Installing Leopard on a PC

[MrTeeny]

I will be building a new PC this fall (about the same time Leopard should be available) and was wondering what problems I would encounter if I attempt to install Leopard on the hard drive as the OS.

I've never used a Mac before (but have always wanted to), however, I just can't justify the price of purchasing one. I could build a PC with better components for roughly half the cost.

Could someone please let me know if this is possible and what problems lie ahead. Thanks.

 

[luminousmidnight]

Well, it's illegal, if you consider that to be a problem.

It may also be highly unstable.

Finally, a $1099 MacBook gets you a great package (except the lack of a dedicated video card). 2.0 C2D, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB HD.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: luminousmidnight
Well, it's illegal, if you consider that to be a problem.

It may also be highly unstable.

Finally, a $1099 MacBook gets you a great package (except the lack of a dedicated video card). 2.0 C2D, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB HD.

and that vid card is the damn hold up of the macbook. if they gave it something halfway decent, I would have bought one. I need it for aperture... and presumably it'll help w/ all the core animation stuff going into leopard and future apps

 

[tatteredpotato]

Look at the OSx86 thread. It's usually possible but very illegal even if you buy the software.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: MrTeeny
I will be building a new PC this fall (about the same time Leopard should be available) and was wondering what problems I would encounter if I attempt to install Leopard on the hard drive as the OS.

I've never used a Mac before (but have always wanted to), however, I just can't justify the price of purchasing one. I could build a PC with better components for roughly half the cost.

Could someone please let me know if this is possible and what problems lie ahead. Thanks.

Well, the first problem you will run into is that it won't install. If you go buy a copy of Leopard from an Apple store (or acquire it in other nefarious ways), and put it into your computer, it will not install.

Apple runs a check to see if you are actually installing it on Apple branded hardware. 99% sure they use a small chip in all the new Macs that the install disk looks for.

However, since you are asking about this, and plenty of other people have told you that it is illegal (which it is), then you can certainly check out OSx86 for more information. Not the thread here, but the actual website.

 

[MrTeeny]

Thanks for all the input. I guess I'll continue to be a non-Apple user. I want out of the MS loop though. Maybe Linux?

 

[TheStu]

yea, download a linux live distro and boot it up to see if you like the environment, or just install it as a dual boot setup for now. Listen, on the DL, just cuz its illegal doesnt mean that it cant be done. If i were you i definitely would never look at OSx86 since it is illegal, I'm just saying.

 

[chcarnage]

Originally posted by: TheStu
Apple runs a check to see if you are actually installing it on Apple branded hardware. 99% sure they use a small chip in all the new Macs that the install disk looks for.

I think I've read that Apple stopped to include the Infineon TPM and never used it. Not sure though.

As for OS X on non-Apple machines, the important things were already mentioned.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: luminousmidnight
Well, it's illegal, if you consider that to be a problem.

It may also be highly unstable.

Finally, a $1099 MacBook gets you a great package (except the lack of a dedicated video card). 2.0 C2D, 1 GB RAM, 80 GB HD.

You're better off with a mac mini if you just wanna test it out.

Worst case scenerio, it makes a decent little file server/streaming media (via iTunes) server

 

[HermDogg]

The Mac Mini is a good idea, but if you're going the OSx86 route I would definitely make sure you read up and buy the hardware that is known to be supported, or you will be in for a rough time. Also, keep in mind that Leopard will have to be *ahem* made available for people running non-Apple hardware which will most likely take awhile. I doubt it will be exactly the same as Tiger, but it is possible.