Chicago (IL) - Running OS X on a bare-bone PC has been a geek's dream since Apple announced its switch to Intel processors in 2006. While this effort succeeded in some cases, a hacked OS X tends to run only on a limited number of PC configurations and with more than a just a few hiccups: Software updates are blocked until hackers patch Apple's official updates and a hacked OS X, of course, violates Apple's license agreement. However, a new hardware solution called EFi-X puts an end to these issues: It delivers Mac's EFI firmware interface to your PC, fooling the original OS X Leopard installation DVD into thinking it is running a genuine Mac.

A new hardware-based solution called EFi-X offers a fresh take on running OS X on your PC. Basically a $155 dongle that plugs into a USB slot on your motherboard (it does not support external USB ports), EFi-X and works as an EFI firmware interface found in every Intel-based Mac. This approach is good enough to fool Mac OS X Leopard into believing it is running on a genuine Mac, thus eliminating the need for a hacked OS X installation. Not only can you instalI Mac OS X from a regular retail DVD, you can also update OS X installation with official operating system updates from Apple.

Using the EFi-X is simple. Plug in the dongle, restart your computer, select EFiX as the boot device in your BIOS, exit, wait for a drive selector and then run the original Leopard installation DVD. EFi-X offers other EFI firmware features such as EMI & RFI protection, an interactive graphical boot selector that supports all popular partition formats and power management features such as shutdown, reset, speedstep, etc. Of course, OS X' limited driver support significantly narrows down the PC hardware compatibility list. But if your hardware complies, you should be able to install and run OS X from the original installation DVD without a hiccup.

The EFi-X is shipping now and is available in two flavors - home users and developers. Early reviews look promising: Gizmodo says that EFi-X works "perfectly," citing "great performance" and a "smooth and seamless" experience. "Updates, installing software, everything is just like a real Mac," the site said. "The best way to put it is this: I've got a Mac Pro now." It will be interesting to see how Apple reacts to this development. The Cupertino-based Mac maker recently sent its legal sharks after Psystar since the company tried to sell cheap PCs distributed with a modified version of OS X pre-installed, which violates the terms of OS X license agreement.

hah awesome

Sep 17, 2008 14:13     

I can see apple releasing osx for all PC's by 2010 esp if windows 7 is a huge flop
lolz report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

Really...

Sep 17, 2008 14:14     

What is the point? I can mod my windows PC to look exactly like the GUI of a Mac (or even better, something customized specifically for my needs and wants). Why deal with all the incompatibilities that are going to arise from running the mac OS X on hardware that is not designed to run it on.
JackCrackerMan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -8

$155 Dongle !!

Sep 17, 2008 15:26     

What could be worth $155 in that thing? Someone needs to hack the dongle with a $5 one
J. Doe report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +12

Apple always sues

Sep 17, 2008 15:33     

Get 'em while they are hot!
Hax Or report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +4

sounds like a solution

Sep 17, 2008 16:07     

even if this thing gets spreaded on the market, I doubt Apple would feel a thing, when it comes to competition they can be even more agressive than Microsoft. besides, the majority of the people knows too little about computers to actually find their way to a solution like this, they'll just let themselves get robbed by Apple's overpriced hardware.
JohnnyricoMC report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +4

About time!

Sep 17, 2008 20:21     

Apple is better than MS but not good enough. Having to hack the OS, come out with a dongle or have them sue you is just an example of how dense they are. Ubuntu will eventually gain so much momentum they will all be crushed. I use OS X, XP and Ubuntu, btw.
Elijah report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -10

re: Really

Sep 17, 2008 23:36     

in reply to: "What is the point? I can mod my windows PC to look exactly like the GUI of a Mac (or even better, something customized specifically for my needs and wants)" Gee man, you've been living under a rock. Mac OS retail with a few modifications has been running (stable, and able to update with official releases) on PC for over 2 years now. I'd say that's a bit more elaborate and powerful than a wallpaper and a handful of mac icons from DevianArt.

John report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -3

not a mac unless it is top hardware

Sep 18, 2008 04:49     

you need to have a real mac to get the actual feel of a mac pro; most pcs have crappy hardware that doesn't really let the software do it's thing... if you've got alienware you might do fine, but in general a run of the mill HP ain't gonna do it for ya...
Lynda Botez report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -17

I have hackintoshed

Sep 18, 2008 07:35     

"Running OS X on a ... PC has been a geek's dream"... Not a dream, only a curiosity. Nice interface, but when I needed a computer, I got back to Windows, and stayed on it. Hackintosh does not even worth of my hard disk space, so of course, is not even worthy of my money. Apple is worst than Microsoft, because have a tightest monopolic grip on the user throat. Meanwhile hackintoshing, I feel unnecessarily constrained by Apple, don’t letting me breathing.

mm report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +3

Apple should take a hint

Sep 18, 2008 07:44     

If they allowed things like this they would sell more licenses for OSX. Let the people who want their OS without their overpriced hardware have it. *Shrug*
crawlgsx report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +6

OS X on a Thinkpad or EEE PC?

Sep 18, 2008 08:10     

I have seen some try to install OS X on a Thinkpad or a EEE PC. http://forum.thinkpads.com http://forum.eeeuser.com Both of these forums have a section where they are trying to install OS X on a Thinkpad. While the Thinkpad has a section labeled OS X, the EEE User forum has a 'other operating systems' section. :) Even if it is not an Apple computer, Apple still gains since they bought the operating system.

TomLeeM/BigWarpGuy report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

woah!

Sep 18, 2008 08:14     

woah! Apple ready to hit PC's , so i guess no more hackintosh's ppl, just buy a dongle & ur done with to experience the real Mac OS X. but i guess it would not deliver the best possible performance & does Apple provide technical support to this ? what is the minimum configuration of the system to use it ?
Arjun report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -2

re:lynda

Sep 18, 2008 12:27     

looks like the one living under a rock is you, compare an off the shelf PC that has the same price as a mac, and you can easily conclude the PC has superior hardware Apple certainly doesn't use top-shelf hardware, they charge ridiculous prices for a system preloaded with their OS, while you can get an equal or even better system with or without a Windows OS for far less money. looks like you need to get some hardware and economy 101 classes.

JohnnyricoMC report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +4

Not new, hackers were doing this since two years ago.

Sep 18, 2008 15:53     

You can actually download OSX from some torrent sites that includes a USB patch. Just install the software patch onto a USB flash drive, boot from it then install OSX. Certain cheap Intel based chipset is required, just like the cheap intel chipsets Apple uses. A system like this costs only about $350, but of course, you would be living your life as a pirate. Also, certain Intel and Gigabyte motherboards' bios can to flash to have hardware EFI, then an off-shelf OSX would install just like any other Mac. Updates would install too. Research and have fun folks.

Doug_d report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

@ Lynda Botez uhuh...

Sep 19, 2008 21:35     

I have my computer, cost me 2.4k, yes it is a LOT for a windows computer, but hey, I like my games. I tried to construct a mac the same power out of curosity, and you know how much a MAC with the same power as my (now half a year old) PC cost? $8000. So don't you go sprouting lies that mac is more for less,
SirCabbage report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +1

PC downgrade? Why

Sep 20, 2008 19:57     

Why would I want to downgrade my PC into a mac? So I could run less then 1% of the software out there? Or so I could get cool icons that dance? yawn, no thanks.
renorick report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0