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Efbe
Original Poster
4,867 posts
35 months
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A colleague is thinking of setting up a line in selling desktop computers to run the PC (x86) version of MACOSX.
His plan was to sell a bundle, guarateed to run the software, but without any software on, so the user would have the option of installing a legit copy from apple, or something else.
If you have ever tried to do this yourself you will know what a ballache it can be in getting the right drivers/hardware configuration so that everything works.
I don't have the specs , but would be sold for a lot lot cheaper than the comparable Apple system, it's essentially just a budget Mac. I assume he would also offer warranty.
(please no discussion as to the legality or anything like that)
So for £350, would you ever consider buying a Budget PC capable of running MACOSX?
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thinfourth2
23,612 posts
73 months
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Yes, no ,maybe, don't know i'm confused
I could be tempted to buy a cheap PC to run OSX but it would lose what i like about apple products of it being almost zero hassle
So providing it was a complete doddle to install OSX then i would
Any hassle and i wouldn't even bother. i ran a hackintosh netbook for a while but got hacked off it not working exactly like a mac and ended up buying a macbook air which is a splendid machine but over 3 times the price
Apples market is divided into the "like shiny stuff" crowd and the "don't like computers" crowd
I'm quite firmly in the don't like computers camp
I can't see it attracting the magpies
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thinfourth2
23,612 posts
73 months
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Actually if he could get OSX server running on it then i probably would
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wolves_wanderer
7,946 posts
106 months
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I remember reading a while ago that it was against the licence agreement in OSX to run it on non-Apple systems. I would advise him to check very carefully as Apple seem somewhat litigious.
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Podie
38,416 posts
144 months
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wolves_wanderer said: I remember reading a while ago that it was against the licence agreement in OSX to run it on non-Apple systems. I would advise him to check very carefully as Apple seem somewhat litigious. 
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sjg
4,297 posts
134 months
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People buying hardware for this will either already know about, or will easily find, tonymacx86.com.
If he's not preinstalling (sensible, given the legal issues) then he just becomes a regular system builder, albeit one with sensible choices for hackintosh purposes. It's a very slim margin market, and if he's going to try to hand-hold people who can't be bothered to read the guides themselves then it's hard to see where the profit comes from. If/when an update comes along that stops it working (not uncommon) and needs a workaround then that's even more support to deal with.
I can see a possible niche in providing decent PC boxes for enthusiasts that can't be bothered to order all the various bits from different places, assemble, test, RMA some bit that doesn't work, etc. Pre-tested stuff from the tonymacx86 lists they they can go ahead and install OSX on. I suspect a cheap Mac Mini clone for cheapskates who want a Mac but won't pay an extra couple of hundred for a real one - that could be more trouble than it's worth.
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MrReg
1,487 posts
91 months
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I'd rather buy a 2nd hand mac as at least I'd know I can sell it again quickly if required.
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Efbe
Original Poster
4,867 posts
35 months
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more positive responses than I had expected!
There are potential legal issues with preinstalling the software I think, though iirc you are able to buy a copy of MACOSX legally from apple to install yourself, (can't remember if this is 100% correct though)
There are guides such as tony's and the osx project, which are great, but can be a little hard to follow especially if you want ot get the system working for a specific build.
Used Macs are a good idea, but they are still quite expensive especially if you want a recent one with the latest version of MACOS.
From speaking to my colleague it would be a very simple install to do.
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sjg
4,297 posts
134 months
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Well, you used to be able to buy a DVD off the shelf, but the last one they did that for was Snow Leopard (10.6). Lion (10.7) was digital download only, although you could buy a USB stick with it on from Apple. These days, as all new Macs have had internet recovery built in for a while, there is no physical copy to buy for Mountain Lion (10.8). You need to get your hands on a Snow Leopard DVD somehow (Apple don't offer it any more), get the system up and running on that and update to Mountain Lion.
Tools like UniBeast that make the install "very simple to do" involve having a working Mac handy to prepare your boot USB, and to download the OS image from the Mac App Store. How many of his potential customers will have that? Even doing this step for his customers so they have a boot USB drive ready to go is effectively selling hooky copies of OSX.
As I say, offering pre-built and tested systems of what tonymacx86 recommends is a possible decent niche. Build in enough margin to leave you with a profit after you've supported every idiot who just wants a cut-price Mac and you'll find it hard to compete with the Mac Mini.
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tribbles
3,109 posts
91 months
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TheHeretic
68,270 posts
124 months
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Podie said: wolves_wanderer said: I remember reading a while ago that it was against the licence agreement in OSX to run it on non-Apple systems. I would advise him to check very carefully as Apple seem somewhat litigious. I thought you couldn't run it if if wasn't apple branded? Could you lob a sticker on it?
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Studio117
2,385 posts
60 months
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Waste of time. As copied from the wiki link above: wiki said: On December 1, 2009, Psystar agreed to pay Apple $2.7 million for copyright infringement, breach of contract, violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, additional damages and attorneys fees in the California lawsuit. The payments were deferred until all Psystar's appeals are exhausted
As of August, 2010, Psystar's web site, store, and content delivery network are unreachable.
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Perd Hapley
1,438 posts
42 months
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Psystar's problem was selling the systems ready to go with OS X preinstalled. Loads of places sell PCs with no OS, I can't see any problem if you were selling ones which just happened to be hackintosh proven spec.
The problems would really be the kind of people who bought them... most hackintoshes are built by tinkerers because tinkering with computers is fun. Would those people buy from you if they can get all the components from scan.com and build it themselves? If your buyers just want a Mac but don't want to pay for one, are they going to be a real hassle when 10.8.6 breaks their audio in eleven months time and they didn't keep any backups?
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Studio117
2,385 posts
60 months
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Another thing.
Would your mate buy a license for each machine sold, or simply duplicate a single retail version?
More potential hot water there.
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Efbe
Original Poster
4,867 posts
35 months
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Have shown him this thread. There would be no installing of any software on it, for the exact reasons that have been highlighted above. It would be up to the buyer to do this. However support of how to install An operating system would be given I assume.
It would also be a very easy install to do, having seen him do this; it is pretty much click, wait, click and click again.
So back on track, would YOU buy something like this should you want a cheap Mac, and not be able to afford an Apple one?
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sjg
4,297 posts
134 months
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Yep, it's very easy to install... but only once you've prepared your special USB stick to boot from.
Every current method I can find for doing this these days (myHack, Kakewalk, Unibeast, etc) requires access to working Mac to do this - although I'm all ears if you know of a way to do it without. The appeal of a <£350 hackintosh kit is mainly going to be amongst those who don't already have a Mac. Preparing the sticks for customers means effectively giving them a pirated copy of OSX.
Biggest problem with all this is that a Mac Mini is only £529 (£440ish via Education Store), just works out of the box and will be fully supported going forward with new OS releases and updates. Even the best, most carefully specified hackintoshes still get problems somewhere along the way. That's OK for the technical crowd who know what they're getting into, but those just after a cut-price Mac will not be happy when they install an update and the thing won't boot.
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Studio117
2,385 posts
60 months
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Apple spends billions of dollars making osx work very well with a reasonably limited range of hardware. Supporting such a small selection of hardware has worked well for them.
Unless the £350 box is identical to a mac mini or similar then support issues will be a problem. Especially with the frequent updates apple provides.
I'm guessing having a viable support system will wipe out any kind of profit margin. Call center??
It really makes no sense from a business point of view. The hackintosh geeks will already know how to install osx on their pc's.
Its like asking a geek to pay you for replacing a hd in their computer.
A niche so small that only one company has tried and failed to make it work in recent years.
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