Cheap way to run a Mac?

  • Thread starter PLmatt91
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PLmatt91

PLmatt91

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Ok, I started thinking of getting a Mac now đź’ˇ But I just don't wanna spend over $1,000 on a new PC since I just built one, so is there a way to run Mac, THE REAL OS MAC, NOT A FAKE EMULATOR, because I saw on one forum that the guy had a Core 2 Duo, a similar Asus motherboard like mine but I don't know if it has to be like specific's or what. Any help guys?
 
You can get a core 2 imac, or just get a core duo mac mini. My dad's mac mini with windows on bootcamp runs faster than his windows pentium 4 rig.
 
I agree with Omnis. Besides, Mac mini's only $579, and seeing just buying OSX would be around $129 or so without a student discount, a Core Duo mini for only $450 or so is pretty cheap in my opinion...
 
Yup, follow Skip's links and your questions will be answered. However, it's best not to discuss this topic in detail here at GTPlanet as the legal issues surrounding the project is still in question.

Let's just say Apple doesn't exactly approve this kind of use for their operating system.

I know a few people (and a couple members here actually) that have successfully ran OS X on their PC, but prepare for a very troublesome experience. Like Duck said, just get a Mac™ if you want everything to just work™. Unless you know your way around some issues, you won't have much fun running it on your PC.
 
dougiemeats
Yup, follow Skip's links and your questions will be answered. However, it's best not to discuss this topic in detail here at GTPlanet as the legal issues surrounding the project is still in question.

Let's just say Apple doesn't exactly approve this kind of use for their operating system.
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đź‘Ť

What he said.

I've personally done it, however I've since removed it (I really only wanted to do it to see if it was possible). Aside from that, if Windows makes you happy, I don't see you being happy with OS X. They're pretty different when you get into it.

EDIT: Like Dougie said, if you don't like fixing issues, don't even think about it.
 
I might end up buying a Mac Book Pro for next year then, just to do some photo editing, take it on the go and maybe have it for certain purposes. Thanks guys.
 
Just so you know, Mac isn't what it used to be. Now they have frequent hardware and software problems (as best I can tell).... just so you know.

They sold a relative of mine one that was refurbished (they sold it as brand new) and it had hardware problems. I've had one Mac and it had something very wrong in the OS from right out of the box. Others that I know have had their ibooks fall apart after only a few years.
 
What exactly was wrong with the OS? Specifics?

I am aware of their recent hardware problems, but their software have been consistently solid.
 
Thats unfortunate for you. Because, going all the way back to my first Mac, an Apple IIe back in '84, up to my current Mac Pro, and my wife's iMac, I've had a total of 11 Mac computers. And, the only one to ever give me any problems was the G4 Cube. But then again, who didn't have problems with that thing.

I've yet to hear anything about "frequent" problems or anything like that. There were some problems with heat in the Mac Books and MB Pros, but those were solved with firmware updates. We've now had 3 Intel Mac as well. And, even after that big change, things are still great. If not better. So, I'm sure there have been some problems out there. No company is completely deviod of problems. But, nothing widespread or all-encompassing. Very nice machines.

Hilg
 
JNasty4G63
Thats unfortunate for you. Because, going all the way back to my first Mac, an Apple IIe back in '84, up to my current Mac Pro, and my wife's iMac, I've had a total of 11 Mac computers. And, the only one to ever give me any problems was the G4 Cube. But then again, who didn't have problems with that thing.

I've yet to hear anything about "frequent" problems or anything like that. There were some problems with heat in the Mac Books and MB Pros, but those were solved with firmware updates. We've now had 3 Intel Mac as well. And, even after that big change, things are still great. If not better. So, I'm sure there have been some problems out there. No company is completely deviod of problems. But, nothing widespread or all-encompassing. Very nice machines.

Hilg
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Did you by chance ever own a 17" iMac G5 (the very first version, even before the ambient light sensor). Many users reported issues with them. Oddly, the 20" version did not have as many problems.
 
dougiemeats
Did you by chance ever own a 17" iMac G5 (the very first version, even before the ambient light sensor). Many users reported issues with them. Oddly, the 20" version did not have as many problems.
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Nope. Had 3 iMacs. Started with a slot-loader G3 600mhz, in white. Then, my wife, then fiance, got rid of that for a G4 1.0ghz 17" flat-screen. Which she got rid of early this year for the then new Intel Core Duo 2.0ghz 20" version. Those were the only iMacs that we've ever had, and all have been great. Well, great once I got rid of that stupid ass puck mouse the G3 had.

Hilg
 
I've had so many problems using Macs in my graphics classes... The one thing I can say is I now have a habit of saving that I did not used to have.
 
Burnout
I've had so many problems using Macs in my graphics classes... The one thing I can say is I now have a habit of saving that I did not used to have.
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I'm not calling foul here, or anything like that, so please don't take it that way. But, are these computers that are in a lab, and used by many people a day, for most all of the day? If so, that could explain quite a lot. I went to school at AIPX, and every one of the labs we used had problems. The PCs, the Macs, and the few SGIs we had. They all had their problems.

But, when you have hundreds of students going through them on a daily basis, its hardly shocking when things happen. Again, I don't doubt you have problems with them. But, if they are lab computers, I wouldn't exactly call those a 100% representation of anything, except hard use, and sometimes abuse.

Hilg
 
My dad recently sold his ibook pro for like 200 bucks less than what he paid for it when it came out. They definitely hold their value better than a windoze unit.
 
Burnout
I've had so many problems using Macs in my graphics classes... The one thing I can say is I now have a habit of saving that I did not used to have.
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Yeah I do now too. When I used our Macs for media (bunch of G4s and a couple of G5s), at least once a class one of them would say something along the lines of 'iMovie has encountered an error, and has shut down', and lost all your work. I started saving every 10 minutes.
 
PLmatt91
Ok, I started thinking of getting a Mac now đź’ˇ But I just don't wanna spend over $1,000 on a new PC since I just built one, so is there a way to run Mac, THE REAL OS MAC, NOT A FAKE EMULATOR, because I saw on one forum that the guy had a Core 2 Duo, a similar Asus motherboard like mine but I don't know if it has to be like specific's or what. Any help guys?
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To be fair, without going and buying a mac it's going to be a emulator. From what I've read they're extremely fiddly to get working on most pcs, and in the end it's not all that great. Emulators were the first thing I looked at (as you know I'm looking to buy one. Idea stealer :P), and in the end I just gave up with it. I'm not allowed to install another OS on this laptop because of the extended warranty, and if I could install it on my mum's in the first place it'd run stupidly slowly.

If you check ebay and amazon marketplace you'll find tons of macs for pretty low prices. Assuming you're just going to be fiddling around on it and using it for fun rather than a main pc, you'd be fine with a mac mini (or so I'm told). You'd be surprised at the prices they're going at, and there's even more around for Americans. Take a look at the prices. If you don't want to pay more than ÂŁ200, then you don't really want one ;)
 
dougiemeats
What exactly was wrong with the OS? Specifics?

I am aware of their recent hardware problems, but their software have been consistently solid.
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The one I got through work had an OS software problem that would lock up the computer randomly. It would suddenly say it needed to be rebooted and lock (mac equivalent of blue screen of death). I never found anyone that could fix it. My mother in-law has a 2 year old ibook that's dead. She bought a replacement and it didn't work right out of the box. She then found out that they gave her a refurbished machine and charged her for new.

I work with a lot of people who have macs and many of them have had problems. Whether it's the display flaking out or the software locking up. Hell just yesterday I was in a conference room with a mac that was hooked up to a projector and it wouldn't do anything. They had to reboot it to get anything to work. Another one of my co-workers had a mac that he couldn't get to project at all. His video card would absolutely not work with any projectors whatsoever. They get recalled a lot here at work too for battery issues.

I could go on. Seriously.

On the otherhand, I've had two windows XP workstations at work through dell and a dell linux workstation and I've had a total of zero problems with any of them. I also know a lot of people who have windows machines and I've heard few complaints. That may be because windows is a less used OS around here, but in my experience they work better.

I've had 3 windows machines and 1 mac laptop at work and the mac laptop is the one that had a problem. The others I can leave up for weeks on end and not have issues. My dell linux box has been up for months, but... that's linux for you. Actually, I think I've crashed the linux machine more than my windows machine... not that I'm claiming windows is more stable. I think it was my fault.
 
Jondot
To be fair, without going and buying a mac it's going to be a emulator.
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Not necessarily. There are emulation options, such as PearPC, that emulate the PowerPC architecture. But you can certainly run OS X on your PC without emulation.

From what I've read they're extremely fiddly to get working on most pcs, and in the end it's not all that great.
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You're right about that one!

If you check ebay and amazon marketplace you'll find tons of macs for pretty low prices. Assuming you're just going to be fiddling around on it and using it for fun rather than a main pc, you'd be fine with a mac mini (or so I'm told). You'd be surprised at the prices they're going at, and there's even more around for Americans. Take a look at the prices. If you don't want to pay more than ÂŁ200, then you don't really want one ;)
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Again, I'd have to agree. PLmatt, if you're just looking to try out a Mac, then a top-end notebook designed for professionals such as the MacBook Pro probably isn't the best option. It will certainly give you a good experience with Macs, but not the ideal option if you're unsure whether or not you even want one. You might end up regretting such a costly purchase.

Like Jon said, give the Mac Mini a shot. It won't be as powerful as the MBP, but chances are you already have a monitor/keyboard/mouse to use with it. Configure one with at least 1GB of RAM, and you'll be set. If you want a notebook instead, then go for a MacBook. Unless you need serious power, a MacBook will probably suit your needs.

You still have your desktop if you really need the power, right?
 
Jondot
If you check ebay and amazon marketplace you'll find tons of macs for pretty low prices. Assuming you're just going to be fiddling around on it and using it for fun rather than a main pc, you'd be fine with a mac mini (or so I'm told). You'd be surprised at the prices they're going at, and there's even more around for Americans. Take a look at the prices. If you don't want to pay more than ÂŁ200, then you don't really want one ;)
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dougiemeats
Like Jon said, give the Mac Mini a shot. It won't be as powerful as the MBP, but chances are you already have a monitor/keyboard/mouse to use with it. Configure one with at least 1GB of RAM, and you'll be set. If you want a notebook instead, then go for a MacBook. Unless you need serious power, a MacBook will probably suit your needs.

You still have your desktop if you really need the power, right?
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I was talking to Matt yesterday and he said if he's getting a Mac he's seriously considering selling his PC for a Mac.

But then again I can't remember anything very clearly right now.
 
danoff
The one I got through work had an OS software problem that would lock up the computer randomly. It would suddenly say it needed to be rebooted and lock (mac equivalent of blue screen of death).
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Was the ram upgraded? It has to be bad ram. OSX is very picky with ram, that's what happened to me before.
 
HACKr
Was the ram upgraded? It has to be bad ram. OSX is very picky with ram, that's what happened to me before.
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I didn't change the RAM. But that might have been the problem. I don't typically mess with the hardware in laptops.
 
Im getting a mac, and sacking off windows based pc usage altogether. If you really want a pc thats stable either use linux or win 2000, dont even bother with xp as it sucks.

Ive used macs at uni which have had problems, but ive owned two pcs which both had problems, its down to what you want to use it for and what you like, you cant base the choice on stability.
 
Speaking of computers, my mom's PC died this morning because a lightning storm fried it. And, well, she hates Windoze and is probably going to buy a Mini.

dance.gif
 
sprite
Im getting a mac, and sacking off windows based pc usage altogether. If you really want a pc thats stable either use linux or win 2000, dont even bother with xp as it sucks.
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Simply untrue. I run XP at home and work and it's stable enough to be up for weeks on end without any issues.

sprite
Ive used macs at uni which have had problems, but ive owned two pcs which both had problems, its down to what you want to use it for and what you like, you cant base the choice on stability.
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That's all I was trying to say. Macs aren't what they used to be. People used to choose them for stability and solid hardware. Now they have neither.
 

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