Skip to Content

Mac OS X on a HP Touchsmart (kind of)

by Dave Caolo Nov 5th 2008 at 1:29PM



Here's a video and setup instructions for getting Mac OS X to run on a HP TouchSmart. The machine's main feature, of course, is the touch screen. It kind of works with OS X in that elements respond to touch, but the calibration is way off and, as the guy in the video says, there's no way to adjust it. He does offer to test out any other aspect of OS X on the Touchsmart, so speak up.

The setup instructions were written for a HP TouchSmart IQ507 and do require you do "grab a torrent" as the kids say. It doesn't look too tricky, though. The author notes that audio, the wireless card, Bluetooth and the TV Tuner won't work under OS X.

Still, it could be a fun project for anyone who's got a spare Touchsmart lying around. Don't we all?

View Tags

Related Stories

Categories

Hardware OS Hacks

Here's a video and setup instructions for getting Mac OS X to run on a HP TouchSmart. The machine's main feature, of course, is the touch...
 

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

19 Comments

Filter by:
czPopi

Brian: OS X runs great on supported HW - Apple computers, not on unsupported HW (as the HP here).

November 13 2008 at 6:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to czPopi's comment
jeesusfreek

what a dumbass comment.

somehow linux + windows can install on HUGE ranges of hardware and work perfectly 99% of the time, but Mac only provides for it's hardware.

that, my friend, is what i call getting screwed up the ass when you go to pay for hardware, repairs, and upgrades.

after all, individual component upgrade is the reason I've been a systems builder for 10 years. also the reason that I dual-boot XP MCE 2005 and Kubuntu 8.10.

November 15 2008 at 3:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Frank Tinsley

Weeeird... I just happen to actually have a spare HP TouchSmart IQ770... sitting here on my desk... GET YOUR CAMERAS OUT OF MY ROOM TUAW!!!

November 06 2008 at 1:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Fernando

I currently am running OS X 10.5.4 Kalyway build at my work on my Dell Optiplex 755 with a C2D 2.6 with 3GB of RAM and everything works on it and it's super fast too. I have a 24" iMac at home and I love to be using OS X at work now. My reason for doing it is because I cannot stand Windows anymore now that I live an iLife :) Still have to run Fusion though for SQL Server, Netbackup and VMWare Virtual Center. But I know that sooner then later this will not be a problem anymore.

November 05 2008 at 7:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Seth Amott

I am surprised Apple wasn't the first on this whole thing. I mean, bring the iPhone touch knowledge to a desktop. In my opinion, "Touch" is the future of computing, replacing the mouse. Apple needs to get it started. The problem is that Windows is not "yet" designed from the ground up to take advantage of the TouchSmart abilities. Apple could make a truly amazing machine, they know how to do touch, bring it full scale!

November 05 2008 at 5:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Seth Amott's comment
Sam

Touch definitely has its place, but I can't imagine sitting and using a computer all day via a touch interface. Your arms would get tired pretty quick. It makes more sense if it's a table-type device or the starship enterprise.

November 05 2008 at 6:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brian

"The author notes that audio, the wireless card, Bluetooth and the TV Tuner won't work under OS X." ?????

No offense, but to me Mac OS X is not that good an OS to go through all these troubles !!! A computer without audio??? C'mon!!

http://www.livbit.com

November 05 2008 at 4:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Robert Paege

I wish I was cool so I could call it OS EX too.

November 05 2008 at 3:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
SonyUX

http://www.touch-base.com/ will create a driver for your touch screen controller that will allow you to calibrate it. Chances are that fixing the resolution will not fix your problem.... I had to install a driver from these guys to fix my touch screen issues... Problem is they charge an arm and a leg, but the demos will give you a working proof of concept and last up to 50 "taps".

November 05 2008 at 3:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Phil

you know the misscalculation may be down to the incorrect resolution, and fixing the screen res may actually fix your problem

November 05 2008 at 2:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Phil's comment
fredaow

I agree with Phil: I would believe that the touch screen issue will go away if you figure out a way to set the resolution to the screen "native" resolution. Please keep us posted with your progress, that's pretty cool!

November 05 2008 at 2:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aaron Nelsen

That thought did occur to me, however under Windows the touchscreen function works fine no matter what the resolution.

November 05 2008 at 4:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ariel

CHANGE THE WALLPAPER!!!

November 05 2008 at 2:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rob Roark

Every time I see the commercials for these things, I think how they're screaming "Put Leopard on me!" Glad to see its possible, no matter how kludgy it ends up running.

November 05 2008 at 2:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Buy an ad here

Hot Apps on TUAW

Tweets

© 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.