Filed under: OS, Software Update, Snow Leopard
Confirmed: 10.6.2 removes Atom CPU support from Snow Leopard
A report by "stellarola" quoted in OSNews confirms what comments on our 10.6.2 post suggested: 10.6.2 removes support for Atom processors, most frequently found in "netbook" computers. This loss of Atom support was spotted in earlier builds, but nobody knew until now whether it'd be in or out in the final configuration.Is this Apple clamping down on "hackintosh" computers, or just continuing to prune code that it doesn't need? The answer you prefer likely depends on your previous view of Apple.
If you think Apple is a company desperate to keep control over its operating system, you point to Psystar and the ongoing iTunes/Palm Pre compatibility battle, and this is just more wood for the fire. If you think that Psystar is nuts for thinking it has a case against Apple and think that Palm should hire its own programmers to sync its devices, then you're likely to say that Atom processors were never really supported in the first place, so it's all much ado about nothing.
Either way, I wouldn't expect the OSx86 community to pack up its bags and go home. I am sure that there are several folks already at work to find a workaround for this latest hurdle, and I won't be surprised when the announcement comes that they have a solution. The only real "blow" is to those folks who were previously able to install an unmodified version of OS X onto their netbooks. I was able to get 10.5.6 running on my Asus EEE 1000ha using my regular Leopard DVD and some additional drivers/kext files, but it broke again with 10.5.7 and I was never able to get it or 10.6 to work. I gave up and installed Windows 7 on it instead -- put down those pitchforks!
The removal of Atom support does not necessarily indicate anything about the fabled Mac "Tablet" since Apple could use the ARM processor instead. Or Apple could continue to say what they've said, which is (roughly speaking) that the iPhone/iPod touch is their netbook.
One thing is for sure; this move will do nothing to end any of these debates, but if you are using a netbook or other hackintosh, let me tell you what you've probably already learned: don't be too quick to install the latest operating system updates from Apple.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brian said 7:35AM on 11-10-2009
Now that is naughty - sending people to a weight loss page. You are indeed a spammer. Be gone.....
{This post is in reply to a spam post which did pretend to be about Atom support but was not. That post has been deleted. Sorry for any confusion -TUAW}
Jon said 11:17PM on 11-09-2009
I had planned to sell my macbook and buy a mac mini, a netbook, and a copy of OS X. Now it looks like I'll have to download OS X if I want it to install on the netbook. Bummer.
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x23 said 11:24PM on 11-09-2009
"Now it looks like I'll have to download OS X if I want it to install on the netbook."
10.6.2 doesn't work *period* on the Atoms... has nothing to do with whether you get it illicitly or not. unless you know something the rest of the class doesn't... in which case... please share.
seeing as 10.6.2 has been out all of a single day... i don't think anyone should be writing off the scene wholesale quite so quickly.
Rob said 12:09AM on 11-10-2009
I'm guessing hackers will have a 10.6.2 patched with an atom capable kernel, or with whatever code disables atom support removed. You could still install the retail 10.6.0 disk with one of the oss osx bootloaders, you just can't patch to .2 without a hack.
TJ Luoma said 12:18AM on 11-10-2009
@x23: I think Jon meant that he would most likely have to download a "patched" version of OS X, which is what I was alluding to with the comment about being able to run an official version of OS X like I was able to do with eee pc.
The nice thing about being able to use the official version with a few kexts added is that you can be fairly sure there are no trojans, etc attached. Once you start downloading the entire OS from somewhere, things get a lot more hairy.
lasell said 11:30PM on 11-09-2009
Sound output decreases with 10.6.2
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kherge said 11:28PM on 11-09-2009
The reasons you provided, TJ, in your article are not mutually exclusive.
It could be all of them.
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Joshua Ochs said 12:07AM on 11-10-2009
Count me in the camp that Apple is simply pruning dead code, and perhaps changing the way the kernel is built (clang, llvm, perhaps?). The Psystar angle is a red herring, as obviously none of their equipment uses an Atom.
The power management situation in the vanilla kernel has been deteriorating for a couple of releases now - switching to a third party kernel like voodoo might actually make life easier.
Meanwhile, I have 10.6.1 running just fine on my Eee 901 (it's lovely having a 2lb solid state Mac); I'll just wait until the kernel situation is hashed out. I'd be VERY surprised if it's not fixed by the end of the week - these guys are dedicated, and FAST.
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TJ Luoma said 12:20AM on 11-10-2009
I didn't mention Psystar as an example of Atom support, I mentioned Psystar as an example of Apple seeking to control which hardware OS X runs on… Apple is clearly not enamored with the idea of OS X on generic hardware.
Dave said 12:30AM on 11-10-2009
Worse case, I'll just move to Windows XP or 7, or Linux. No biggie. But I would imagine enterprising individuals will have this patched up soon. To a certain extent I think the 10.6.1 kernel will work in 10.6.2, although that is by no means a long-term solution.
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Chris said 12:35AM on 11-10-2009
Of course they are not "enamored" with the idea. Gotta really feel bad for Apple when they are deprived of their 100%-300% markup on hardware. Here's a virtual tissue for you.
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Bob S. said 12:43AM on 11-10-2009
This was solved hours before this post appeared. I'm not that technically inclined but as soon as I saw the list of changes I understood how Apple had defeated netbook installs; the folks who write the bootloaders confirmed the workaround early this evening.
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Joseph said 12:54AM on 11-10-2009
http://lifehacker.com/5400897/our-hackintosh-works-like-a-charm-with-1062-update-atom+based-hacks-break
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ooskinnykidoo said 8:22AM on 11-10-2009
"Update: I thought we were pretty clear in the text above, but we're only talking about our Hackintosh build. It looks like Atom CPUs (like the ones in most hacked netbooks) are not supported in 10.6.2 as previously speculation suggested."
cooperc said 1:26AM on 11-10-2009
The current workaround is to run the 10.6.2 update but revert to the 10.6.1 kernel:
see: http://www.meklort.com/?p=111#comments
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Bob S. said 11:42AM on 11-10-2009
Brian, what on earth are you talking about? That link goes to a page where a commenter provides the quick solution to the broken netbook support, as cooperc says it does.
TJ Luoma said 12:30PM on 11-10-2009
@Bob S: Brian's comment was originally in reply to a spam comment which pretended to be about restoring Atom support. Brian's comment alerted us that it was spam, and *that* comment has been deleted%u2026 unfortunately the result is that it now appears that he was replying to "cooperc", which he was not (which is why your reply to Brian appears above his)
Sorry for the confusion%u2026 I've added a note to his comment to hopefully make this more clear.
Bob S. said 7:57PM on 11-10-2009
Thanks for the explanation, TJ, and sorry for the confusion, Brian.
Eideard said 8:18AM on 11-10-2009
You lot really don't know crap about business, do you?
And the commenters are just as bad.
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vandil said 9:44AM on 11-10-2009
This is where the true enthusiasts are separated from the wannabees that set up their netbooks using an online tutorial.
True enthusiasts live life on the edge, expecting these kinds of setbacks and have the technical skills to deal with the problem or the patience to wait for a reasonable fix to be developed by others.
Wannabees suddenly have a useless machine and they cry on forums until Lifehacker updates their tutorial for them and holds their hand.
Apple only needs to support the hardware they ship, nothing else. Wanna use Apple software on non-Apple hardware? Grow a pair and learn to deal with both the good and the bad of hackintoshing.
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