This would be a big step forward in getting MacOS-X to run on all kinds of different computers. I wonder if wireless cards etc would be supported too, because with the hacked MacOS-X’es around nowadays, there are mostly driver problems.

Check out the following link:
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?s=8918797a4b297b8848271af0309ba20f&showtopic=110295

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Rant!

A small rant about my current position, I am a complete Windows addict and I loved (!!) the XP SP2 time. When my new laptop arrived (a fast Core 2 Duo, 2x160GB SATA disk, 2 GB also, and loads of more things), I finally switched to Vista definitly. Well I have to say, if everything was just a tad faster, it probably would be great, but there is the main problem. So, that’s my rant about Vista… let’s continue my story about MacOS.

So there we were, we as total noobs in MacOS land did not really know where to start. Ok, the basics of the OS were pretty simple, but we are not interested in the simple stuff. What we want in MacOS, is running Windows applications. So we installed Parallels Desktop on our machine and booted up a virtual image of Vista. That went pretty well and we actually were stunned by the results of running Windows applications in the same environment as the Mac applications.

Ok, we were stunned and we wanted it too. Because ordering a couple of more Macs just for expiriments would be a bit out of the question (I didn’t dare to ask, because my laptop is just 3 weeks old ), we started a little research on if it was possible to actually just get MacOS on our own Intel laptops.

Yes and No! The truth is, there is a total community doing a VERY nice job on getting MacOS to run on ‘normal’ PC’s. So that was my best start, I started researching what was needed to get things up and running and in what way (I do not want a crippled OS!).

First of all, you need very specific hardware to match the hardware in a Mac. The problem is, drivers. Because you actually need drivers for EVERY part of hardware in your PC (if you want it working), it is essential that you find Mac drivers for your hardware.

Because my laptop is Intel based, it matched the Mac hardware actually pretty good. I thought my chances were pretty good on a complete installation. So I finally got my hands on a ‘normal pc enabled’ dvd of MacOS and put in an empty harddrive in my laptop, just in case. I read most of the posts on one of the forums where people are talking about and I understood there were some parts that were not gonna work straight out of the box.

If you don’t know what SSE3, Kernel and SpeedStepping means, you shouldn’t start messing with this kind of stuff. In the installer you can choose a lot of technical drivers/kernels and installation went on. The installer was amazingly fast and the laptop rebooted right into MacOS. First thing the OS asks you if you want to take a picture of yourself with your webcam. The webcam actually worked, straight out of the box! SCORE!

Ok, the OS was running pretty fast and most of my hardware was working, BUT some essential hardware wasn’t.

Working
Both cores on my CPU
Audio out via speakers
Ethernet
Bluetooth
Webcam
Volume control buttons
Firewire
USB ports
CD/DVD Burner

Not working
Wireless networking
Video driver
Audio out via front plugs
Audio in

So the not working list is not all that long, BUT those are the most essential things. I can’t really live without wireless networking and without accelerated graphics. When moving windows they all tear and they do not really update (smearing).

The problem with my videocard was easily found. Because my Geforce 7600Go has 512MB of VRAM and then MacOS really flips when installing NVidia drivers. The kernel panics and a reinstall is needed. I read some forums about that you need to patch your ROM, but that is just one step too far for me.

The wireless network problem is just a bit more annoying, I have an Intel 3945abg wireless card in my laptop and there aren’t any drivers for that yet. I don’t know if Apple is ever gonna support them, but that seems to be my only chance.

The rest of the hardware is not even remotely needed, I have never used those audio/in and outs on the front of my laptop .

So there I was, a crippled OS, that’s not what I wanted…. the only choice I had was to remove the hard drive from my PC again and get back in my good ol’ Vista. The experience was very much enlightening, because I really liked the way the OS works. The easy DMG packages and the way the dock works. There isn’t any program in Windows that even remotely works like that.

So, yes, the OS is pretty nice and I have played with it for a couple of days. Only the drawbacks are the problems I am having with OS are too big.

I might have to switch my laptop for a Mac one just too play with it a bit more. Only hope our sys admin works with me

BTW: My specs can be found here.