Author Topic: Apple OSX on a netbook - good idea or bad idea? (Read 2693 times)

border · « **on:** February 23, 2009, 11:51:46 PM »

Looks sweet! I would love to try out this OS for less than the price of a Mac Mini...

http://i.gizmodo.com/5156903/how-to-hackintosh-a-dell-mini-9-into-the-ultimate-os-x-netbook

drew · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2009, 11:55:56 PM »

in b4 T234

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2009, 11:57:57 PM »

win7 beta onna netbook = better idea

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2009, 11:59:14 PM »

using dual boot on a asus 1000ha. OSX is pretty nice, it doesn't beat out Windows 7 though. I played around with Xp, Vista, Win7, OSX, and Unbuntu before settling on Win7 and Xp. If you want a cheap hackbook go ahead just make sure you got 2gb's of ram.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:05:44 AM »

fuck i wish i'd bought the 160GB HDD version of the acer i have

border · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:09:42 AM »

Quote from: Professor Prole on February 23, 2009, 11:57:57 PM

win7 beta onna netbook = better idea

Oh you

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:12:15 AM »

border · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:14:17 AM »

Is there a better netbook than the Dell Mini 9, for OSX compatibility? The Gizmodo article seems to claim nothing else will really work as well.

What netbooks can you get with 2GB of RAM? Acer and Dell don't seem to offer it...

TVC15 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:15:05 AM »

Also, do not get the Dell Mini Inspiron. It is terrible.

Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:53:02 AM »

Quote from: border on February 24, 2009, 12:14:17 AM

Is there a better netbook than the Dell Mini 9, for OSX compatibility? The Gizmodo article seems to claim nothing else will really work as well.

What netbooks can you get with 2GB of RAM? Acer and Dell don't seem to offer it...

The MSI Wind runs it pretty admirably.
http://forums.msiwind.net/mac/

I'm running a dual-boot of OSX and Windows 7 on my Wind, while my GF has OSX on her Dell Mini. Both run OSX pretty well (hell, I even squeeze out a buncha things with Photoshop on it). Boot time's pretty slick too, less than 40 seconds from the initial BIOS crap.

2GB upgrades you can do yourself; on the Dell it's easy as shit (I would avoid the Mini entirely though; as TVC has said many times before, the keyboard is garbage and has a pretty high learning curve--I mean, wtf at the apostrophe key placing) and on the Wind it's a bit harder (you have to remove the entire bottom of the case, but that's pretty much unscrewing a couple screws anyway).

Additionally, if you are getting the MSI Wind, look for the U100 models; the newer U120 models have soldered-on RAM and cannot be replaced/upgraded.

More required reading:
http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/12/17/osx-netbook-compatib.html

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #10 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:54:11 AM »

i like my acer okay, and i can type pretty well on it

i just wish i'd sprung the extra 50$ for the version with 160GB and a six-cell battery

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #11 on:** February 24, 2009, 12:54:46 AM »

yeah, the inspiron is terrible. if you REALLY want one, i can sell you mine.

drew · « **Reply #12 on:** February 24, 2009, 01:07:21 AM »

i want a netbook w/ a 4 tb external hd as a 24/7 workhorse for stealing copywrited media off the internet

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #13 on:** February 24, 2009, 01:19:12 AM »

that's copyrighted, arvie

drew · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2009, 01:38:15 AM »

i wouldnt know

since i havent seen that fbi warning thingy since around 2004

cause pirated copies dont have that

because they arent discs

ok im done

border · « **Reply #15 on:** February 24, 2009, 11:47:33 AM »

MSI Wind looks pretty good -- that one is generally considered to have the best keyboard, right? When that chart says the "Sound I/O" doesn't work under OSX, what does that mean?

Super-dork emulation question: If you want to play a vertical shooter in Tate mode, which netbooks will stand properly if placed on their side?

Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2009, 01:45:03 PM »

Sound I/O would be the mic and headphones. Last I checked the mic jack wasn't working yet. Headphone switching also doesn't work properly on the Wind (when you plug earphones or something into the jack it doesn't automatically switch to the earphones, so you'll need to switch it on a tray application). A small concession, sure, but I'd like to add that both work perfectly on the Dell Mini.

Right now the Samsung NC10 and HP Mini I believe has eclipsed the Wind's excellent keyboard, but if you're interested in running OSX, I wouldn't get any of them as random nerdlingers haven't figured out how to run OSX on both netbooks properly.

I would imagine that most, if not all netbooks can be placed on their side somewhat--I think the EEE 901s have this little knob on the side that would prevent that though. My Wind's sides are pretty flat so I can imagine just unfolding it halfway and letting it stand on its own.

border · « **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2009, 02:33:54 PM »

I was worried that might mean the headphone jack -- if you can't hear anything under OSX, that's kind of a big deal isn't it? Maybe it'd be better to wait until that either gets hashed out, or a better netbook comes along. How far off are the ones with good graphics chips?

Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich · « **Reply #18 on:** February 24, 2009, 02:55:57 PM »

Well you can still hear out of them, but it just doesn't autoswitch when you plug earphones in, you need to manually switch to the earphone out. Kind of a hassle, but not discouraging by any means.

The new netbooks with the ION chipset are coming around June I believe (will probably be delayed); yeah if you can wait it'd be wise to do so since the price difference is gonna be nominal (around ~$50 from the current crop of netbooks).

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2009, 04:44:49 AM »

NEWSFLASH: Intel can eat a dick

http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/intel-rips-into-nvidias-ion-platform/

don't hold your breath on those ion netbooks

border · « **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2009, 11:16:53 AM »

Why is Ion supposed to be delayed? Just because Intel hates them?

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #21 on:** February 25, 2009, 11:44:16 AM »

no, but intel can stipulate that certain spec requirements be met by netbook manufacturers for usage of the atom in their products, and increase the cost for those pairing the atom processor with the ion instead of their new graphics chipset

which means production costs for ion netbooks would cost more than the projected $50 bump, so you're looking at the possibility of paying $500 or more for a netbook using the nvidia platform, and that takes it way out of the netbook realm and puts it into the asus n10j niche market:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220385

so, yeah, there will be netbooks using ion, but they'll be expensive, and at those kind of prices you might as well get a real notebook with a decent processor

border · « **Reply #22 on:** February 25, 2009, 05:38:17 PM »

Can they really do that? It sounds like a pretty big load of shit, and bordering on anti-competitive.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2009, 05:46:04 PM »

i don't know if they will, but they certainly could

manufacturers already have to meet certain requirements to use the atom in their products now

either way, it doesn't sound like they're at all happy with nvidia stealing all the thunder away from what will surely be another underperforming intel chipset later this year, and i'd lay odds they're going to do anything they can to keep that business to themselves

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2009, 05:46:29 PM »

well, i know whose name i'll be cursing on the borecast this week

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #25 on:** February 25, 2009, 05:49:21 PM »

we'll still get them, they just won't be the $350 ion netbooks we were hoping for

TVC15 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 25, 2009, 05:58:54 PM »

I don't think Intel will do a thing, really. Intel's been close to getting labeled a monopoly for the better part of a decade, and in recent years they have tread carefully to avoid making themselves look guilty. Fucking with Ion while Intel is on the verge of becoming a large GPU powerhouse would not look good.

Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich · « **Reply #27 on:** February 25, 2009, 06:35:40 PM »

Prole, ever consider swapping out your Mini's horribly vapid keyboard?

http://www.liliputing.com/2009/02/dells-international-keyboard-for-the-inspiron-mini-9.html

border · « **Reply #28 on:** February 26, 2009, 12:07:24 AM »

Is Intel planning on making legitimately good GPUs in the future, or are they just wanting to push everyone else out of the budget market? Is there any hope that we might see some competition from AMD in the netbook arena?

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #29 on:** February 26, 2009, 04:48:37 AM »

If there were to come out a Netbook that was sub-$500 and could play WoW plus most of the games I want to play (not asking for bleeding edge, just competence) I would sink my teeth into it like a mofo.

Is it the Ion platform that looks to be the solution to my needs and will tickle ma' balls? I remember reading about it a while back but honestly haven't really kept up on things.

drew · « **Reply #30 on:** February 26, 2009, 05:12:03 AM »

Quote from: Arbys Roast Beef Sandwich on February 25, 2009, 06:35:40 PM

http://www.liliputing.com/2009/02/dells-international-keyboard-for-the-inspiron-mini-9.html

zomg i want this/a netbook so bad

even the stock keyboard is perfect for me since i never use apostrophes anyway

drew · « **Reply #31 on:** February 26, 2009, 07:04:12 AM »

Quote from: TVC 15 on February 24, 2009, 12:15:05 AM

Also, do not get the Dell Mini Inspiron. It is terrible.

lol nvm

im reading this list of the top 10 best netbooks:

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/0,39029450,49297248-5,00.htm

would appreciate if someone w/ more knowledge could confirm if this is a good list

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #32 on:** February 26, 2009, 11:16:48 AM »

Quote from: Drewsy on February 26, 2009, 07:04:12 AM

Quote from: TVC 15 on February 24, 2009, 12:15:05 AM
Also, do not get the Dell Mini Inspiron. It is terrible.

lol nvm

im reading this list of the top 10 best netbooks:

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/0,39029450,49297248-5,00.htm

would appreciate if someone w/ more knowledge could confirm if this is a good list

crap list, also very dated

just get an hp mini already

drew · « **Reply #33 on:** February 26, 2009, 11:33:50 AM »

you know what, nevermind

i think im over my netbook craze

i spent hours scouring google and pretty much narrowed it down to an Asus Eee PC 900HA

smh

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #34 on:** February 26, 2009, 01:19:52 PM »

Nvidia to Intel: "Here's a dick. How about you eat it?"

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-ion-intel-atom-response,7113.html

Dickie Dee · « **Reply #35 on:** February 26, 2009, 01:45:03 PM »

I'm in no rush and can get by with what I have, but are the Ion netbooks worth waiting for? (understanding with all tech that you can perpetually wait for what's around the corner forever with you dick in your hand)

News:

Author Topic: Apple OSX on a netbook - good idea or bad idea? (Read 2693 times)