Hackers boot a Dell with Mac OS X (Intel)

Macwindows.com ^ | 3/24/06 | Unknown

[Vermonter]

Hackers boot a Dell with Mac OS X (Intel). March 24, 2006 -- Unidentified programmers have hacked the Intel version of Mac OS X to enable it to boot a Dell PC. A file called the "JaS4.2b patch" can be used to create a customized installer DVD for installing on a Dell PC.

A website called MacaDell describes the patch. The MacDell site has also has a page that describes how to use the JaS4.2b patch to create a customized installer disc for Mac OS X.

Using the hack is illegal because it breaks Apple’s Mac OS X license agreement, which specifies that the operating system be run on an “Apple-labeled computer.”

According to MacaDell, work on the hack began when a Russian hacker known as Maxxuss cracked the encrypted security layer in Mac OS X that usually requires the software to be installed on a certain Mac model. Other hackers added to the work, and a programmer known as JaS put the work together in the JaS4.2b patch.

The hack emulates the EFI boot firmware found in Intel-based Macs. It also emulates an instruction set called SSE3 in order to support processors older than the Dual Core used in the Intel Macs. MacaDell reports that the hack doesn’t work on every computer, and doesn’t support some functions, such as wireless networking and certain audio and video cards.

At this point, the Intel version of Mac OS X is only available with the purchase of an Intel-based Mac.

[antiRepublicrat]

If they are, then we need to know about it.

Anybody who knows anything about 'nix security already knows about it. It's an excellent tool for securing your network. It's also open source, so there's not much of a chance for him hiding anything malicious in it. Besides, his reputation would be destroyed if any such thing were found.

Just off the top of your head, any 'nix guys out there know about a network mapping tool available for most 'nixes and written by a Russian hacker?

For you GE I'll give a hint, his handle is the same as the first name of a famous Russian author.

[philetus]

Ubuntu has bean veddy veddy good to me, and it cost me nothing.
I need to have them send me some more free diskd to give away.
I think I'll ask for 10 this time, since they pay the shipping too.

[Echo Talon]

why don't you start a poll,
"If Apple offered OS X compatible with your current PC would you but it"

If yes
"would would buy a new PC with OS X installed on it"

They could sell the OS for $120-150 thats pretty much pure profit. Think of the millions of windows converts apple could potentially steal away from MS. Once people learned the new software/OS maybe they would buy a pure mac machine the next time, Apple could still say "OS X runs better on our hardware" marketing would still be the same.

[tomzz]

Racists love to laugh at Africa and ask what Africa is producing in the way of cars these days, but African software ingenuity is no joke. Aside from Ubunto LINUX, which entire nations are standardizing by the way and that includes European nations and not just African nations, there is the question of a decent Windows install routine.

In particular, InstallShield, which MicroSoft tries to force developers to use, is a total piece of crap and spending a day dealing with it is enough to make any developer sick. There are only two decent install programs to my knowledge, which are Setup Factory and ChiefPro, the later being the work of of a gentleman by the name of Abimbala Olowofoyeku, originally of Nigeria.

In other words, a single African working alone has produced a totally workable and usable product where the mighty Microsoft Megalith has failed.

[Echo Talon]

In reality, it's you that doesn't understand Apple. The Mac OS X is to support the hardware they make -- and *not* -- the hardware is to support the Mac OS X. You're thinking backwards as to what Apple is doing.

You're thinking Apple is a software company and "My, my..., how much better Apple would be doing if they would allow me to buy their software!" Nope, they don't want to sell you their software. They want to sell you their hardware.

Exactly what hardware does Apple make? If it walks like a Duck qucks like a Duck, it's a Duck.
Apple to Use Intel Microprocessors Beginning in 2006

[Petronski]

Please don't think Apple has ever made CPUs. First it was Motorola, then IBM, now Intel. This is not a change on the level you imply.

[BamaGirl]

down goes Apple... I'd use OS X if I didn't have to buy their over priced hardware.
---
Isn't OS X just a version of Linux? I've got that running on my Dell already...

[Echo Talon]

I know, but what do they make? other than software? to shun the entire PC market seem insane to me. Kind of like Cutting off the nose to spite the face

[Echo Talon]

Similar, I guess. I really don't know. I have never used Apple because i'm not going to pay for overpriced hardware.

[lmr]

With enough of a CPU, anything can be emulated. This is just one more example.

[Petronski]

I know, but what do they make?

They make computers. Don't be silly. They're called Macintosh, perhaps you've heard?

[Echo Talon]

nothing is "special" about them.

[Petronski]

Yes, and the Mercedes is just a car.

[Echo Talon]

$2,499.00

Dual-core 2.3GHz PowerPC G5 processor(does Apple make this processor?)

1.15GHz frontside bus per processor

1MB L2 cache per core(sounds similar to the Athlon X2's)

512MB of 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-4200)(only 512MB of ram? does Apple make this ram?)

250GB Serial ATA hard drive(Same as a PC hard drive WD, seagate Maxtor or someone else)

16x SuperDrive (double-layer)(made by who sony,plextor, NEC, Hitichi or Lite-on?)

Three open PCI-Express expansion slots(so what PC's have that also)

NVIDIA GeForce 6600 with 256MB GDDR SDRAM(Made by who? gainward, leadtech, or BFG?)

Apple buys hardware rebrands it as Apple and puts it in a "cool" package. Again they could keep up this marketing strategy even if they move in to the PC market. Are they afraid of losing their 2% market share?

[Petronski]

Apple buys hardware rebrands it as Apple and puts it in a "cool" package.

So does Dell (except for the cool package and the beautiful OS).

[rintense]

Sweet!

[Echo Talon]

Yes, and Apple could be putting OS X on 1/2 those Dell's if they wanted to...

[Petronski]

Yes, and Apple could be putting OS X on 1/2 those Dell's if they wanted to...

And Microsoft could create an OS that didn't look and behave like a toddler with a leaking brown diaper.

And monkeys could fly out of my butt.

[HAL9000]

True, in theory...but are there any differences in features for a browser based upon different OS's?

Internet Explorer supported certain OS features like ActiveX and client-side VBScript on the Windows version only. Firefox features are more consistent across platforms. But all browsers inherit some characteristics from the host operating system. Some controls may work differently, the screen drawing system may render differently, the fonts may be different, etc. Those OS-based differences may affect the quality of the browser's user interface.

My point is that the OS doesn't matter...the browser matters. People who care about the OS are perhaps displaying an outdated, obsolete thought process.

For many computer users, everything matters: the hardware, the operating system, the fonts, the browser, the applications, the utilities, the documentation and support, the user community, security, interoperability, communications capability, the data formats, etc. - the quality of all that stuff matters for a good computing experience.

I think it's fair to say that some people do care about the overall quality of the system - and some don't.

[Echo Talon]

Dell continued to hold the No. 1 worldwide share position. Dell shipped 37 million units in the year, a 19 percent increase over the previous year, and a record 10.2 million units in the fourth quarter, a 15 percent year-over-year increase.

And thats just Dell, what about HP, IBM, and Gateway. They could make mega-bucks just don't understand why they just admit, that they lost the hardware war to the PC. From what I hear they have a good OS but most people aren't going to pay out the nose for hardware that can only run their software.