OSx86: Creating a Hackintosh
by Peter Baldwin
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Book Summary Information
Author: Peter BaldwinEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2010-02-08
ISBN: 0470521465
Number of pages: 656
Publisher: Wiley
Book Reviews of OSx86: Creating a Hackintosh
Book Review: Excellent Step-by-step Guide For Making Your Own Macintosh
Summary: 5 Stars
Apple has always been very controlling of all its products, dictating where and when it can be installed. With Apple's switch to working with Intel computer chips in 2006, the door was cracked (I don't think you can really say it was `opened') to install its OS X operating system on non-Apple hardware. Thus the hacked Macintosh, or hackintosh, was born. Industrious programmers quickly went to work to try and make this possible - to fool the software to install and work on hardware other than Apple's proprietary computer systems. The results are a variety of tools and methods to make this happen. While all this information is available on the Internet, Baldwin has worked with many of these programmers to pull together a step-by-step guide to creating your own hackintosh. The process is not easy, nor guaranteed to succeed. However, Baldwin tries to lay out the steps, the choices you must make regarding the setup you are trying to build (using an external drive, booting from your Windows hard drive, or creating a new Mac system), and warns of the potential pitfalls and failures. He is straightforward in his warning that this may require multiple attempts and in the end it may not work on your system. But the process is laid out if you want to try. And if you are successful, he helps introduce you to the OS X operating system, especially in translating the Windows convention the user is most likely familiar with into the operations of the Macintosh.
The process has limitations - you are restricted to working with OS X 10.5 (Leopard) instead of the newer 10.6 (Snow Leopard). The truth is that the book, and process, is aimed at the tinkerer and persons who enjoy making software work on a system it is not designed for. If you wanted the latest versions of OS X, or you want to be able to run both Windows and OS X at the same time, you would be better served purchasing a (relatively) inexpensive Mac Mini, which can easily run the Windows operating system with full Apple Support. This is for those who enjoy getting their hands dirty and circumventing the system. Many people wanted to run the Mac software on an inexpensive netbook, though the upcoming iPad makes this less of a need.
The book is very well laid out and easy to follow. The author liberally gives you screen shots, suggested reading, support URLs and healthy dose of reality checks (e.g. wireless networking is going to be a real pain in the process). The sections include very clear step-by-step instructions to guide you through each phase of the process, and give help through the decisions that must be made in the project (what disk to boot from, how to control the booting Operating System). There is very little new here, but this book pulls these steps together into a single, coherent guide and reference. Overall this is a great book for the do-it-yourselfer, as well as a comprehensive guide for the curious.
Summary of OSx86: Creating a Hackintosh
Unique guide to installing Apple's Mac OS X software on non-Apple hardware
If you've always wished you could install Apple's rock solid Mac OS X on your non-Apple notebook, budget PC, or power-tower PC, wish no more. Yes, you can, and this intriguing book shows you exactly how. Walk through these step-by-step instructions, and you'll end up knowing more about Apple's celebrated OS than many of the most devoted Mac fans. You'll learn to build OS X-ready machines, as well as how to install, use, and program OS X.
- Now that Apple computers are based on the Intel platform, the same as most PCs, rogue developers in droves are installing Mac OS X on PCs, including those based on the AMD and Atom processors; this is the first book to show how to create an OSx86 machine running OS X
- Provides step-by-step instruction on the installation, use, and programming of OS X on your existing computer, as well as how to build OS X-ready machines
- Helps you avoid pitfalls and common problems associated with running Apple software on PC hardware
- Offers numerous practical hints, tips, and illustrations
Create your own Hackintosh with this essential guide.
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