OSx86 Project announces forum reorganization and upcoming name change, hints at new features

With one of the 10.4.x releases of Intel MacOS X, Apple removed support for all CPUs that aren't Core Duos from the kernel. So while it may be possible to hack MacOS X to run on a "generic" PC, the kernel won't run on the 98%+ of PCs that aren't Core Duos. There have been some Franken-builds that try to match an old kernel to a newer set of supporting OS applications, but in the end don't expect a smooth experience.

I suspect even as Core Duos get more popular in the Windows world, though, Apple will find newer ways to restrict the install.

Regarding Apple releasing a standalone version of Mac OS X. If Apple does release either a separate or Universal Binary of Mac OS X 10.5, anyone will be able to purchase it, just as anyone can purchase 10.4 today. But installing it on standard PCs will be somewhat problematic as they use the older BIOS system and INTEL-based Macs use the newer EFI system. Until PCs support EFI (and they won't until Windows does) Mac OS X won't install.

Chances are that Apple will also include other safeguards to reduce the likelyhood of installing Mac OS X on stock PC's. This isn't to say that enterprising individuals won't find a way to do it, just that average user won't be inclinded to take the steps that will be required to perform the install.

andy: Guilty as charged. :D I ran OS X on my Dell XPS Gen 4 system for months (with everything fully accelerated BTW - you'd be surprised how broad a range of hardware is supported by the drivers that come on the DVD, as long as you're willing to do a little under-the-hood hex editing of the driver files).

Then I got a 20" iMac. I'll also be picking-up a Macbook or, hopefully, an iTablet, for school after Apple's August 25th announcement.

drivers are the main issue with getting osx working on generic pcs, but im sure apple are working on this sort of thig happening, they must have seen it coming. maybe they think after a taster people will go out and buy a mac, same as with boot camp.

Will Apple have any legal ground to stand on to stop them once a standalone version of OS X for Intel is released? Right now, all Intel Macs ship with 10.4.x. But when 10.5 is released, Apple will have to sell copies of it so people can upgrade. Would there be anything to stop anyone from just buying this and installing it on any old PC, aside from some silly software license agreement?