Apple Disabling Support for Intel Atom Processor in Latest 10.6.2 Build?

[MacRumors]

OS X Daily reports on a discovery that Apple's latest developer build of Mac OS X 10.6.2 disables support for Intel's Atom processor. While Apple's exact motive for the change is unknown, the result is that users who have modified their Atom-powered netbooks to run OS X will be unable to easily apply the 10.6.2 update should the change remain in effect for its public launch.

You can't help but suspect this move is Apple's attempt at shutting down the growing and popular Hackintosh Netbook community, since Apple has no product line that runs the Atom itself. Mac OS X runs absolutely flawlessly on much of the PC Netbook hardware, once it's configured you wouldn't know you're not on a Mac. Maybe it's in effort to kill the Atom Hackintoh Netbooks in anticipation of the rumored Tablet? Or maybe it's something totally unrelated?

Apple had apparently initially envisioned using the Atom platform in its tablet computer project, but dissatisfaction with the performance of the platform reportedly led to the company's purchase of ARM chip designer P.A. Semi in early 2008 and a shift to that company's technology for the tablet.

Article Link: Apple Disabling Support for Intel Atom Processor in Latest 10.6.2 Build?

[thecartoonguy]

It was bound to happen.

[BRLawyer]

Originally Posted by thecartoonguy

It was bound to happen.

And why on Earth should Apple "support" something that is illegal in the first place? Do Atoms exist on Macs? NO. Can OS X legally run on anything else than Macs? NO.

Whoever defends this is a moron or, at the very least, acts in bad faith as the rest of the freeriding pirates out there.

WELL DONE, Apple.

[CQd44]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

And why on Earth should Apple "support" something that is illegal in the first place? Do Atoms exist on Macs? NO. Can OS X legally run on anything else than Macs? NO.

Whoever defends this is a moron or, at the very least, acts in bad faith as the rest of the freeriding pirates out there.

WELL DONE, Apple.

brb, buying a copy of snow leopard and installing it on my pc and then calling the police to come arrest me for installing a piece of software i bought.

[MH01]

Originally Posted by BRLawyer

And why on Earth should Apple "support" something that is illegal in the first place? Do Atoms exist on Macs? NO. Can OS X legally run on anything else than Macs? NO.

Whoever defends this is a moron or, at the very least, acts in bad faith as the rest of the freeriding pirates out there.

WELL DONE, Apple.

Blame Apple mate, had they not jumped to Intel this would not be an issue. Is it the Hackintosh community fault that OS X runs on those cheap ass notebooks?

And if they bought thier copy of OS X? They still pirating?

How can you call someone who runs OS X on an i7 for a fraction of the cost via a hackintosh a moron? Seems like value for money.

[Mattie Num Nums]

All these analogies involves LAWS. The EULA is not a law.

[*LTD*]

... . .. .

Originally Posted by MH01

Blame Apple mate, had they not jumped to Intel this would not be an issue. Is it the Hackintosh community fault that OS X runs on those cheap ass notebooks?

Blame convenience stores opening. Had they not been built their robbery would not be an issue. Are convenience store owners at fault because they are prey to robbery?

And if they bought thier copy of OS X? They still pirating?

No, but they're violating their contractual relationship with Apple, which makes certain remedies available to Apple.

How can you call someone who runs OS X on an i7 for a fraction of the cost via a hackintosh a moron? Seems like value for money.

They're not morons for running OS X on unauthorized hardware. They ARE something else, however, when trying to convince everyone their actions are perfectly legiitmate.

[Kilamite]

Hope there is a reason other than just to force people to buy the iTablet..

Though it would make sense if they were entering the netbook market with something killer, and a low cost version.

[skate71290]

Originally Posted by Kilamite

Hope there is a reason other than just to force people to buy the iTablet..

Though it would make sense if they were entering the netbook market with something killer, and a low cost version.

Maybe... Jobs is magically making Flash not **** by disabling Atom Support... nobody would have seen it! I swear to god if Flash is not fixed i'm taking my Snow Leopard disc and chucking it at his head and fix quicktime X... its ****!!!!!

[stridemat]

Apple are getting twitchy about it eating in to their profit for the tablet no doubt.

Can see no other reason for it as they have 'allowed/ ignored' it for so long.

This is bad news for me as I was thinking of buying a small netbook and installing OSX.

[flopticalcube]

Originally Posted by stridemat

This is bad news for me as I was thinking of buying a small netbook and installing OSX.

I was too but the reports of poor battery life in hackintosh netbooks put me off. I will go for a dual boot W7/Ubuntu 9.10 UNR instead. Maybe even apply a Leopard theme so I'm at home.

If all else fails, there's the $699 MacBook refurbs.

[Tilpots]

At least they're getting the message that people are willing to buy sub $500 hardware.

[guzhogi]

Before you flame me, please read my whole post.

On the one hand, I kind of wish Apple would open up Mac OS X so people can use it on non-Apple hardware. This would greatly increase choice and possibly marketshare.

On the other hand, I've heard Apple makes most of its money from hardware sales, which means opening up to other hardware could drastically lower profits. Also, making drivers & stability for all the possible hardware configs will be a lot of work.

Originally Posted by spazzcat

Unfortunately, you can't do whatever you want when you buy software. You know that whole EULA thing. Right or wrong you don't really own the software...

That's correct. You're just licensing it.

[tofagerl]

Seems like a relatively simple (part) solution to a huge problem. Logical, in other words.

Though it kind of sucks for the CUSTOMERS.

[Stately]

Originally Posted by guzhogi

Before you flame me, please read my whole post.

On the one hand, I kind of wish Apple would open up Mac OS X so people can use it on non-Apple hardware. This would greatly increase choice and possibly marketshare.

On the other hand, I've heard Apple makes most of its money from hardware sales, which means opening up to other hardware could drastically lower profits. Also, making drivers & stability for all the possible hardware configs will be a lot of work.

It would definitely lower profits, the hardware and software go hand in hand, quality paired with quality. I believe it would lower market share, as it would cheapen the brand. Apple doesn't need to cater to everyone in that way. To me that would show some sort of desperation on Apples part and for what? I don't want to run SL on a Vaio, it's just weird. Like I said quality begets quality, both hardware and software complement each other accordingly. To pull them apart and mix and match just doesn't make sense. It's like taking a Rolex face and putting a plastic swatch watch band on it.

[corinhorn]

Originally Posted by Tilpots

At least they're getting the message that people are willing to buy sub $500 hardware.

They already knew this, but Apple has chosen not to cater to that particular market.

[Jason Beck]

I would probably expect an Apple Netbook soon.

[Tilpots]

Originally Posted by corinhorn

They already knew this, but Apple has chosen not to cater to that particular market.

We call this "particular market" the Hackintosh netbook community. If Apple doesn't see it as a threat, why go through the trouble of disabling it?

[Gaelic2]

Originally Posted by Tilpots

At least they're getting the message that people are willing to buy sub $500 hardware.

Alot of people bought the "Yugo" because it was cheap. See any of them around today? They'd be stupid to produce those low end, low profit bits of junk.

[stridemat]

Ubuntu is starting to impress me now, I need some more info before changing to it but from what I read it runs very well on a HP mini 10. Whats compatibility like with popular file formats?

I might just wait for this tablet though.....

[2992]

Originally Posted by stridemat

Ubuntu is starting to impress me now, I need some more info before changing to it but from what I read it runs very well on a HP mini 10.

I can confirm it runs really nice, as I have one running it.

[sravana]

It runs like a dream on a Dell Mini 10v, too!

Face it, fanboyz, Apple is not giving the world what it wants - an apple netbook. And it seems easy enough to simply *not* *upgrade* my 10.6.1 to 10.6.2 if it's going to brick my minimacbook.

::shrug::

[wackymacky]

Originally Posted by stridemat

Apple are getting twitchy about it eating in to their profit for the tablet no doubt.

Can see no other reason for it as they have 'allowed/ ignored' it for so long.

This is bad news for me as I was thinking of buying a small netbook and installing OSX.

I don't buy this argument. the iSlate or iTablet or what ever will be a high end product not a cheep and nasty knock of netbook.

I suspect it's more about Apple trying to preserve the image of OSX as a high end product as well.

Good on them as far as I'm concerned. If you don't want to run windows and don't want to pay for OSX then get a free open source OS and stop complaining.

[iSee]

This seems in-line with the way Apple keeps disabling Pre synching in iTunes.

I feel vaguely concerned by this, but I guess Apple's within their rights to stamp out pirates. Running Mac OS on non-Apple hardware strikes at the heart of Apple's business model, so I guess they can't just ingore it.

[notjustjay]

Originally Posted by iSee

This seems in-line with the way Apple keeps disabling Pre synching in iTunes.

I feel vaguely concerned by this, but I guess Apple's within their rights to stamp out pirates. Running Mac OS on non-Apple hardware strikes at the heart of Apple's business model, so I guess they can't just ingore it.

The interesting thing is the timing. Apple disables the Pre very quickly, with every new update of iTunes. But they've been ignoring the hackintosh netbooks even though they've been going on for about 2 years now.

Why suddenly care so much about disabling them?

(I hope, as others have said, it's because the upcoming Apple device is imminent.)