6 ms·

Why run macOS on a non-Mac? For me, as a long time Linux user, the point over several generations of Mac machines was always to have a usable desktop Unix with

Why run macOS on a non-Mac? For me, as a long time Linux user, the point over several generations of Mac machines was always to have a usable desktop Unix with flawless hardware support (i.e. macOS).

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
post_break 8y ago
Because there isn't a Mac laptop that fits my bill that I can afford, and I'd rather DIY one. I mean technically I can afford a macbook pro, but at the time the keyboard was absolute trash (still sort of is from a typing stand point, my work supplied me with a 2016 Macbook Pro non touch bar).
- ofrzeta 8y ago
  Yeah, but why run macOS on the Dell? Obviously if you need it as a platform for a specific software it makes sense. On the other hand if you want a generic software development or sysadmin machine or something why not run Linux – that should support all of the Dell XPS hardware, I guess (on the other hand every time that topic turns up on HN there are mixed reviews. Some people say that Ubuntu runs flawless while others complain, so I don't know what to make of it). EDIT: Ok, I remember now: iOS development :)
  - post_break 8y ago
    I have bought and paid for software for MacOS. My workflow is designed with it in mind. I can inception style fire up VMware and run anything I need on the OS. I generally like the OS. Things just work like printers, iMessage, Facetime, I edit video using Final Cut Pro. For me linux is for my raspberry pi's.
    - ofrzeta 8y ago
      Makes sense. So how is the Hackintosh hardware support for the Dell? What about updates to the OS? I have installed Hackintosh on a netbook some years ago and as far as I remember you needed to take care not to agree to an OS update.
      - post_break 8y ago
        Everything works with the exception of the SD card reader and microphone. It's vanilla so I can update it for the most part no problem. Just gotta make sure my kexts are updated to support the OS. It's not as simple as an actual mac, but it's close. It's pretty amazing. It boots up, shows the Dell logo, then the Apple logo, then it's up. Brightness, sound, thunderbolt, usb 3, wifi card had to swap but that was $20. Bluetooth, it all works. Keyboard backlight, multitouch trackpad, sleep.
        spockz 8y ago
        Are you aware that you are using MacOS outside of the boundaries stated in the user agreement? For personal use that is probably okay/defendable but I can hardly imagine a business would like taking that risk.
        welly 8y ago
        Other than if Apple try and track him down via HN, how would they ever know?
        spockz 8y ago
        By keeping track of the serial numbers they put in the motherboards and the ones that are reported when you add your iCloud account for example.
        arvinsim 8y ago
        If they cared, they would have made a move.
  - joshmn 8y ago
    Non-iOS developer and Hackintosh user here: I feel that sometimes Linux can be a hobby, more than a productive machine. I realize that there are distros out there that cater to people like me (Elementary comes to mind) but there just some things that work better on MacOS.
slig 8y ago
Maybe they need to use macOS/Windows only software and don't want to deal with Windows.
haasted 8y ago
MacOS is the only thing keeping me on Apple hardware. There are so many laptops of great build that I’ve been ogling in the past few years. I’d prefer to not go back to windows, though.
- S4M 8y ago
  Linux user here. I had to use MacOS at work, I felt like it was a penance more than anything else. However Apple hardware is quite good.
  - fouc 8y ago
    Just run a vm with linux in it and do most of your work from there? Can do the same thing if you were stuck in windows too.
  - ssijak 8y ago
    I was arch linux user for years. First time I tried osx I also did not like it, all the things are slightly different in some small ways. But, given enough time to learn how the osx desktop environment works, shortucts, etc. I would now not change it for anything else.
kebman 8y ago
Bcos Adobe on Apple environment.
- ofrzeta 8y ago
  You can now run macOS in Linux KVM (https://github.com/kholia/OSX-KVM https://github.com/kholia/OSX-KVM), although I guess you'd need a beefy machine to have Indesign run fluently in a VM. Also I don't know if and how the license manager works in a virtualized environment. I guess overall it's not more hacky than Hackintosh :)
- philliphaydon 8y ago
  But adobe runs terriblely on OS X?!? OS X has some awesome apps like sketch. But adobe really sucks on OS X.
  - jakecopp 8y ago
    Adobe runs better on macOS than Linux :P
sircastor 8y ago
I've been running Ubuntu Gnome for years at work, and it's great, and I think maybe the next machine I buy will just run Linux. Then randomly after some recommended update the headers are hosed, and I can't not my machine. And if I could, I wouldn't know how to fix it. Linux is 97% there for me, and every day it gets a bit better. I still worry about those updates though.
snarkyturtle 8y ago
Some software is only available on OSX (like Sketch)

Why run macOS on a non-Mac? For me, as a long time Linux user, the point over several generations of Mac machines was always to have a usable desktop Unix with flawless hardware support (i.e. macOS).

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

post_break 8y ago

Because there isn't a Mac laptop that fits my bill that I can afford, and I'd rather DIY one. I mean technically I can afford a macbook pro, but at the time the keyboard was absolute trash (still sort of is from a typing stand point, my work supplied me with a 2016 Macbook Pro non touch bar).

ofrzeta 8y ago
Yeah, but why run macOS on the Dell? Obviously if you need it as a platform for a specific software it makes sense. On the other hand if you want a generic software development or sysadmin machine or something why not run Linux – that should support all of the Dell XPS hardware, I guess (on the other hand every time that topic turns up on HN there are mixed reviews. Some people say that Ubuntu runs flawless while others complain, so I don't know what to make of it). EDIT: Ok, I remember now: iOS development :)
- post_break 8y ago
  I have bought and paid for software for MacOS. My workflow is designed with it in mind. I can inception style fire up VMware and run anything I need on the OS. I generally like the OS. Things just work like printers, iMessage, Facetime, I edit video using Final Cut Pro. For me linux is for my raspberry pi's.
  - ofrzeta 8y ago
    Makes sense. So how is the Hackintosh hardware support for the Dell? What about updates to the OS? I have installed Hackintosh on a netbook some years ago and as far as I remember you needed to take care not to agree to an OS update.
    - post_break 8y ago
      Everything works with the exception of the SD card reader and microphone. It's vanilla so I can update it for the most part no problem. Just gotta make sure my kexts are updated to support the OS. It's not as simple as an actual mac, but it's close. It's pretty amazing. It boots up, shows the Dell logo, then the Apple logo, then it's up. Brightness, sound, thunderbolt, usb 3, wifi card had to swap but that was $20. Bluetooth, it all works. Keyboard backlight, multitouch trackpad, sleep.
      - spockz 8y ago
        Are you aware that you are using MacOS outside of the boundaries stated in the user agreement? For personal use that is probably okay/defendable but I can hardly imagine a business would like taking that risk.
        welly 8y ago
        Other than if Apple try and track him down via HN, how would they ever know?
        spockz 8y ago
        By keeping track of the serial numbers they put in the motherboards and the ones that are reported when you add your iCloud account for example.
        arvinsim 8y ago
        If they cared, they would have made a move.
- joshmn 8y ago
  Non-iOS developer and Hackintosh user here: I feel that sometimes Linux can be a hobby, more than a productive machine. I realize that there are distros out there that cater to people like me (Elementary comes to mind) but there just some things that work better on MacOS.

slig 8y ago

Maybe they need to use macOS/Windows only software and don't want to deal with Windows.

haasted 8y ago

MacOS is the only thing keeping me on Apple hardware. There are so many laptops of great build that I’ve been ogling in the past few years. I’d prefer to not go back to windows, though.

S4M 8y ago
Linux user here. I had to use MacOS at work, I felt like it was a penance more than anything else. However Apple hardware is quite good.
- fouc 8y ago
  Just run a vm with linux in it and do most of your work from there? Can do the same thing if you were stuck in windows too.
- ssijak 8y ago
  I was arch linux user for years. First time I tried osx I also did not like it, all the things are slightly different in some small ways. But, given enough time to learn how the osx desktop environment works, shortucts, etc. I would now not change it for anything else.

kebman 8y ago

Bcos Adobe on Apple environment.

ofrzeta 8y ago
You can now run macOS in Linux KVM (https://github.com/kholia/OSX-KVM https://github.com/kholia/OSX-KVM), although I guess you'd need a beefy machine to have Indesign run fluently in a VM. Also I don't know if and how the license manager works in a virtualized environment. I guess overall it's not more hacky than Hackintosh :)
philliphaydon 8y ago
But adobe runs terriblely on OS X?!? OS X has some awesome apps like sketch. But adobe really sucks on OS X.
- jakecopp 8y ago
  Adobe runs better on macOS than Linux :P

sircastor 8y ago

I've been running Ubuntu Gnome for years at work, and it's great, and I think maybe the next machine I buy will just run Linux. Then randomly after some recommended update the headers are hosed, and I can't not my machine. And if I could, I wouldn't know how to fix it. Linux is 97% there for me, and every day it gets a bit better. I still worry about those updates though.

snarkyturtle 8y ago

Some software is only available on OSX (like Sketch)