There’s been lots of chatter about the sub-$300 laptops, dubbed “netbooks” and their ability to run OS X. After reading through the How-To instructions on hacking OS X onto a Dell Mini, my initial thought was:
By Step 5, I’ve already paid for a used MacBook.
I picked up an 8GB Mini 9 for $250 from Dell a few weeks ago and after going through the process – I can confirm that’s the case.
Worst part is, in the end you don’t have a MacBook.
First off, I purchased the Mini without a optical drive (cause it’s 2009 & it’s a netbook). This means I need a Windows box for the installation. Which means, I need to turn on the the only Windows box in the house: a 6 year-old eMac with VirtualPC.
Hours later – after confirming all the hacky bits of software were transferred and configured correctly, I headed back to the Mini for the install.
Nope, 8GB isn’t enough room for even the basic OS X install.
So, I ordered a $120 32GB Runcore SSD upgrade (the Mini won’t boot off it’s SSD slot).
Then, install the hardware upgrade, re-attempt the OS install, do a funny reboot dance (twice for good measure) and….Success.
Time to migrate the account information from the PowerBook….well, what will fit in <32 GB.
A long, complex, ill-documented, technically fragile process and in the end – a Hackintosh….definitely not a Macintosh.
But hey, sometimes the first piece of pie is the hardest to get out. The second always goes much more easily.
Do you have troubles running Software Update?
Haven’t tried it yet.
I did mine with a 16GB HDD. I used 2 Flash drives, 8GB and a 2GB, to install. It works great and I love it. I’m sorry to hear you weren’t as fortunate as I was. For me the installation took a few hours of reading and following directions but in the end it all worked out great. The hardware is definitely not Apple but it was also no where near the price of an Apple. I am only running Firefox and Tweetdeck on it so I don’t demand to much from it. Good luck with yours. Welcome to the club.
Pete – I think this process makes it very clear that Apple’s value proposition is tying all the pieces together neatly and easily. A clear case of – getting what you pay for.
wow, i’m super impressed. and what a way to show your love for your wife.
Do you have troubles running Software Update?
How about just spending the extra and getting the macbook, i suffered to pay for mine but in the end its worthy and a lot more less fuss then what when on when you tried to do the test above, no point ruining good laptops, enjoyed your blog however, anything mac related is a plus for me and the crew at TRAVELHQR. cheers