Page 1 of 3

OS X on a Thinkpad

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 1:09 am
by christopher_wolf
Interesting, I was browsing around a bit and I came across this:

http://forum.osx86project.org/index.php?showtopic=5764


Apparently, OS X has been succefully booted on a T42, a T40 from the signature on the second poster's post. Quite interesting, and a T30...Interesting, isn't it? ;) :D

Just thought I would post this as a curiosity. :)

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 1:23 pm
by PrincipalValiant
I remember browsing a trading forum and a guy had pictures with just the edges of his T2x machine running os x. What a horrible operating system, at least on powerpc machines.

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 8:53 pm
by Temetka
At the risk of setting something on fire, I do have to say that OS X is not horrible. IMO it's one of the best OS's on the planet.

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:14 pm
by christopher_wolf
PrincipalValiant wrote:I remember browsing a trading forum and a guy had pictures with just the edges of his T2x machine running os x. What a horrible operating system, at least on powerpc machines.
I don't actually understand that statement; plus, it would be very difficult for an early T2x to run OSX at its minimum requirements...The computations required for the OS GUI alone would tax the Video Card and Memory severely whilst the BSD kernel would be running dandy on just about any machine you could put it on.

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:24 pm
by SpaRood
I'd rather install Linux with KDE and tweak it to make it look like OSX...much easier. ;)

Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 7:09 pm
by christopher_wolf
LOL; Yup, I have seen that and more in some sort of quest to get OSes look as much like OS X as possible. This includes reskinning Windows to look like OS X. :)

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:02 pm
by BruisedQuasar
SpaRood wrote:I'd rather install Linux with KDE and tweak it to make it look like OSX...much easier. ;)
Until Linux developers figure out a way around the Win-tel cartel's anti-Linux pressure on Wi-fi & Broadband hardware makers to refuse to cooperate with Linux and Open Source developers, Linux will remain a headache for most computer users. Linux distros have surmounted several areas of user aversion, but the broadband and wi-fi barriers stops the spread of Linux use dead cold like a super cold shower.

Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 8:25 pm
by christopher_wolf
Broadband stopping Linux? I haven't seen that happening; besides, they have their own user base to cater to and it matters little to them what OS is used. As long as the customers want internet access and are willing to pay for it, there should be no problem. True, they *could* present a problem, but there is nothing to make up for the burden that they put on themselves.

My 2915ABG works just fine with Linux. The only aversion that the hardware makers have is the source of the drivers; an example would be the MadWiFi drivers for the IBM/Atheros Cards.

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 3:58 am
by andrey
I run OS 10.4.3 on my T42p as a dual boot with Windows XP. If anyone has any particular questions... post away!

-- Andrey

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 6:39 am
by backfromMac
andrey could you post a limk to info on how to get started setting up a dual boot? That would be amazing to have osx on a thinkpad!

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:11 am
by djpharoah
backfromMac wrote:andrey could you post a limk to info on how to get started setting up a dual boot? That would be amazing to have osx on a thinkpad!
ditto

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:20 pm
by ericssonboi
andrey wrote:I run OS 10.4.3 on my T42p as a dual boot with Windows XP. If anyone has any particular questions... post away!

-- Andrey
Same... i'd be interested to see how it works.
Does any of the drivers not work? Wifi? Widgets?

Any guide you followed to do so?

Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:16 pm
by christopher_wolf
Well; a good starting place for a guide is the OSX86 Project Website that was linked to earlier.

I would also like to know how Andrey did it. :)

The Trackpoint scroll button doesn't work straight out (there is, I think, a way to map it much like you would in Linux)

Bluetooth should work, from all reports thus far; the Thinklight and some other BIOS-controlled features work as well. It should be interesting to see if we could get some modifications in on top of the OS X kernel to support some of the Thinkpad featurs, although that is going to be difficult now that I think about it some more.

An iThink or Thinkbook with a Trackpoint? Now that would be awesome. ;) :)

Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:01 am
by ericssonboi
I'm interested as i may be going this route...
Coming from a Powerbook... i miss Mac OS...

I've read on the wiki that many T40-42 users have been having trouble enabling their Wifi... hopefully.. and i'm sure there is.. a solution to this.

Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:11 pm
by turbolium
WOOOHOOO

just got osx installed !!! (on t42)

everything works fine exept wireless ((((
really easy took only 30 minutes to go through whole process

recomended if you have nothing to do
it just looks soo cool !!!!

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:01 am
by ericssonboi
turbolium wrote:WOOOHOOO

just got osx installed !!! (on t42)

everything works fine exept wireless ((((
really easy took only 30 minutes to go through whole process

recomended if you have nothing to do
it just looks soo cool !!!!
Which guide did you follow?

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:01 am
by egibbs
10.4.4. - sort of.

Patch posted to run Mac OS X 10.4.4 on 'generic PC'

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/15 ... _pc_patch/

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 5:35 pm
by BruisedQuasar
The latest word is that Apple's shift to Intel processors is just the first step in an Apple strategy to move its hardware over to Windows, a move that makes sense for Apple, since Apple's niche has always been hardware innovation & design & the Desktop.

My hope has been that Apple would get risky and go Open Source using Linux, rather than the MAC variant of UNIX. The Microsoft-Intel cartel has just made it near impossible for Linux distros to appeal to the average PC user. A current major block is the great Wi-Fi barrier. The average novice who tries out Linux, backs off fast and forever when he cannot get his wi-fi adaptor to work under Linux

Few PC users want to be as deeply into any O/S that Linux distros have required. Unfortunately, anyone who points out this draw back elicits MACHO responses from Linux power users. I am a Linux user who has helped many novices become computer literate over the years. It is a rare PC user who is interested in my helping them setup and run Linux. I understand that few PC users want to become something of an expert in order to use a computer.

Deny it all one wants, but the cold fact is that customer preference is market reality. If 99% of customers refuse to study Linux in order to use their computer, then Linux will never become real competition for goofy Windows. If Macs attract too few software and hardware makers to suit most customers, that is a reality enterprise must incorporate into their strategy. To ignore or to condemn consumer desire, choice or disposition is fool hardy ... and arrogant.

Macho power users can call the average user 'stupid', 'lazy' all they want but the reality is this: The vast majority of people prefer to spend their time differently from how power users choose to use their time. Be thankful. We need doctors, engineers, carpenters, mechanics, entertainers, teachers, not just people like myself who enjoy tinkering with gadgets, computers, and software.

Even my interest in PCs is limited as I have other interests I value more highly. For instance, I insist on investing more of my time using PCs than on studying and tinkering with them. The end result is I am an entry level power user.

Image how most of us would react if Auto makers and engineers expected us to invest a significant amount of our & time in order to start and drive the automobiles they make. There was a time when a person did have to know a lot about automobiles in order to drive one, 100 years ago. Few people owned one. Henry Ford did not invent the auto but he did create the auto that did not require a rich mechanically inclined owner-driver-- and good weather.

Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 5:39 pm
by smakdown61
If anyone knows how to get the ibm wireless adapter working for the t42p running os x 10.4.3 please post how thanks!

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:07 am
by gonzales
smakdown61: Is your wireless card the one from Atheros? If yes, download the 10.4.5 update for Intel, extract IO80211Family.kext and replace the one in your 10.4.3 Extensions folder. That should work. At least it does on my X31, both 10.4.4 and 10.4.3.

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:12 am
by gonzales
In case anyone else is interested, OSX 10.4.4 works well on my 2yo X31 - Pentium M 1.5ghz, 768mb RAM, SoundMAX integrated audio, Atheros Wireless, Intel 100/10 VE, ATI Mobility Radeon M6.

It did take some effort, especially with the drivers for sound, ethernet and wireless but it all works perfectly now. The only glitch would be the ATI Mobility Radeon with 16mb, which does not support Quartz Extreme and Core Image on OSX, and this really restricts its capabilities.

Is it possible to replace the graphics card on the X31? I'm seriously considering this move at the moment.



I've attempted installing almost every single release of Intel OSX (10.4.1, 10.4.3, 10.4.4) so far and OSX on Intel has certainly grew by leaps and bounds over the past year; from the devoid of Universal Binaries (where most software just didn't work) to today, where it's almost usable as a primary OS (i say almost since the lack of QE/CI makes usage rather stunted). Hardware support has certainly expanded to cover a wider range as well. Looking back, I had to purchase a Linksys WPC54G pc card in order to get wireless up in the 10.4.1 days. Although it's been a challenge trying to get OSX on my X31, I'm pretty sure my next portable would be a MacBook.

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:13 am
by ericssonboi
Thats good to hear...
The Atheros card inside the X31 isn't the Intel Pro 2200 is it?

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:45 am
by djpharoah
@gonzales
you cannot replace the ATi video card in your X31. It imbedded in your motherboard.

-dj

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:33 am
by gonzales
dj: Thanks. I did some searching in this forum and that led me to the same conclusion. Hopefully a driver that supports QE/CI with the ATI Mobility Radeon surfaces soon.

ericssonboi: No. My version of the X31 comes with an Atheros chipset, not the Intel one.

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:22 am
by turbolium
to ericssonboi:

i downloaded a good .pdf of the eMule

"OS X x86 - The Complete Installation Walkthrough (Run OS X on PC).pdf"

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:47 am
by ZildjianKX
I'm running OS X through vmware at the moment.

I would run it as the primary OS on my T43, but no support for ethernet, wifi, or my X300.

I'm praying that the X300 is in the new iBooks and Mac minis, the driver will only ever get written if it is in actual mac hardware. I just want my thinkpad to hold me out until I can save up for a powerbook :)

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 7:15 pm
by aki
no wireless no go :(

i have the 10.4.3 in hdd but haven't decide to install it, Ati doesnt work well and wireless is out of business right?

Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 9:28 pm
by ericssonboi
turbolium wrote:to ericssonboi:

i downloaded a good .pdf of the eMule

"OS X x86 - The Complete Installation Walkthrough (Run OS X on PC).pdf"
Thanks... did you install 10.4.1? The instructions are for it...

And as for wireless... its possible... but not built in Intel Pro.
You have to get an external card for wireless to work if you have intel pro.

Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 3:49 am
by turbolium
i got 2200bg and it doesnt work (((
but hoping someone will make it work

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 5:55 am
by ZildjianKX
Anyone else considering upgrading their intel wifi card to an Atheros one?

Also, if you go to the x86 project and search the forums, someone found a workaround for ATI cards that allows hardware acceleration for cards like the X300. Just search for "X300" and it should come up. I'm not sure if I can link to it here, so I'll be good :)