The (non-)return of OSx86 Project

Temporary delay indeed; we reported on Friday that Apple's DMCA-wielding henchmen had effectively assassinated the OSx86 forums, the place where Intel OS X hacker extraordinaire Maxxuss had apparently come to roost. Well, turns out that after having spoken with some of Steve's lawyers, the OSx86 Project was merely obligated to remove some links to Maxxuss's site -- but being that they've never hosted a file or deep linked to a patch, it appears as though they're in the clear for now. Yup, that's it, more or less a false alarm,people. Kind of an anticlimactic finale, we know, but we're just glad they're "back," deep links to patches or no deep links to patches.

[js @ Feb 19th 2006 12:10PM]

I seriously don't think that there's anything wrong with this project. Sure, they somewhat modified OSX to work with a PC but they aren't distributing anything illegal. It's not like they reverse engineered the OS and distribute it to the mass population.

[mikeyp @ Feb 19th 2006 12:34PM]

at #1

of course theres something wrong with doing this, iSteve iJobs makes less iMoney and will fail at his iMonopoly. iDuh!

[Hawkman @ Feb 19th 2006 12:35PM]

#1 - Using the OS on a non-Apple machine is technically a breach of the license agreement, but whether that would stand up in court...

I'd love this to die, personally. I can't see how anything good will come of it for Apple, or existing Mac users. Aside from anything else, I don't want to deal with the inevitable whining of script kiddies who manage to set it up, and are then shocked to discover it doesn't work properly on unsupported hardware! Because, naturally, it will be Apple's fault because they're such a crap company...

[Dave @ Feb 19th 2006 12:42PM]

Hawkman, I can't imagine anyone using the software on unsupported hardware would be calling Apple technical support for assistance.

[Fred Hyke @ Feb 19th 2006 12:57PM]

Good thing that site is back online; now what happened to win2osx.net?

[Kevin @ Feb 19th 2006 1:24PM]

i would say if ppl so like mac os, y not just get 1. it's worth it.
the forum shld b for people to discuss about the problem they had when they try to make mac os works in x86, not to assist newbie in setting mac os to work in generic x86 machine.

[Chris @ Feb 19th 2006 1:37PM]

#3- Are you from Apple tech support? Why do you have to deal with people who managed to install OSX in PC and have problem with it? You just don't have to do anything with it. Just ignore them if you don't like them. It's not like they're going to flood your e-mail account for that right?

[keith coutinho @ Feb 19th 2006 1:57PM]

i would like osx on my acer laptop please.

[tazeeyore @ Feb 19th 2006 2:09PM]

Im sorry but osx will never be put on my windows xp laptop.

[Shaun @ Feb 19th 2006 2:22PM]

Since you can't actually buy copies of OSX for Intel yet, just where did all the users on the OSX86 project get their copies?

Surely they weren't all Apple Intel Dev kit purchasers because if they were, they were breaking their NDA agreements just discussing it.

Surely they don't all have Intel iMacs or MacBookPros that they've uninstalled their original copy from.

That leaves other means like illegal copies on the net.

Apple are cutting them an awful load of slack just to watch them squirm and find the holes in their copy protection. It'll only get harder for the OSX86 hackers.

The downside is, the more they hack, the more likely Apple will tighten security for actual customers. I hope because of their efforts we don't have to put up with the restrictive practices Microsoft use on their OS. Really, I think nothing good can come out of the OSX86 project for Apple's customers.

[Jay @ Feb 19th 2006 2:25PM]

At #6, he doesn't need to be from Apple Support, he's probably just part of a few Mac forums, you know, someone who hangs out there and helps out people with problems...it would be annoying (especially for moderators) having lots of people flooding forums with problems only to find out it's because they are running OSX on a PC!

[Hawkman @ Feb 19th 2006 4:43PM]

#10 has kind of got the right idea. I do help out a couple of boards like that (though under a different alias), and I'm not for a moment suggesting that those who install OS X on unsupported machines are going to call Apple; there aren't many people out there who are that stupid. I certainly think it will lead to an increase in the number of posts to discussion boards. But to be honest, that's not my main concern. So long as people aren't being moronic, I can deal with it.

Maybe I'm being elitist, or judgmental or something, but I hate the idea that there are going to be a lot more people having "a quick go" with OS X. An operating system isn't something to dabble in, you have to give it an honest, lengthy assessment... It seems a shame that otherwise open-minded people will try OS X briefly, have a poor experience because of their unsupported hardware, and probably give up on it for life because "OS X sucks, it doesn't work properly". It's not an honest trial. It's not a sensible attitude to take. But I'll bet it's a prevalent one if this ever becomes a truly workable idea. It could put a lot of people off Macs for life.

Which leads me to why it's my problem. I'm a Mac user, and I conform to the "evangelist" stereotype. I can deal with people not liking OS X after trying it out - after all, I've decided I don't like Windows - but I feel sad when people close their minds to something without good reason.

[jan @ Feb 19th 2006 6:46PM]

I'm a windows user and unless something drastic happens I always will be.

I have used Macs, I don't like them, but they're good machines, if you don't mind being cuddeled (My option). I use Linux but I want to be cuddeled more then that.

I've used solaris (?) talk about cuddle free.

If OSX were able to run on PC, I would get it and find a use for it, I would not expect tech support to help me, because in the end. . . it's just a computer.

[Reg Muffet @ Feb 19th 2006 6:57PM]

I'm a 50/50 Mac user (that is I use Windows 50% of the time because I have to, and Mac 50% of the time because I want to) and I don't see a big problem to Apple if people experiment with installing Mac OS X on generic PC machines.

Mac OS X is very nice, but it's even better when running on hardware which is custom made for it, eg, laptops that can sleep and wake in 2 seconds, and generic PCs always seem lack the final ingredient that makes the Mac experience, well, a Mac.

I think people who illegally check out Mac OS X on their PC hardware will inevitably realize this and, like many people are starting to do, buy a real Mac, maybe a laptop, to have alongside their existing PC desktop.

[Archeon of thrace @ Feb 19th 2006 9:33PM]

Apple will eventually make more money selling an operating system than hardware. Just how did microsoft become such a monster? By building computers? No, but by offering a system to allow users to use their machines. You can all bitch about windows, but it doesn't dominate the OS market because people don't like it, or know it.

I have used MACs and must say that they have some very very irritating qualities, not the least of which is the rabid fantics that promote them.

Just imagine how much faster a MAC would run if it wasn't burdened down by all that totally useless "eye candy"?

Just exactly in what ways are Windows/Linux/OSx appreciably different to the average user? When the system is up and running most poeple wouldn't really notice much of a difference.

It is my dream that copyright eventually lands in the dust bin of history. Nothing has been more of a hinderance to intelectual progress and experimentation than that concept from the late 18th century. I hope it lands right next to patents. Both these ideas originally intended to promote development, experimentation, and growth but now because most products and most publishing is controlled by profit motivated commercial syndicates it is actually in thier interest to smother developement so that profit can be maximized on current production. Now copyright and patents are being used to hinder the development of truely revolutionary ideas.

This move on Apples part to control the release of OSx into the "wild", is actually quite stupid. If they would simply sell a "hacked" osx, with out any support they could infact be making money off this, while spreading OSx's influence and appleal.

Apple once almost faded away, and stuff like this is just going make that day come again.

[corey @ Feb 19th 2006 11:26PM]

ok wtf!!! if people hate mac so much than why the hell do yall want to hack it so bad. its funny when website diss macs then the next day a pic of safari on the website if people hate it so much then why do you see that all the time.

#2 wtf how has steve creatd a monopoly when windows was in trouble for how long with a monopoly. just because apple has such a better os than windows does not mean u have to hate apple. sorry your little mind does not understand apple. think bout it how much does stuff does mac do that you wish u had BULIT IN-ISIGHT on that crazyness. bill gates and suck steve jobs balls

[Matt @ Feb 21st 2006 12:39AM]

I am a Mac user, but I use Windows for work part of the time. I think that it's wrong to take what Apple has created and to modify it for a PC and mass distributing it with out Apple's consent. I just think it's wrong. Mac is good because Apple made it good. Windows is just unreliable in my opinion. No matter what I do my PC always has problems. My Mac never does. I use a Powerbook G4 and I love it. I just hate that Apple has to deal with this. I know that Steve Jobs make too much money, and that Apple's are expensive, but we buy them because they work and they are reliable. Hey, if thats what it takes to work trouble free... I'll pay the extra few hundred to a thousand dollars.

[Psygnosis2097 @ Feb 21st 2006 1:01AM]

@15

Well said =)

[degustibus @ Feb 21st 2006 1:30AM]

I live the idea of OS x Live.

[Tom @ Feb 26th 2006 6:23PM]

@17 There are alternatives to macintosh and windows that are both highly reliable, funtional, and free. The cost of a product has no correlation to its quality or reliability. Mostly for OSX, you pay for the programs that come with it, which really are superb, but with the free OS's, you have to do some searching.

[nick @ Apr 15th 2008 11:25AM]

Both operating systems have pros and cons, and I use both, but because of what I can afford, I have a G4! That's just outdated! If Apple were selling OSX for use on PCs, I would buy it, get rid of that slow old iMac and install leopard on my relativly good PC. If you look at the price of the cheapest Mac, the Mac Mini, it's just OTT for what's in it. It goes the other way as well, if Apple were to release a cheap, relativly good Macs that could run Windows as well as OSX, I'd probably buy it. Rumours say that a new Mac Mini will come out, but I don't expect a large price drop.