OS X-installing EFIX device gets unboxed
By Donald Melanson 
posted September 11th 2008 5:37PM
posted September 11th 2008 5:37PM
While some may have rightly questioned whether the OS X-installing EFIX device would ever actually see the light of day, it looks like the Apple irritant is very much real, and now in the hands of at least at two adventuresome InsanelyMac forum members, one of whom thankfully took time to snap a few unboxing pictures. The other member, "np_," went one step further and tested the device with an Asus motherboard and found that it worked "perfectly," despite the fact that EFIX only officially supports Gigabyte boards. Hit up the link below for a few more pics and impressions.
[Thanks, Rich]
[Thanks, Rich]
"This is the most affordable Mac ever," Jobs said. "People who are thinking of switching will have no more excuses."
Looks like they do again...
But then consider the crap factor of the knock-off hardware slapped into some of the cheapest barebones systems. Well, I guess you still get what you pay for. If you want a good system, you're going to have to pay more for better parts. That's just the way it works, no getting around it. A silly EFI dongle is not going to change that.
That said I'd still like to see a sub $1000 Mac desktop that can be upgraded, and oh yes - play Crysis, if you get my meaning.
I am going to start this off by saying I am a loyal Mac user since 1991. I have never switch over to Windows. I will admit to owning a Windows machine for two years because of a job I had, but I still purchased two macs in that time frame. I am writing this from my newly built Hackintosh. I would have bought another Apple product, however they forced me out of their product line.
The Mac Pro is way over kill for my needs. The iMac does not give me the expansion with displays or hard drives that I need, although I own a new 24" anyway.
My new hackintosh is faster than my iMac, cost a quarter of the price, and the only set back is that my computer does not sleep (yet). Setting up is not as hard as some think, in fact it is really easy. There is a ton of support out there.
From what I can tell this EFI-X card runs an Intel Licensed EFI. If they purchased the EFI from Intel, this thing should be legal. Plus the EFI is modifiable and can be flashed. It is perfect for those of us who own legitimate versions of leopard. I am debating whether I should wait for this to become available in the US or if I should order one from Switzerland now.
How much is this again? I recall hearing rumors about this dongle going for over 100 US$. Now, if people could only realize that this is a "Mac" way of installing OSX. One of the comments above said something about Mac's being simple and easy to use. All you really do is plug this thing in, and you install OSX. The "PC" way? Go and download EFI v8.0, boot into leopard install disk (official), type in some terminal commands, and EFI is installed. Of course, the steps are much more detailed than that, but for all you complaining about how OSX should be simple to install, this is as simple as it can get.
With EFI, you can install official apple updates, so I really don't see how PC's are much more different than Macs. Macs that are in development actually run on a BIOS based PC rather EFI.
As a past OSX86 user myself, i can say that it runs rather stable. Even if you don't have the right hardware, IT WILL RUN. It's just that your resolution might get messed up if your graphics card isn't supported (one in particular nvidia 9600). It's all about having the right components. The Apple website says that their machines are designed specifically towards OSX specifications. That means, that if you pick the exact same parts or close to the same parts as an apple machine, OSX will run no problem.
Now, of course OSX86 comes with its own issues. Finding third party drivers for unsupported hardware can be a pain, but if anybody builds a system just for OSX86, i don't see the problems that can occur.
That being said, I am still a big fan of apple products. One of the reasons why I'm using a macbook pro right now, rather than my hac book (acer 5920 running OSX86) is not entirely because of OSX, but because of it's overall design and insignia. It's just cool to say I use a macbook pro.
All I wonder is will this work on Dell's latest and greatest hardware. L doubt it though...Love Leopard. I absolutely HATE with every fiber of my being, with the intensity of a thousand burning suns Apple's shit hardware and hardware support policies. To the point that I will NEVER again buy another Apple unless its a supplemental system only. Apple's turn around time for system repair is horseshit, period.
So if I can get a new Dell and get OS X to actually function on it, and dual boot with Vista it would be a perfect setup.
Couldn't you just build a similar system to pystars/apples? as long as you mixed and matched from components used by either, shouldn't it have perfect compatibility?
...When my titanium powerbook needed to be repaired, they sent me a box and returned my laptop to me, fixed, in about three days. It's a shame your luck hasn't been as good.
Looks okay, but I'd rather put that cash towards a Psystar --
Half the price of a name brand Mac, pre-configured, pre-installed, and supported
by the manufacturer.
I think the base model is like $499?
The question of "why" still confounds me.
This thing is gay.. just download Kalyway why pay for the product when kalyway is offered for free....
Apple can make a little modification in the future updates and all methods of running Vanilla installs will fail ( BOOt-132 and EFI-X )
If I'm running with BOOT-132 bootloader and Apple made such a thing I'll not lose anything but in case of EFI-X goodbye to the 170 $ or whatever that I've spend.
That's my opinion on EFI-X
...if you wanted to dual boot your system, would this efi-x dongle allow you to do that through boot camp?
...can engadget ought to get one of these, hook it up, and do a review / Q&A.
Please?
Uh. Forgive that last sentence. I'm going to bed.
er... just one simple thought here... :
No one is forcing you to use or buy a Mac or Mac OS.
why do people get so upset about a computer manufacturer, or a system software, or even some guy who runs that company?
You want a Mac, buy a Mac. you want Mac OSX, get Mac OSX... whatever you run it on! price is never an issue if you really want something.
and if you like PCs and/or windows, good for you !
Just remember that you have free will, and nobody forces you to choose one or the other...
Baz
I am so sick of the PC/Mac wars, anyone without an open mind is an idiot in my book. Why can't we all be versed in both worlds? Oh yea I forgot, maybe not all of us are smart enough to figure the other side out. Hogwash every computer guy I have met, when he or she put his/ her mind to it they get it done. Get off the idiot horse and welcome all you can understand, if you can't understand it... well then I guess you will miss out. I have yet to use a PC or a Mac that I haven't said Wow to all the innovations. Neither is bad and depending on what you are attempting to do either can be best. Wake up I have used, sold consulted on Macs since 1988 and never truly bought into the superior crap of either side soon they will merge, the time is drawing near. Separate yet the same.
I forgot to add... this is exciting and I had hoped that Apple would have done this for itself rather than a 3rd party. I hope Apple welcomes it, I doubt it, but I will hope they see there is a huge market for their OS with PC users.
Apple may not have a choice in the matter if Intel says EFIX bought the rights to use EFI, which Intel owns and Apple had to get from Intel to use it on their boards.
On their site it says retailers in America are "In Negotiation" which a good sign of things to come...or lawsuits.
But that might be stopped by Intel if my first theory is true.
If two customers (and maybe more) in the original retailer countries had good experiences then more good stuff is to come.
The German version of the site has two other versions of the device with bluetooth and bluetooth & audio, which would be great. PCI version (maybe PCIex1?) would be awesome for those rarely-used (these days) slots on the board.
Been using EFI-X for a little under a month now and I have to say I am pretty satisfied and impressed. EFI-X has a strict Hardware compatibility list for Motherboard, Processor, and Video card (which you can find be Googling the EFIX website) If you are in the process of building a new computer, meeting these compatibility requirements isn't too bad, plus gives you choices to upgrade your machine (much cheaper than Apple's upgrades) are. Just make sure to have the list of compatible hardware handy when purchasing.
Is this for someone new to the computer world that still has problems finding the power switch? Probably not. But if you have ever opened up the inside of a computer and know your way around, it is worth looking into. Including the costs of the OS + the EFI-X, the PC I built is still about 1600 dollars cheaper than the equivalent Mac Pro compared to the Apple website.
As a user that has needed to use OS X, Windows both on a professional level, as well as Ubuntu on a 'geek' level, I see this as a step in the right direction. Apple, Inc. has been overcharging for their merchandise since day one. Once the general public realizes what these parts actually cost, perhaps overall prices will be lowered on Apple products. Apple products are not overall bad , although I do have a few qualms with them, Apple machines are fairly efficient (but I will argue that these are no more or no less stable than a properly configured PC) but both operating systems are far from perfect.
Since EFI-X does have a set Hardware Compatibility list, they are ensuring that overall driver issues can be easily addressed directly from the module itself, so the end user does not have to worry about it. The installation is actually slightly faster than an actual Windows installation on the same machine. Point being, as long as the Hardware is on the list, OS X will run properly. If it isn't on the list, then OS X may not run properly. Who wins here? 3rd party hardware manufacturers (who in theory are also supplying Apple with their hardware) and the end user, who now has more options to build their own personal computer.
Apple has 3 choices here. 1. Fight the technology and try to shut it down legally or through software updates before they lose any money. 2. Embrace this technology, perhaps even working to make a similar hardware piece, officially supported by Apple. Another possibility making a version of OS X open for 3rd party hardware drivers to be created and tried out. Allowing OS X to be installed on non-Apple hardware 3. Ignore it and hope it fizzles out
The EFI-X boot-loader as a step in the right direction, for technology, for computing, and for end users. This isn't going to be the end-all solution, but it's opening some eyes. An Apple fanboy isn't going to appreciate this technology, so move on. Don't buy the product, don't build your own computer, but don't get up and arms about a product that really has little to no effect on you. An anti-Apple user won't even both with this. For a DIY-er or Tech geek, as a tech-experiment, just to try it out, spread the word, and see how this whole thing unravels. Remember about 5 years ago when the idea of Windows running natively on Apple hardware was almost blasphemy, but now is fully endorsed by both corporations. The idea of Apple switching to PC hardware was almost laughable, but now it's the truth. You also have to remember EFI is a technology, which could very well replace BIOS's in general, so EFI-X mod cheaps may not even be needed in a few years.
Just remember folks, the winner in the end of this should be you, the end users. You should be able to do what you want with the computer, as well as that other guy over there that has different opinions and knowledge about computers should be able to do what he wants. Apple, Microsoft, and hardware manufacturers should be catering to you, not the other way around.
just got one