PCs running Mac OS?

I intend on either building my own, or buying a pre-built higher power system for photo/video editing (and perhaps a game or two down the line) and understand the higher end Macs (G5) are more expensive than similar powered PC (I know, you can't compare on sheer processor Ghz spec numbers to determine speed) and am not sure about hardware upgradeability. Gaming I also understand, is not Mac's forte` either. Besides, I am going to be using a PC at work and need easy compatibility with it.

The Mac Intel machines may appear in the first months of 2006. So keep that in mind.

Building your own PC is not an option for many since they can't support such a machine. Every day we read posts in these forums for help installing an OS. It seems the current offerings by Microsoft don't install without a lot of help.

Given the decades Microsoft has been at this, why hasn't this been fixed?

bob

..., why hasn't this been fixed?"

I'm guessing it keeps the Help associated people at Microsoft and other companies employed, arrogance, laziness, the list goes on.

"Building your own PC is not an option for many since they can't support such a machine. Every day we read posts in these forums for help installing an OS. It seems the current offerings by Microsoft don't install without a lot of help."

Which is wy I'm still on the fence as to whether or not I want to BMO. I think I could handle the assembly and initial OS installation, but the things that crop up from time to time would be tougher for me to handle. I've never taken so much as an online course, I've learned everything I know from this and other forums. But I know I've barely scratched the surface in what's needed in the way of tech. knowledge!

Acording to Steve B, M$ is better because it is written by professionals. And the other OS(linux) is writen by amatures.
So the arrogance comes from the highest athourity at M$. John

It really is a shame that we can't just go out and buy whatever hardware, whether it's the cool and stylish (and expensive) Mac G5, kick butt PC, or any type of box we want, and pick the OS that fits our needs. I know there's all kinds of licencing, proprietary territorial pissing crap going on, as well as having to match up all the other programs, but maybe with a new MacIntel the door will open a crack. I've never had a chance to use a Mac and would like the opportunity to try it without having to spend the $$ for a whole new computer. And I'm not enough of a techie guy to try Linux.

The wide range of hardware for the PC is both its blessing and curse. What would happen to (Intel) MacOS would not be pretty if such choice was allowed.

As proof, count all the posts about video drivers in these forums.

Cheers,

bob

I agree, you still have the issue of making sure you have Mac version of drivers and purchase programs in that version. I still have to do that to some extent when I upgrade from Windows ME to XP. I know there is a lot of backwards compatibility going on there, but I bet there wont't when Windows goes 64 bit. Ideally, couldn't you do a dual boot system with all appropriate drivers, and try each OS?

XP64 is already here. It's highly compatible (runs Microsoft Office and more that I will list) but drivers and lowlevel items must be XP64 compliant.

The issue for some is they want the "plug it in and it works" type OS and Microsoft doesn't supply that. Partly because of all the hardware choices.

I think you see the problem.

Bob

I'm thinking of the idealistic notion that one computer having the potential to run whatever OS the user wants. I know PCs can run any version of Windows they want or Linux, provided that drivers and other applications are available. Macs can run Virtual PC if they need Windows, but there is no option for a PC to run a Mac OS.

I can't discuss that non truth here. But I think you get the general idea that there are 2 distinct mind paths here.

The group that demands it will work.

The group that want to build it themselves, will accept they have to find the nuts and bolts to tie it together and hold the OS provider blameless when it fails.

Bob

you could try buying an old one just to try out the operating system, I bet you could find an old one for sale somewhere get an LC iii or a Classic. I have a friend who is a computer consultant who runs Linux, But my video card won't operate with Linux, I also don't know enough about computers yet to use it, and since less will run on it...

I think I'd run into more compatibility issues with Linux than Mac. I also think that if I'm going to jump OSs, I'd feel more comfortable trying Mac.

CompUSA Mac demo is a good idea, since no one I know that's nearby owns one (getting computer help from friends is one reason I bought a PC in the first place). The issues I might have in going to a Mac are:

Cost...
If I buy a lower cost model now, how upgrade
friendly are they when I need more speed? I know
if I stay with a PC the options are endless.
The faster G5 models are spendier than a
compareable PC.

Software Availability...
I know that for graphics I would have
great choices. But what about business apps?
I checked Quicken's site and it looked
like the only Quick Books option for
Mac was the $200 Pro version. I also worry about
other software, like UPS shipping/tracking for
my computer at work.

I will definitely check out a Mac the next time I'm at Compo USA and ask the salesperson these questions. I just don't like surprises later down the line when I find out that some new app I need is "PC only".

I guess the bottom line is if they design the next generation Mac OS to run on an Intel-based Mac, would that open the door for that new OS to run on an Intel-based PC? I know, it's a bit of an ignorant question since I'm sure there are more issues than just making sure I have the right drivers installed.

Keep up on current events. The PPC architecture was abandoned two years ago.

Hey Porch, time to pay attention!

Too many parts of the system is open source and OpenDarwin is still existing- finding a copy is difficult- for people to use. One can build FreeBSD to use the NeXtStep environment- gnustep- and have a system similar to a Mac to work with.
I did say similar. You would have to install it to an HFS/HFS+ volume. This would require a few Linux emulation models & binaries to be built.
/boot/kernel defaults Linux emulation=yes hfs emulation support activated or enabled by vi rewrite of kernel modules. Fdisk on a separate hd should help some.
Beyond this, I don't know.

Time to start paying attention.

Que?

This discussion is very old. Locking.

As such the CNet forums can't discuss it past this point.

But beware the PSYSTAR as it appears to be a phishing scam. Read http://government.zdnet.com/?p=3761

"Walk through the Psystar fiasco with me. Many things are confusing. At a minimum, it?s clear that the OpenMac is bogus. It?s extremely dubious that Psystar is a legitimate company. It is increasingly likely that the whole thing is a phishing or credit-card scam."

If you know how to use the FreeBSD binutils along with GCC make for porting to different architectures- along with knowing what my post below states about open source licenses- you can.
For any moderators and editors who may disagree with me: Look at the sources for the current Apple OS and at the BSD licenses being used. Those parts used of open source are available to the public for modifying.