Introduction

Build a Hackintosh Mac for Under $800

When you see headlines like this, it really makes your consider trying out those Macs that everyone is talking so much about these days. One of the biggest barriers to switching to a Mac is that they are very expensive.   So, why not take their operating system that has gotten such rave reviews, and put it on a cheaper PC computer, right?

Since Apple has made the switch to using Intel and nVidia technology in their computers, they’re essentially the same stuff that’s in PCs too.   So why not?  Because Apple doesn’t let you.  Even if you bought the software, you are not allowed to.  You agree to those terms when you use the product.  I’ll better explain the ramifications, and headaches you will run into by making your own “Hackintosh” Computer.

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Apple Legal Stuff and Licensing

Here are just a few things to consider if you want to legitimately use the Mac Operating System on a non-Mac Computer.  This is concerning the software license around the OS

Apple Legal – Software License for Snow Leopard

0. Geography

What The Paperwork Says:“11. Export Control. You may not use or otherwise export … Apple Software may not be exported or re-exported (a) into any U.S. embargoed countries or (b) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Department of Commerce Denied Person’s List or Entity List. “

What It Really Says: “It’s not a matter of copyright or distribution laws if you can use our software.  You have to be on the USA’s side.”

1. Liability for Damages

What The Paperwork Says:“In no event shall Apple’s total liability to you for all damages (other than as may be required by applicable law in cases involving personal injury) exceed the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00).”

What It Really Says: “We’re not responsible for the software we make.  If for some reason it hurts you, the most we’ll give ya is $50!”  — If you put it on another computer, you’re not in compliance and you dont get that $50!

2. Liability… Again

What The Paperwork Says:“SHOULD THE APPLE SOFTWARE OR SERVICES PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.”

What It Really Says:“Should it be proven that our product is defective, your responsible for replacing and paying for the defective parts/repairs – even if it’s our fault” – Aside from your Mfr Warranty

3. Apple’s Rights With Your Computer

What The Paperwork Says:“Apple and its licensors reserve the right to change, suspend, remove, or disable access to any Services at any time without notice. In no event will Apple be liable for the removal of or disabling of access to any such Services. Apple may also impose limits on the use of or access to certain Services, in any case and without notice or liability.”

What It Really Says: “We can change, remove, or disable any part of your Mac computer at any time without any notice.  And you can’t come after us for doing it.”

4. The Types of Hardware Allowed to Run OSX

What The Paperwork Says: “You agree not to install, use or run the Apple Software on any non-Apple-branded computer, or to enable others to do so. “

What It Really Says:“If you bought this software, you can’t put it on any machine.  It has to be a Mac or else! And your not allowed to help or show others to do it”

5. General Licensing

What The Paperwork Says: “This License does not allow the Apple Software to exist on more than one computer at a time, and you may not make the Apple Software available over a network where it could be used by multiple computers at the same time.”

What It Really Says: “We license our Operating System no different than Microsoft.”

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How Apple Reacts to Hackintoshers

Apple’s Snow Leopard Update Zaps Bugs, Kills Hackintosh Netbooks

When it comes to Apple’s feelings towards people making their own Hackintosh computers, please reference the link above.  That’s right.  Apple will fix the bugs in their computers, and shut down you hackintosh if you update.

Regardless if you have purchased the software or not legitimately, it is not in compliance with their terms of use.  Therefore illegal.  Therefore not supported.  Therefore it’s only going to cause you problems down the road – no matter what.

Apple will defend it’s intellectual property rights now matter what.  They are no different than Microsoft in this case.  Although they may find a way of warning you more “poetically,” like they did to the OSx86 project:

“Your karma check for today:
There once was a user that whined
His existing OS was so blind
He’d do better to pirate
An OS that ran great
But found his hardware declined.
Please don’t steal Mac OS
Really, that’s way uncool.
(C) Apple Computer, Inc.”

Apple’s code is often laced with lines that explicitly tell you  not to pirate their software, too.

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Can I Buy A Pre-Installed Hackintosh?

Kinda-Sorta – But definitely not legally.  There is a company called PsyStar that has blatantly disregarded Apple’s License Terms and started selling PCs pre-installed with Mac OS on it.  Apple got angry.  So Apple sued, and won.  No big suprise there.

Apple Wins Big Against Psystar

In that case the judge also:

• Ruled out a “fair use” defense for Psystar
• Psystar also argued that it had the right to sell OS X as part of the first-sale doctrine. The judge ruled that any copies were not made with the permission of Apple
• Noted the copies installed on the Open Computers, in some cases, did not even match up with the “backup copies” sold together with the computers
• Said: “The inclusion of the copyrighted Mac OS X with the above-described additions and modifications makes Psystar’s product an infringing, derivative work”
• “The judge also noted that Apple had not raised claims on breach of contract, induced breach of contract, trademark dilution, and infringement, and other breaches of California law.”

PsyStar has been left without a legal foot to stand on.  The trial resumes December 14th.  But clearly Apple has sent a precedent to all those other people out there distributing and selling their own “Hackintoshes” that the matter will not be taken lightly by them.

I don’t know what the execs at PsyStar were thinking, trying to win a legal battle like this against Apple – over their own intellectual property. Quite frankly it was plain stupid of them.  For every copy of OSX they claimed to sell, they had a license agreement to go along with it.  Not once did ANYONE at that company bother too look at it.  Especially for a reseller to be selling illegitimate software, that doesn’t match the license on the machine.

That puts PsyStar in the “Pirate” category.  There’s nothing wrong with being a pirate (or a ninja for that matter).  But there’s something definitely wrong about cashing in on other people’s code, and exploiting another company’s intellectual property for your own personal gain.

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But Can It Be Done?!

Yes, my children it CAN be done.  I’ll have a video up here in the coming days to show it can be done, and I can do it.

Unfortunately,  with my experiences – it’s just plain simpler to install a netbook-ready distribution of linux on your computer.  Like Ubuntu Netbook Remix.

Take Care,

The_Ubuntu_Geek