Macintosh System 7 on the PSP

This one's for the masochists in the house — hacker Neisha Stadelhofer documents how to boot up the venerable old (well, maybe not so venerable but certainly old) Macintosh System 7 on the PSP via the Bochs emulator, running vMac in FreeDOS ("yes, an x86 emulator running a 680x0 emulator on a handheld gaming console"). She reports boot time is on the order of four hours so, you know, bring a magazine (rack) or something with you if you plan to recreate this proof-of-concept hack.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[QUANTUMPHYSICS - XboxLive @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Why in the hell would anyone want to run an OS as shitty as Macintosh OX on their PSP -not mentioning the fact there is a several hour boot time?

I hate mac, and everything macintosh. Despite the windows XP haters out there, I can gladly say that I run WIN XP on my Dell XPS and my Ibm Thinkpad and I NEVER have problems with it.

[jorellh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

I hate people that hate stuff.
I think all people who makes generalizations are idiots.
[/joke]

[Jazzay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Well, im very proud of you and all, but just because WinXP works for you doesnt mean you should hate macintosh, thats a wee immature, and its a several hour boot time, that doesnt mean its slow as hell, it might be, buts its not mentioned. Its OS7 on the PSP, whats to hate? you cant run WinXP on that PSP of yours can ya? Win95 is rather pointless, anyone know what there is on OS7? does it work with wifi?

[portwineboy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Calm down there skippy. No one is going to take your Windows away. We promise.

Most proof of concept hacks don't have any real use per se...they are done to prove that they can be done. People do it because they love to tinker.

Mac OSX isn't shitty. Windows XP isn't shitty. I'm a Windows sys admin but my latest laptop is an ibook. I'm typing this on my gaming Windows box. I have a G5 dual proc at work.

Both OS are good for different reasons. I'm glad to have the choice.

[matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

i agree with portwineboy - I use both a PowerBook G4 (OSX most of the time, but OS9 every now and then) and a windows gaming/linux server rig - I like them both equally for different reasons.

would I run os7 on my psp? no, neither would I run WinCE. would I run slackware or darwin or win2k or osx? yeah - but it won't be happening anytime soon :) ('cept maybe the slackware or darwin)

[Jason Reich @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

This was only Mac System 7. As much as I like Mac OS X, I don't think I'll live long enough for the boot to complete on a PSP.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

FOUR HOURS ? Wow just wow. Even four minutes would be too much.

[G-money @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

#1

Did Jobs kill your family or something?

[Google Nazi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

#1 is a goon hired by microsoft to spread the word of hate towards mac's.

Personally I don't have a mac, I don't use a mac very often if any? But I really wish I could have a mac right now. However 4 hours to load OS 7 on a PSP is not worth it :P

I don't like macs bellow osX so shoot me if you hate what i said, but if you do go ahead and shoot ANTUMPHYSICS - XboxLive (aka #1)first.

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

#1 is a kid. plain and simple.

[aelso @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

What also suprises me is that the person who came up with this hack is a girl! Not being funny or anything, but you very rarely find females doing this sort of stuff. It's good to see that women are into hacking too.

[Bebop @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

4 hours to boot!!

By the time this thing boots the PSP will have drained the battery LOL

[g0atbutt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

There really isn't anything amazing in here. The real credit should go to the authors of the emulators, and the porters.

And for those of you who are asking why, it a Proof of Concept...

[Jason Anderson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Wow. #1 is an ignorant jackass who hasn't even touched a Mac made in the last 10 years.

I ate ignorant jackasses. I hate everything about them. Especially when they can't even get the "Mac OS" part right. "OX"? Jackass!

Anyways, I love when people do this stuff. it's useless, but at least it satisfies your curiosity. Someone's gotta do it. Best when it's someone else.

[Pete @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

I agree with #12. It's just something to do. Like climbing a mountain...

[ThinkMac @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

#1 needs to get a life. That would be sweet if you could have a Mac OS on a PSP. OSX Tiger baby!

[bpd1069 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

From the looks of it its actually running System 7.5, as thats the first startup screen that had a progress bar. Remember system 7 is when Apple switched from Mot 68xxx's to PPC cpus so a delineation is needed. I think System 7.1.2 was the first of the PPC line, then 7.1.3 (bug fix) then 7.5...

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

I'm a Windows sys admin but my latest laptop is an ibook. I'm typing this on my gaming Windows box. I have a G5 dual proc at work.

---

Sounds about right.

[Oshi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

that's pretty neat.

[OTAM @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

So uh...any word on games for the PSP yet?

[ABarbaz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

#1, stop being an ignorant jackass.

I agree with those who enjoy using both. I love using my Mac, however, I can't live without my PC. And vice versa.

[Google Nazi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Did anyone ask the question why does it take so long to boot? I mean... the psp has a decent processor in it right? doesn't take a good computer to run a mac!! But hell.. if it takes 4 hours to load up os 7.5 then imagine windows xp.... i highly doubt anyone has the patience or the time to live that long.

[Mark B @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

'So uh...any word on games for the PSP yet?'

Yes. Just click on the link below. Around 63 PSP games. Most are already out or will be out soon.

Not bad for a system that was just released about six months ago.

http://www.us.playstation.com/psp/games.aspx?all

[Innovate Me @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

On a little unrelated note, I appreciate the guy who has the time to look for all of this news and updates.

Sorry about that, now you may continue with the talk of the PSP.

[ill trooper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Oh, it's GRACEFUL COBRA from Black Planet... Such a tool this guy is. I followed a very revealing thread about the PRIUS, the hybrid car. The happy SUV drivin' Republican. Such a CLOWN

He's "Jonathan N' in this thread:

http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000797054780/

I had to kill 'im with post #108, but he did more damage to himself falling over himself.

You hurt yourself over there guy.

You don't even DESERVE System 7 on a PSP, much less OSX on a Mac.

[ill trooper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

I should clarify, I'm talking about post #1 from 'Quantumphysics'

[patrick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

I think "Johnathan N"/"Quantum Physics"/"graceful cobra"/post number 1 whoever he is just provided me with a good solid reason to change to OSX.

[QUANTUMPHYSICS - XboxLive @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

ill trooper

So, am I suppossed to be upset by what you're saying?

Until now I didn't even know you posted to me on the hybrid thread. I suppose you are hoping I will find a renewed interest in you?

[Tupper @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

This guy (jon) is a tool. He has just enough intelligence to get himself in trouble, but not enough commen sense to ever hear anyone else's side. Personally I would guess that he is taking medications for a personally disorder and has issues stemming back to his parents. He is in denile regarding the fact that other people have feelings/intelligence and he likes to believe that he can make his own rules to fit a world that he has created.

There is absolutely no way to convince a troll like Jon that other people might know somthing, and he will go out of his way to try and make others feel as small as he feels inside. He is a troll and any response to what he writes will only feed his ego.

The best way to deal with someone like this is to completely ignore his comments and maybe someday he will chose to live in the real world... a pity really. What kind of world creates sad people like this?

[Gizmo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Woah, thats the smartest thing ive ever heard anyone say on this place. AND its true!

[jay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

put it this way... i was using PC's for 9 years until February :D now typing this on my 12" PowerBook. i've never had a single virus, hacker, any problem. my system stays online with no slowdown for months on end. the system gets faster with each new OSX update, not slower! i run what i need; Logic, Garageband, iLife, Final Cut Pro, Macromedia Suite and Photoshop. all because Windows was such a crap system.

This being a Proof of Concept is good. sure its to be optimized to load up much quicker. and it is OS7 (boo) but still. now the PSP just needs games.

[mame @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

omg this is so great!!!! thank u very much, and i hope u will be able to invent such stuff in the future. i worked 5 years on macos 7.5, and i love to emulate old system on my psp... this is even better than the downgrader if u ask me...:)

[darryl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

"hacker Neisha Stadelhofer documents how to boot up the..."

Hacker? Where's the hack exactly... Not hacker, rather loser with way too much free time (hours to boot, c'mon!) The dumbest thing I've seen posted here so far.

[Google Nazi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

HERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY TO READ!!!!
HERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY TO READ!!!!


Why do you complain against something that is not only free but you have an option to go ahead and get it (freely) or to move on?

If they are shuving it down your throat saying buy this! then it is another story but this is something entirely opposite. Stop bitching about stuff that you don't need to bitch about! This is your choice to get it or not, and if you dont want to get it then just look at other stuff!

It is free, it is available, and it is something.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

#33 darryl

To hack something, is to make it do something that it wasnt intended for.

She hacked a PSP. So she is a hacker.

[darryl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

"She hacked a PSP. So she is a hacker."

Did she? How exactly?

If installing an emulator on top of another emulator to install an OS is hacking then I guess anyone who has installed software is a "hacker".

The closes description that even comes close to what you infer is way off:

"In other technical fields, hacker is extended to mean a person who makes things work beyond perceived limits through their own technical skill, such as a hardware hacker, or reality hacker."

No hardware hack in this case... nor was the PSP extended to work beyond it's perceived limits. So I guess you have your own definition. You should add a new "application-installation-hacker" sub-type to http://wikipedia.org so everyone is properly informed for the future.

[Joseph T. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

I think this says enough about # 1...

"I am a trader of EXOSQUAD episodes as well as BABYLON 5 episodes and movies. If you are looking for Exosquad or Babylon 5 episodes, Email me at [e-mail]"

[devid @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

what sweet games come with the Macintosh System 7 ?

[christopher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

She's a hacker, period. Thinly-veiled jealousy over her accomplishment only makes you look worse.

She's hacker enough to say and believe this: "Today's hackers are tomorrow's team leaders and CEO's, right?"

I hate to break it to her and others, but no. CEO of a startup, yes. CEO of a pharmaceutical company, never. Or even Microsoft. Or Google. The reality is this: hackers may rise as high as team leader in most corporate situations, because that's where all the interesting work is. Any higher, your job involves discussing work and not doing it.

Maybe the highest achievement of a hacker is to organize other hackers, but that person is rare indeed.

-C

[Spencer @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

I'm just waiting for them to put Linux on this. They put it on everthing else...pocket PC's, Gamecubes, toaster ovens...ok, maybe not toaster ovens...yet...

But as for the OS, don't go hatin' on it without using it.

I compared an old PC to an almost equally old PowerMac, and liked the PC better.

I don't know what it is, but Macs annoy me. I prefer to use a PC running Linux.

But then, it's all a matter of opinion, now isn't it?

Remember, people. Mac users have as much to rag on Windows as Windows users have to rag on Mac OS.

I think that (apart from just annoying me personally,) Mac OS is a good OS suffering from Linux-itis. Almost all mainstream software is written for Windows, especially games.

What do we do then? I don't know where Mac enthusiasts get their gaming fix, but I go with the hundreds of freeware ( and often open-source ) games for Linux, and then get Wine and Cedega (Windows and DirectX emulators, respectively) for the mainstream games.


But this is all my opinion, right?

[darryl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

"She's a hacker, period. Thinly-veiled jealousy over her accomplishment only makes you look worse."

Yup, ok you're right. She is a hacker, this story is about hacking the PSP, and man, I'm so f**kin' jealous... can't sleep at night. Oh woe is me!

Thanks for clearning that up.

Now I'm off to "hack" winxp into vmware... Dunno if I have the skillz tho.

[greenbrainstorm @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

what exactly is the benefit of puting mac on the psp?

[Richard Armour @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Damn fine work on getting OS7 on the psp, though that windows 95 project went a little better, on the Mac, pc debate, let me just say that waiting 30 seconds for itunes to load on that new G5 isn't funny, god Apple! going to the hard drive through the BIOS is so 1995

[QUANTUMPHYSICS - XboxLive @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Why in the hell would anyone want to run an OS as shitty as Macintosh OX on their PSP -not mentioning the fact there is a several hour boot time?

I hate mac, and everything macintosh. Despite the windows XP haters out there, I can gladly say that I run WIN XP on my Dell XPS and my Ibm Thinkpad and I NEVER have problems with it.

[jorellh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

I hate people that hate stuff.
I think all people who makes generalizations are idiots.
[/joke]

[Jazzay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Well, im very proud of you and all, but just because WinXP works for you doesnt mean you should hate macintosh, thats a wee immature, and its a several hour boot time, that doesnt mean its slow as hell, it might be, buts its not mentioned. Its OS7 on the PSP, whats to hate? you cant run WinXP on that PSP of yours can ya? Win95 is rather pointless, anyone know what there is on OS7? does it work with wifi?

[portwineboy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

Calm down there skippy. No one is going to take your Windows away. We promise.

Most proof of concept hacks don't have any real use per se...they are done to prove that they can be done. People do it because they love to tinker.

Mac OSX isn't shitty. Windows XP isn't shitty. I'm a Windows sys admin but my latest laptop is an ibook. I'm typing this on my gaming Windows box. I have a G5 dual proc at work.

Both OS are good for different reasons. I'm glad to have the choice.

[matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

i agree with portwineboy - I use both a PowerBook G4 (OSX most of the time, but OS9 every now and then) and a windows gaming/linux server rig - I like them both equally for different reasons.

would I run os7 on my psp? no, neither would I run WinCE. would I run slackware or darwin or win2k or osx? yeah - but it won't be happening anytime soon :) ('cept maybe the slackware or darwin)

[Jason Reich @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

This was only Mac System 7. As much as I like Mac OS X, I don't think I'll live long enough for the boot to complete on a PSP.

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 1:26AM]

FOUR HOURS ? Wow just wow. Even four minutes would be too much.