Ever since Lifehacker did a post on a standard PC running OSx86, I’ve been amazed at how fast the community has progressed. After buying a new laptop a few months (and discovering Keynote), I decided the time was right to do a dual-boot of Windows 7 and OSX.

Why Build A Hackintosh

Obviously, we all have our reasons for wanting to do this. My reason is pretty simple – because I can. I guess I have a hacker mentality, but I want to do this out of sheer curiosity. Malmborg, on the other hand, is unhappy that his work took his Macbook away and gave him a Dell, and he wants to get back to his productive ways. Whether you plan on dual-booting OSX with Windows, or you want to make this your default operating system is up to you. I will be explaining the do’s and dont’s of installing the software so you can be more informed on the process.

The Legal Bit

Installing the software is more complicated than just using a regular Leopard install disc on your computer. You will need to go to a torrent site to download one of the many OSx86 releases available, and because of this  there are some obvious legal issues involved. The Leopard software agreement limits its use to an “Apple-labeled computer”. I would hope you already own the Leopard software before you install this. By buying the software you are supporting the developers and ensuring better releases in the future. With proper ownership of the software, downloading a patched version is a legally gray area. The agreement refers to an “Apple-labeled” computer and not “Apple-manufactured’, so putting one of those Apple stickers that came with your iPod should also be enough to comply here. (Simplified Geek will nto be held liable for any future litigation brought forth by Apple in this regard, however)

Which Distro?

There are numerous groups that have released a version of the OSx86 software (including iPC, iDeneb, iAtkos, and Kalyway), but this page will focus on the two main releases – iAtkos and Kalyway. Kalyway is currently the most popular release on torrent sites, but as of last week iAtkos has released the newest version so we’ll see if this puts a dent into Kalyway’s support.

iATKOS v7

Pros

• Smaller.
• Bundled with several bootloaders, namely (Chameleon v2) which provides a visual
• More options in the setup screen allow you some extra choices and knowledge about what is patched in your system for later updates.
• The only release that is currently at 10.5.7.
• My sound works! The installer has much more customization, and includes more drivers than other releases.

Cons

• Apparently there are several things stripped out for size reasons. I’m unsure what is missing, and it hasn’t been an issue as of yet.
• Setup takes much, much longer compared to Kalyway due to verification of the installation media. Not sure what it accomplishes, and it adds a good 20 minutes to the install.
• Unless you’re lucky, it’s going to take several installs before you get it configured correctly. Make sure you understand all of the customization features before you select them.

Kalyway 10.5.2

Pros

• DVD allows you to test whether your system will boot with the vanilla Apple kernel without having to do a “test install”
• Has always worked on the first install for me.
• Automatically sets your boot partition to the new install. Good for installing OS X as the sole OS on a PC. Click here, for a guide on changing your boot partition back to windows.
• Basically a vanilla Leopard install with patches.

Cons

• Comes with customizations you are unlikely to want (desktop, colors, dock, some apps).
• Only at 10.5.3. If you are unable to do the vanilla install, you cannot upgrade to 10.5.7, rendering the OS unable to run iWorks ‘09, Safari 4, and other new software packages.
• Lackluster driver support. Sound/wifi didn’t work on my machine.

After using both, I can say that some of the problems in iAtkos are a major hassle, but until Kalway can get to 10.5.7, I’d say it is definitely your best bet. I will add information relating to both, however, so stay tuned for Part 2 of this continuing series. Next time – Installing OSx86.