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Macintosh or Hackintosh?

So I'm looking to get a new computer for production and I'm wanting to make the move over to Logic which requires that I have a Mac.

I have found this computer on craigslist (LINK HERE) and was wondering if this would be worth buying. He posts every week and never gets flagged so I'm pretty sure he is legit, also he includes a warranty.

I emailed him and asked if the OS could be updated whenever they release the new one for Leopard and he said it would not be an issue.

Thoughts? Concerns?

i gave up hackinosh. cant help u with any more than that.

you'd probably be better off running windows than osx86. i'm a mac person, but i never liked the emulated osx86. had too many problems with it, audio, drivers, ect.

Don't do it. yes it can be done, and it's actually unlikely that EULA will ever be enforced but macs hardly require any maintenance - the only thing they do require is regular OS and firmware updates, which are all really hassle free. I would't like to rely on some guy off craigs list as my only avenue of keeping my computer working either in terms of software or as my warranty.

As a former die hard PC user, I thought the whole thing about macs "they just work" was crap, but damn, they really do just work.

Don't go cheap - either get yourself a proper mac or pc. Ohterwise you'll probably spend more time trying to make it work properly than using it.

i don't see the point in this - new macbooks with edu discount are virtually the same price as similar pcs.

quote:

Originally posted by jupiterone you'd probably be better off running windows than osx86. i'm a mac person, but i never liked the emulated osx86. had too many problems with it, audio, drivers, ect.

But OS X isn't emulated... it runs natively on the machine like the Psystar machines.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/

don't buy a mac...

I say go with a Hackintosh. I am running OS X on my PC and it doesn't have any problems. It runs as smooth as a real Mac. That link you posted looks like a good computer. I have the same case and it's really nice and very well built.

./

have u read the text? it says he uses only parts that there are mac-drivers for..

Read this thread on the Psystar machines....


PSYSTAR Clones

At first everyone is positive but as the thread evolves you realise that it just isn't worth it, especially as a mac (say the imacs) start at only $1000 and for that you get a very powerful, well designed computer with great connectivity, incredible screen, good amount of ram and large hardrive. That's not even mentioning the rebates you can get from macmall or amazon.

Also, the main thing is that macs are so hassle free - literally within 10 mins of opening the seal on the box you will be on your sequncer making music. The let down about PC's is that you have to do so much of the work yourself. OSX is also far more stable (IMO) than any windows version I have ever used (they do crash, but 99% of the time finder just restarts itself and 5 secs later you're back to where you were - no bluescreen of death etc.). I really would not rely on some guy off craigs list as my warranty provider or techincal support (because in truth, no-one else is going to touch that machine to help you fix it if he disappears).

I can't understand why you would want to take an OS that was specifically designed to run on set hardware, and try to fudge it so it runs on cheaper hardware? If you're that crazy about only spending $300/400 on a powerful computer that you want to use for audio then just keep it PC and windows, because for the money they work very well.

Edit" I also just checked out the link. this dude is probably going to get shut down soon. You get all that software in the bundle? have fun registering them. The computer seems powerful but he is not being entirely truthful about no hacking - he is definately having to port OSX or use some kind of bridge software to get it to communicate with the Bios/motherboard (even if he is using intel boards.)

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN Read this thread on the Psystar machines.... PSYSTAR Clones At first everyone is positive but as the thread evolves you realise that it just isn't worth it, especially as a mac (say the imacs) start at only $1000 and for that you get a very powerful, well designed computer with great connectivity, incredible screen, good amount of ram and large hardrive. That's not even mentioning the rebates you can get from macmall or amazon. Also, the main thing is that macs are so hassle free - literally within 10 mins of opening the seal on the box you will be on your sequncer making music. The let down about PC's is that you have to do so much of the work yourself. OSX is also far more stable (IMO) than any windows version I have ever used (they do crash, but 99% of the time finder just restarts itself and 5 secs later you're back to where you were - no bluescreen of death etc.). I really would not rely on some guy off craigs list as my warranty provider or techincal support (because in truth, no-one else is going to touch that machine to help you fix it if he disappears). I can't understand why you would want to take an OS that was specifically designed to run on set hardware, and try to fudge it so it runs on cheaper hardware? If you're that crazy about only spending $300/400 on a powerful computer that you want to use for audio then just keep it PC and windows, because for the money they work very well. Edit" I also just checked out the link. this dude is probably going to get shut down soon. You get all that software in the bundle? have fun registering them. The computer seems powerful but he is not being entirely truthful about no hacking - he is definately having to port OSX or use some kind of bridge software to get it to communicate with the Bios/motherboard (even if he is using intel boards.)

The difference is you are getting a much more powerful computer for the price of an iMac.

A Hackintosh is as hassle free as a real mac because for all intensive purposes it is a Mac. This hackintosh will be running OS X so all your points about the operating system really don't apply.
A Mac is nothing more than a glorified PC in a nice case now that Apple switched to the Intel architecture. They are using the same Intel CPUs and Intel motherboards that are found in regular PCs. There really isn't much "fudging" going on any more especialy with release of pc_efi which makes OSx86 even closer to the real deal.

quote:

Originally posted by DJSolo The difference is you are getting a much more powerful computer for the price of an iMac. A Hackintosh is as hassle free as a real mac because for all intensive purposes it is a Mac. This hackintosh will be running OS X so all your points about the operating system really don't apply. A Mac is nothing more than a glorified PC in a nice case now that Apple switched to the Intel architecture. They are using the same Intel CPUs and Intel motherboards that are found in regular PCs. There really isn't much "fudging" going on any more especialy with release of pc_efi which makes OSx86 even closer to the real deal.

I may agree slightly about the imac price vs. power but as an owner of PC's and the new imac, I can say with certainty that the imac is as powerful as I am going to need - in fact even opening my most CPU hungry applications and softsynths it just doesn't even slowdown. It's quiote incredible to just now worry or even think about having to mess around with it to get what I want. I just use my computer now.

Having said that, hackintosh is not hassle free - by it's very definition, it's taking parts of something (software and hardware) and making them work together - all this dude from craigs list and psystar are doing is trying to make a commercial venture out of the OSx86 project. Regardless of whether it works out slightly cheaper, it still means you are relying on an online community as your only option to maintain your computer. Updates will lag seriously behind the official releases, as well as immediate support if you have a problem. If those communities get shut down (possible) then so does you only avenue of support, so back to windows......

Also, if you think a giant like apple is going to let this happen, think again. Either through legal action (debateable but highly possible), or by making future hardware more proprietary, or by making the software harder to port or incompatible. Don't forget when buying a hackintosh, apple are inlcuding OSX as part of the price. If this guy is installing it for you on non apple hardware, techincally he's breaking the EULA (and/or so are you), so chances are it's not a legit copy. All apple have to do is rapidly increase the number of fixes when they release the next OS, to make your Hackmac an utter pain, as all of theses will have be done via forum communities. Again this negates the main point of owning a mac, in that you don't have to mess with them for them to work flawlessly (or near enough). So why not just buy a PC?


I hate analogies like this but it reminds me of people who buy a cheap nissan or ford and put like $50 grand in to souping them up to go really fast. Why not just buy a viper/ferarri/corvette/etc in the first place?

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN OSX is also far more stable (IMO) than any windows version I have ever used

did you hear about the recent security event where they did a hack-off?

i don't remember the details, but OSX got hacked to root access in 2 minutes. vista didn't get hacked until the next day, and only when the hackers were allowed to have 3rd party software installed on the target pc haha.

i used to believe the OSX superiority hype, but i'm quickly realising that the stability/security of OSX is not because it is well programmed, it's just because no one uses it and/or it has more limited use.

quote:

Originally posted by echosystm did you hear about the recent security event where they did a hack-off? i don't remember the details, but OSX got hacked to root access in 2 minutes. vista didn't get hacked until the next day, and only when the hackers were allowed to have 3rd party software installed on the target pc haha. i used to believe the OSX superiority hype, but i'm quickly realising that the stability/security of OSX is not because it is well programmed, it's just because no one uses it and/or it has more limited use.

Dang! I'd love to see the stats on that!

Vista is actually really good but I think MS slightly shot themselves in the foot by releasing it when there were still so many bugs and so little 3rd party support developed yet - it gave it a bad name from the outset.

I think you're totally right regarding the security and don't forget that historically, apple hasn't exactly been forthcoming in allowing others source material for programming purposes wheras PC OS's and PC software has been readily available for years. MS have had to get good at security.

It could be that mac uses are more limited (in terms of less user tweakable etc. in comparison to PC's), but the fact still remains that macs don't really have the same frequency of problems (from viri to crashes), and the OS is moreso designed to care of it's own maintenance.

It's cray but I got the new imac finally as I really needed to a better feel for macs (for work), and I was honestly making music in cubase within 10 mins of opening that box. Customing, installing (all the rest of it) is so easy, but again I think part of that is you are limited in your choices. Doesn't bother me though, I'm kind of past the point wher I want to play with my computer and tweak it to both understand it and get the most from it, I just want it to work and it does. plus it looks damn sexy in my studio now........

quote:

Originally posted by echosystm did you hear about the recent security event where they did a hack-off? i don't remember the details, but OSX got hacked to root access in 2 minutes. vista didn't get hacked until the next day, and only when the hackers were allowed to have 3rd party software installed on the target pc haha. i used to believe the OSX superiority hype, but i'm quickly realising that the stability/security of OSX is not because it is well programmed, it's just because no one uses it and/or it has more limited use.

I belive that is because of Safari, not the OS. They had a test that allowed hackers the opportunity to hack the system, both of which proved unsuccessful. The second day they were allowed to go after client-side applications (browsers), including Safari. That allowed the system to be hacked in less than 2 minutes (through a malicious site the hacker had set up). Considering PayPal wouldn't even support Safari for security reasons, anyone using Safari now should rethink that decision. Then the third day they allowed the third party software, which proved to exploit the weakness in Vista (and again the Mac, largely because of open-source program weaknesses) - and that was really a weakness in the third party software, not necessarily Vista itself.

Not a Macboi, I use both and JUST started using the Mac Pro, just wanted to clarify that Safari was the primary weakness on the second day... if the computer had Firefox it would have likely been a different story.

(For what it's worth, it was done by the first person to hack the iPhone as well.)

Interesting replies, I have some thinking to do.

Kev, I didn't read all of those long winded replies... But like we talked about online... Get one and see how you like it. There's obv enough interest in the marketplace for these hackintosh machines that you could probably sell it pretty easy.

Just wanted to chime in on this.

I bought the entry level machine, mac mini 1.83ghz 1gb ram, and it blows away my 2ghz 2gb dell inspiron 9400 on bench tests. (If I haven't misunderstood something completely)

More importantly, it has more than enough power for me to run logic well.
I thought that my dell was a beast, but I was pleasantly surprised over the performance of the mini. It takes almost no space either, and it's very quiet.

If you are a windows lover, just stick with PC. OSX is a particularly good choice if you are a unix lover or love OSX.

OSX has (for me) been extremely stable, but its all about preference. Apple's hardware is also pretty good compared to a lot of PCs, so I tend not to worry that apple controls their hardware.

Minis are pretty cheap and perform pretty well (that's what I'm rockin).

But if what you are doing now works, then why change?

Also, if you don't know about the OS, just go to your nearest Apple store and they will let you try everything out. Thats how I finally got to try out Logic (since they didn't release a demo for the latest ver).

My current computer can barely run cubase with 2 or 3 vst plugins and if I add even one or two effects forget about it.

Much needed upgrade I think. I want quad core and I want to run Logic but I can't afford the G5, at least not for probably another year or so and I want some hardware as well. So I've decided to build a hackintosh using THIS as a loose guide.

Buying the parts piece by piece with probably a total cost of $1000 is alot better I believe than shelling out the $2500 for a G5. And if all else fails I will have a pretty sweet PC for a few years.

quote:

Originally posted by DJSolo A Hackintosh is as hassle free as a real mac because for all intensive purposes it is a Mac.

didn't read anything you said other than this and i stopped. it's "for all intents and purposes," not "for all intensive purposes."

just go to a damn mac store and test out the macs. it's simple, either you like it or not. if you'll use your computer with care then it won't get infected, same goes for windows. if you're an idiot and download a bunch of random shit you have no idea about off sites you don't trust, then you'll have a shitty computer, simple as that.

quote:

Originally posted by jupiterone just go to a damn mac store and test out the macs. it's simple, either you like it or not. if you'll use your computer with care then it won't get infected, same goes for windows. if you're an idiot and download a bunch of random shit you have no idea about off sites you don't trust, then you'll have a shitty computer, simple as that.

My computer is shitty not because I look at german scat porn but because it's about 6 years old.

quote:

Originally posted by Kevy Kev My computer is shitty not because I look at german scat porn but because it's about 6 years old.

well the german sites didnt make it better atleast

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