Run OSX in Windows Virtual Machine???

[syst3merror]

I can run every version of windows and even linux using a virtual machine, but can you run OSX???? I would like to play with OSX. I don't want to own a mac nor will I EVER own a mac, I would just like to play around with it in a virtual machine.

[14049752]

There's a PPC emulator called PearPC that'll do it. It's super slow, a little difficult to set up, and not really legal...but it'll virtualize OS X.

[syst3merror]

yeah, I've read about PearPC.....I think I'll pass!

[hawks5999]

it helps to have an understanding of the business model of Apple, Inc. vs. Microsoft and the Linux distros. The former is a hardware company that happens to have the slickest operating system built specifically for the hardware. The latter are software vendors that want their software to run on every conceivable platform out there.
Therefore, Mac OS X will not be able to run on commodity (read: Dell, HP, whitebox) hardware because it is a distinctive that sells more of Apple's hardware. If you could put OS X on any hardware... virtualized or native, there would be no need to buy Apple's hardware.
Always keep this in mind when looking at Apple. Why did they release iTunes on Windows?? - to sell more hardware (ipods). Why are they releasing Safari on Windows?? - to sell more hardware (iphone). Why don't they sell OS X that runs on commodity Intel boxes - to sell more hardware ((i)mac(book(pro))).

[gunslinger]

syst3merror

Odd question I guess but what do you have against Macs?

[TheUrge]

Actually I've downloaded OSX off of a torrent, and installed it on a virtual machine before. It wasn't too bad speedwise, but the big problem you will run into is getting all your non-mac hardware to work with your PC. There are setup guides that show you what to do, but I still had a big problem getting my sound cards, etc to work with it. It's fun to play with, but I could never see using it for something day to day.

[jamesbhp]

It's fun to play with, but I could never see using it for something day to day.

I felt the same way a few months ago until I bought myself a macbook pro. I am much more productive and can engage in multitasking x2 on the mac vs on a PC. Exposes and Spaces feature just increases your productivity and multitasking automatically. Toss in Fusion and you got a great test bed for OS's. but if you are gaming mostly, then mac is still crippled at that, regardless of their progress.

[gunslinger]

Right now I think the only two real choices in an OS are XP SP3 and OS10. Thats what I'm going to be running on my Macbook.

[syst3merror]

to answer your question gunslinger, it's all about preference and what I'm use to. I have a friend that is strictly mac and won't own a windows pc...I tried playing on their mac and find myself liking windows more and more every day. I LOVE windows and everything about it and can't see myself using anything else.

The only thing I can ever see myself owning from Apple is MAYBE an Iphone but not even sure about it.

Like I said, it's just preference. I'm hoping that Microsoft will come out with a clone of the iphone....that I would buy.

[gunslinger]

to answer your question gunslinger, it's all about preference and what I'm use to. I have a friend that is strictly mac and won't own a windows pc...I tried playing on their mac and find myself liking windows more and more every day. I LOVE windows and everything about it and can't see myself using anything else.

The only thing I can ever see myself owning from Apple is MAYBE an Iphone but not even sure about it.

Like I said, it's just preference. I'm hoping that Microsoft will come out with a clone of the iphone....that I would buy.


So I take it you wont be going to Vista from XP?

[Navalynt]

I can run every version of windows and even linux using a virtual machine, but can you run OSX???? I would like to play with OSX. I don't want to own a mac nor will I EVER own a mac, I would just like to play around with it in a virtual machine.

This is not as easy as it sounds, trust me! The only virtual machine program I've been able to make this work in is VMware and I'm currently using VMware Workstation 6.5, although you CAN make it work with the free VMware Server.

You can find a lot of good information at the two sites below:
wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
insanelymac.com/

After months of toying with OS X in a VM I still only have a moderately working and sluggish VM to show for it. What I found was flipping sweet beyond words was getting a Dell Mini 9 and following the guide from Gizmodo! The guide was written to use a retail copy of Leopard so, even though you are violating the EULA by not having legit Mac hardware, you are still semi-legit :p Plus, being that it's not a "Hackint0shed" release it's easily upgradable.

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

One piece of advice if you go the Dell Mini 9 route: price it out with Ubuntu, not Windows XP! Microsoft licensing limits the amount of hard drive space and RAM that can be installed on a Netbook running XP but if you choose Ubuntu instead you will see the specs just about double.

[Navalynt]

One quick note on the Dell Mini 9 with OS X: EVERYTHING WORKS! The only quirk about it is that when it wakes up from sleep mode the 0 key is stuck so you just have to press a key (any key on the keyboard) to fix it.

[gunslinger]

Or you could just get a Mac and everything work as it should.