Mac netbook compatibility: Que es mas macho?
There are literally scores of OS X-on-netbook how-tos out there for almost as many physical products, but not all of these devices were created equally. In fact, many of these PCs were actually designed to run something other than Avie Tevanian’s BSD opus.
Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, reiterated once again, that Apple has absolutely no intention to enter the cutthroat netbook market, saying, “If you look at it now, we’ve now—the Mac has outrun the market a staggering 18 of the last 19 quarters, and I think that really says that we do have the right approach.”
So, although you (probably) will never be able to buy a netbook from Apple, that doesn’t mean you have to go without. That is, if you personally have the chops and/or the cash to get one together.
To aid your quest, Boing Boing has cobbled together a fairly long listing of the various brand and models available and how well they play with OS X.
Que es mas macho? Choice is good…
Interestingly, the most compatible units are now out of production, but all easily findable on eBay and Craig’s List. That said, there are literally dozens of configurations of each product floating around out in the world, so it will behoove you to be on top of the features and specifications that are critical to you before you place a bid.
That said, more than a few of the cheap SSD drives used in netbooks are just that, cheap. So, whereas you’ll pay top dollar for the words, you won’t get substantively better disc read or battery performance. However, a netbook with a traditional hard disc and bigger battery could end up netting you more storage and more use time for the same or less money.
Running OS X on a netbook? Share some details and a link (or three) in the comments below…
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July 26th, 2009
What a hypocrite you are!
Previous you have savaged Psystar for daring to breach Apple’s copyright on OSX by loading it unauthorised on to non-Apple hardware.
Yet here you are posting an article that advocates readers to do exactly the same thing on PC netbooks.
You have about the same credibility as a vegetarian shark…
July 26th, 2009
individuals doing what they want with their things is called fair use. a corporation making unauthorized copies on an industrial scale is called copyright fraud.
despite what you and the riaa say (nice friends you’ve got), there is a fundamental difference.
July 26th, 2009
Igloo.
July 27th, 2009
Sorry Ronald, but you have it wrong.
Unless you buy a multi-user license, one copy of OSX allows you only to legally install it on one machine. Given that Apple specifically state their their OS is only to be run on Apple-badged product, how can installation on another machine be in keeping with the spirit of the EULA?
And if the original machine to which the licensed product was installed is functioning with that OS license being used, then surely that is piracy?
It must be, because that is how the Business Software Alliance has managed to successfully prosecute many companies and government departments around the world for unauthorised use of software.
Doing what you want with your own computer may well be fair use, but it is not fair use when it involves software piracy.
July 28th, 2009
And incidentally, I have nothing whatsoever to do with the RIAA.