Dell Mini 9 hacked to run OS X

We're assuming Apple will eventually give up and release a netbook of its own, but until then Steve had better get used to seeing OS X hacked to run on all manner of tiny laptops -- the latest to make the switch is Dell's Inspiron Mini 9. Nothing too complicated about this hack, since most of the work was already done for the internally-similar MSI Wind, but you'll have to dig up some extra Broadcom drivers to get WiFi and sound working. Seems like a fun little project for the weekend -- anyone going to take the plunge?

[talrico @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:06PM]

I can't tell. Does that wifi adapter identify as an airport?

[Hush @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:04PM]

Just so all you rankers know I constantly go through these posts and rank everything opposite of what they are.

Low rank in 3, 2, ...1

[tom @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:29PM]

Is that's why Jobs is getting a heart attack?

OS X on a Dell PC?

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:31PM]

All netbooks are hacked to run OS X. Why cant Apple release a Non-Apple hardware version of OS X at a higher price...?
They would earn tons of money on licenses !!!

[fuckmicrosoft @ Oct 10th 2008 2:48AM]

Call me old fashioned... But I think one of the great things about Apple's closedness (excuse my made up word) is one of their advantages.

By closing the doors, they've managed to more adequately support their hardware with their OS. Sure you can get 3.7 Dell netbooks for that 1 MacBook... But with the real Mac you know what you're getting. Good hardware, and an OS that "Just Works".

One last thing to consider, in 3 years that $1300 MacBook will still be worth good money if it's well taken care of... How much do you think those 3-4 Dell Mini 9 will be worth? The Mac holds it's value far better.

[dzhiurgis @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:07PM]

Great. Now get a real Mac.

[toxicpiano @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:10PM]

calm down!

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:14PM]

Your thinking is outdated.

You can practically run the OS flavor of your choice on this machine.

That's a GOOD thing.

[Wolfticket @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:16PM]

a real $350 mac?

[oZ @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:19PM]

When Apple makes something similar, people probably will. For now, they only have two under-rezed 13.3", and an under-rezed 15.4".

[nerdtalker @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:20PM]

For the price of a midrange macbook:

1300 / 350 = 3.7

You could have 3.7 Dell Mini 9s... So, actually he would have 3 fake macbooks to your one. Get a netbook out already, apple. Unless of course, you're sooooo expensive.

[Yannick Desjardins @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:32PM]

This is great, just ordered a Mini 9. I wish Apple would open up, they could conquer the world. But with this protectionist mentality they will always remain a cult with iTard followers.

[seamonkey420 @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:53PM]

haha.. i love how mac diehards seem to be pretty angry that us windoze users can hack our hardware to run osx.

is someone jealous that they don't have a netbook mac? hehe.. :P

[John Smith B**** @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:39PM]

"Get a real Mac"

A real Mac is one that runs OS eX, so stuff-it (All puns intended, but I doubt the fanboi will get it.)

[Sean @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:45PM]

Two things:
Pretty cool, too bad I canceled my order a few minutes ago because it got delayed again and... well, I'd rather have my laptop sometime within a period of a month after I ordered it.

Numbah two... you can get more than $350 for a powerbook. I got $400 for my iBook (14").

[Sabi @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:18PM]

Just because you aren't brave enough to run OSx86 and the rest of us are doesn't mean we have to get a mac now does it...I have a Macbook but i also have an OSx86 desktop which performs better than the average Mac Pro for 1/3 of the cost.

It makes sense for people wanting to put an OS on another computer, i can put linux/windows on every computer..why not OS X?
It doesn't have to be exclusive, that ruins the OS for me and everyone else, since I know apple can make it non-exclusive to their product line.

[compL33T azn @ Dec 2nd 2008 6:33PM]

LOL a real mac netbook? I doubt it'll even be cheap enough to be qualified as a netbook

[Benson @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:11PM]

No thanks; this weekend I'll be quite content to stick with slackware on my 701. But if I had a Mini 9, who knows? Maybe I'd spend the weekend setting up Debian on it.

While it looks nice, I just haven't the time to putz around with OS X.

[Dan @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:47PM]

ooh.. so spending a weekend installing slackware is l33t, but using OS X is considered "putzing around". Perspective: you're doin it wrong.

[Benson @ Oct 4th 2008 10:04PM]

Didn't say l337; I was thinking more useful. I guess I was a little oblique there, but my point was that open *nix tends to be better than *nix: I didn't have trouble with drivers.

Spending a weekend trying to whip up your own support for a proprietary OS _is_ "putzing around".

(And I've no idea where you got the idea I'd be spending a weekend installing slackware; engadget talked about taking a weekend trying to find drivers that would work for OS X, and I said I'd stick with slackware. That implied, that I already run slackware; indeed I have for quite some time. BTW, it doesn't take a weekend to install slackware, because we _have_ drivers!)

[Josh @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:12PM]

i'm assuming it runs similarly to the wind as well then?

[Adderz @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:22PM]

They are both internally-similarly.

Some people these days....








...cant proof read

[Josh @ Oct 3rd 2008 1:43PM]

similarly is a word, jackass

http://aolsvc.merriam-webster.aol.com/dictionary/similarly

[spam_free @ Oct 3rd 2008 3:05PM]

@ Josh
I was going to let it go but since you whipped out the dictionary card....

"internally-similarly" is very much NOT a properly structured term. What Nilay meant to say was "internally-similar".

Ok now that's off my chest let's move on with reading the actual article.

[Ohjeez99 @ Oct 3rd 2008 8:39PM]

@ josh, im pretty sure adderz was refering to your misuse of the form of similar. Yes similarly is a word but it is the gramitcally incorrect word for your statement.Similar would be

[Josh @ Oct 3rd 2008 4:15PM]

i actually didn't even notice it in the article, i thought he was mocking my use of it, which was correct

[happy_penguin @ Oct 3rd 2008 5:09PM]

The hyphen doesn't belong there.

[Mike @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:13PM]

Pretty much anything will run OS X if you have the time.

[Greg @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:22PM]

Exactly, but we need to be told every time someone does it.

[oneofmany @ Oct 9th 2008 7:55AM]

big deal that you can get mac os to run on an x86 machine. The problem is not getting it to run but maintaining the installation in a semi-sane way once it's there. When you manage to do that for most computers and the installation takes 3-4 hours max then you'll have something to talk about.

[atomoverride @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:15PM]

OMG this is sooo old. Ive been following this hack for 2 weeks on insanelymac.com forums. And whats worse gizmodo put a story on this yesterday. What happen to you guys?

[bob sakamano @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:21PM]

yeah, BGR had it yestAday to0

[Jay @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:34PM]

I dunno, I guess they don't give a shit enough to post lots of Mac news.

[Fragmit @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:35PM]

Damn. So you read this like, before everyone else? You must get all the ladies.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:15PM]

I'm a Mini 9 owner and I'm a PC.

OW Stop that!
You hit me with the BUCKLE! Dammit!

[hi im a mac @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:16PM]

I think its cute. Steve plz give us a netbook with an atom cpu

[Michael @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:18PM]

"We're assuming Apple will eventually give up and release a netbook of its own, but until then Steve..."

What's the Macbook Air if it's not a netbook?

[Adderz @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:19PM]

Its an ultraportable. Just like you wouldnt call the Sony TZ a netbook either.

[oZ @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:20PM]

A really thin MacBook. The same footprint, with more cost.

NetBooks are low power, low-CPU, small footprint, INEXPENSIVE machines.

[Raymond @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:20PM]

In terms of functionally, it is a netbook (Because it can't do anything without the Net, no optical drive, only 1 USB etc)
In terms of price, it is way too expensive to be called as a netbook.

[hi im a mac @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:39PM]

Steve are you going to make a netbook ?

no

Steve

Sent from my iphone

[CJ @ Oct 3rd 2008 6:37PM]

Really expensive.

[Metamorphic @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:23PM]

Fine, but if anything happens is your fault (Engadget).

[dzhiurgis @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:25PM]

Yes, you can get 3.7 fake MacBooks or steal one for free!

[Christian Martin @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:43PM]

Your name doesn't happen to be Trig, does it?

[Sam Stone @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:19PM]

Only fools!

That a brilliant insult...well done :)

[Derrick @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:28PM]

So how bout "OS X86 project files slightly modified to get it running on Dell Mini 9"

[BigTeebo @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:38PM]

That is pretty slick. If you want to make it even more like a Mac, you can just add a zero to the pricetag. :)

[rcappo @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:40PM]

I'll wait to see what update Apple makes to the Macbook. If they ever get around to it, that is.

If Apple hasn't done anything by January, I will look into doing this.

[djpurpose @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:49PM]

This whole thing about steve keeping mac osx tied to mac only reminds me of the south park episode "cartmanland." I think if OSX was freely available they wouldn't have installed it. They install it for the challenge. Once they figure out that it's no better than windows and it can't run half the software that windows can they will switch back. The only reason I would want to boot OSX is to check my website rendering. And the only reason that is necessarily is because safari sucks.