spend my hard earned cash on OS X if it ran on one of my lappys.
  • FormFactorFormFactor At the core of forgotten
    edited June 2005
    Personally, I would gladly spend my hard earned cash on OS X if it ran on one of my lappys.

    Im sure the hype surrounding the CherryOS dabacle probably showed Apple there is a market for OS X in the x86 world, and ultimately had a lot to do with this announcement.
Sign In or Register to comment.