I'm looking for a dedicated hackintosh machine and was wondering if there is a Thinkpad build that could be considered ideal for OSX installation. My criteria would be system stability, functionality of hardware components and keyboard commands - and preferably ease of install. It's not necessary to have the latest or most powerful hardware, but having functioning webcam (if installed), bluetooth, card readers, etc., would be ideal.

I'm not keen on doing this to a brand new machine (my first attempt), so maybe something that has come out in the last five years. Maybe something like a T61 or X61 system, with Core2Duo for 64-bit, either integrated or low-end discrete graphics, would have good support for hardware drivers/kext packages?

Does a best Thinkpad for OSX exist?

Not sure but you can browse the hardware compatibility list found at http://wiki.osx86project.org.

You can check out the board for X60/X61, which seems to offer a decent set-up for osx86. But these don't have webcam unless you get an external USB webcam.

I had a decent set up with X300 but couldn't get sleep and speed step to work. Webcam worked with 10.5 but not 10.6.

Recent models of thinkpads without sandy bridge CPU but with NVIDIA graphics may do better than those with stock intel graphics. (This means T410,T410s,T510 and may be W510). Integrated Intel wifi usually don't work so that requires an external USB kind or replacing the internal one with broadcom chip and flashing the bios.

Tonymac offers a fairly easy way to install 10.6 and 10.7 versions of osx86 but YMMV. It's a cool project if you have the time and energy.

IMO,

If you are able to build and or find a T60 using board FRU 41W1370.

A guide has been provided by Silencer (viewtopic.php?f=32&t=85344) which if followed correctly the installation is quite simple as far as hackintosh installs go and at least from my experience everything works as it should ... Audio, Video, Sleep (also on lid shut), microphone, VGA out, ethernet and USB ports.

I have to use a USB dongle for wireless but I believe you can use the atheros cards to get around but the dongle is literally a few MM's in size.

I've been using a hackintosh with this board for months, currently running 10.6.8 and it is just as stable as a Macbook pro.

Thanks guys, you've made some interesting comments which sent me investigating...

@prggmr: I take it you mentioned the T60 and the 41W1370 motherboard because that's the spec of the machine listed in Silencer's link? I suppose one of the best ways to ensure your hardware works is if someone else has already gone through the dsdt and kexts, worked out the bugs, and posted a step-by-step tutorial!

@sanjuro: Thanks for the X60/1 recommendation and for linking the insanelymac site. I've looked through it a few times before along with tonymac, lifehacker, etc. I didn't quite understand your comments re: not using sandy bridge and it seems the nvidia graphics reference would be for newer machines, or at least newer than ~2007 vintage.

Sounds like I'd have a good shot at it with either T60/1 or X60/1.

I have X61t 7767 and everything is working. This even includes a fingerprint reader, SD card reader, Sleep, Speedstep and tablet keys.

I tried once and failed. What do you recommend for the X61t 7767 now.. - SL > Lion > M Lion ? Which one? Stable and easy to set up?

They're not ThinkPads of course, but the HP ProBook 4530s has a reputation for excellent hackintosh compatibility, and can be had for under $400 at the HP business outlet.

Other recommendations (with a couple Lenovo machines as well, apparently):
http://www.macbreaker.com/2012/09/best- ... -lion.html

Interesting. I had no idea. In your experience, are there any 13/14" ones among them that have Full HD or High Resolutions.

Honestly I'm not sure. I imagine the hi-res screens would require dedicated graphics which can be troublesome in hackintoshes. If you can find one with an Intel chipset I think you'd be OK.