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Some Apple fans are building their own 'Hackintoshes' - Mac computers they build themselves. And they point to a weakness with Apple's computer lineup
Some Apple fans are building their own 'Hackintoshes' - Mac computers they build themselves. And they point to a weakness with Apple's computer lineup
Antonio Villas-BoasSep 9, 2018, 19:30 IST
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YouTube/Dom Esposito
The only way to get Apple's MacOS operating system is to buy one of Apple's own Macs. That's pretty much the way it's always been. Or at least, that's the only official way.
The computer pictured above is running MacOS, but it's not a Mac. It's a so-called Hackintosh - a computer built by a hobbyist, made to run MacOS on non-Apple hardware.
You read correctly: You don't need to buy a Mac to get the Apple experience (or official Apple apps), assuming you're willing to do the work of building one.
In a way, the reasons to buy, build, or turn your existing computer into a Hackintosh represent some of the less desirable aspects of buying a Mac from Apple - namely, that they're expensive, hard to customize, and often not exactly what you need.
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Check out some of the reasons why people build their own Hackintosh computers instead of buying a Mac from Apple, including some perspectives from tech YouTubers:
Building your own Hackintosh also lets you run apps that only run on Macs, like Final Cut Pro X, without paying the premium that Apple's computers command at retail.
Something to note off the bat: Legally and ethically, building a Hackintosh is kind of a grey area.
To build a Hackintosh, you need a copy of Apple's MacOS to install on it, or else what's the point? The problem is that, generally speaking, the only Apple-sanctioned way to get a copy of MacOS is to have it already installed on a Mac.
Most reputable Hackintosh guides advise you to take a Mac you already own, and copy the operating system off of that. But it's fair to say that this isn't what Apple had in mind for the MacOS software — and it could violate the terms of service that you agree to when you first got your Mac.
So far, Apple hasn't taken action one way or another on the Hackintosh community, and has let it be. Just be advised that this may not always be the case.
We've reached out to Apple for comment on its stance towards Hackintoshes, and will update if we hear back.
Another problem: You're also somewhat limited in what parts you can use.
Before buying parts for a Hackintosh, it's a good idea to see which parts have been found to be compatible with the process. The Hackintosh community maintains lists of parts that are known to be compatible.
