Installing Mac OS X on a Windows PC.. anyone?

I've always been a PC user, and been reading up on the comparisons of Mac vs. PC lately. I feel like I run Windows effectively, and I've always been a little biased against Apple in general. But ever since I started reading up on this topic, I'm a little intrigued. If someone was able to pull it off and get all their drivers installed, you think it'd be worth it, as far as DJ'ing w/ Traktor?

 

Not really.

There's only a small chance that:

a) Traktor doesn't work properly due to DPC latency etc on your PC's hardware profile AND

b) Your PC's hardware profile is close enough to that of a MBP to be able to install drivers on it and run it sucessfully

 

It is also more complicated than that.

Apple knows the real money is in their hardware. The second they launched intel macs with an intel OS security measures were already in place that would stop someone from buying any old PC and installing OS X on it.

So, there are physical chips installed on the mobo's of all macs that OS X looks for. If the OS finds them, it is given the green light to run; if not --- oops. Sure, people have found a way to fake the response via software, but you burn a lot of cpu cycles in the process.

My advice? If you are curious, get a mini. If you are curious and want to play out with it, get an Air.

 

If I were to try it, it'd be a novelty thing, although I'm not in a hurry to start messing around. I do have a 4gb setup downloaded for 10.7 Lion tho, specifically for use w/ PC's and USB flash-drives.

I don't like the issue of losing CPU cycles tho, the only reason I'd wanna do this would be to suck more stability and performance from my current setup (Win7-64bit, 2.0ghz pentium dual-core, 4gig ram), which is already pretty solid.

It's a 2nd system that I only use for music/traktor, and never for browsing the internet. Only audio issue I've witnessed a handful of times, is a split-second buzzing sound over the music.

 

Isn't this basically talking about hackintosh? Which is not allowed by the mods.

 

"Using such equipment is like a musician attending the Grammys in a limo...


A FIBERGLASS LIMO BODY PLACED ON TOP OF A MOTORYCLE !

It is not always as pretty as it initially seems ..."

NOTE: thousands of people are doing it. Then again - thousands of people do drugs.... does not make it right... or acceptable.

there are OTHER places for talks on that topic... google the words OSX86 or TONYMAC

but this place.. is NOT the place for it....

Just like it is not the place for discussion of methadone

 

I'm not getting into specifics or looking for tips - just wondering if anyone on here had done it.. I doubt I'd ever go thru w/ it anyways, just intrigued cuz I never heard of doing such a thing..

 

I can NOT say I HAVE NOT done it

HORRID timing problems.
HORRID compatability issues (you MUST buy EXACT hardware that has been tested by others)
HORRID upgradability - you change something in your system and you potentially have to tweak with conifig files and dance around for DAYS ON END !

If you accidentally press YES when it asks do you want an update - you are basically REFORMATTING YOUR PC !

It is a tech-nerd-wet-dream. (Just so they can say My pc runs Windows and OSX... ooh and Android.. ooh AND linux.. ooh AND Amiga OS etc....)

If you prefer to play with your system more than use it ... ITS GREAT !

Nothing for a serious music hobbyist or professional.

 

As I said, if the op is serious about toying with a mac, then get a mini. If you want to play out with it, then get an air.

At a $600 or $1100 price point, it's much better than trying to spend you time trying to fake a pc into thinking its a mac.

Personally, I use macs to play out. Would not change it for the world.

 

I would just be asking for trouble, cuz my current setup is clean and runs smoothly.. If I get a little more curious I'll just buy a used Macbook on 1 of the sites..

About the random "buzzing" sound that I've experienced maybe a few times, tops - is that something that would ever happen w/ a Mac? Everyone always says how rock-solid they are w/ audio, and never having used one, I just still wonder about the debate of Mac vs. PC

 

Works beautifully. Traktor Pro 2 on windows 7 , high CPU load , glitches / pops / cracks. SAME hardware , installed (purchased copy) of Snow Leopard , and Traktor pro runs like a dream.

PM if you want specifics.

 

The whole PC vs MAC issue is about the same as... lets say...

ProTools vs Cubase...

They both do the same things... sometimes one excels in a particular area depending on YOUR personal workflow...

Personal choice really... both do the same thing. :lol:

 

I like to tell myself that since I have a clean PC optimized for audio, that it's gotta be just as good as a Mac. But then again, I have heard that buzzing sound maybe 4-5x, which seems like it happens cuz the latency is spiking for a split-second.

If I run DPC checker, my latency is always in the green, but are Macs vulnerable to such random glitches as well? I'm not talking about legitimate problems like static, skipping, hissing, etc.. But just something out of the blue.

 

Correct and correct.