Want to install OS X on your Dell Inspiron Mini netbook, but don’t feel like struggling with missing drivers, the lack of Ethernet support, and other inconveniences? Then just shell out the money for a MacBook. But if you’re looking for a thorough set of instructions for installing OS X, complete with troubleshooting advice, you might want to head on over to TUAW. 

Blogger Steven Sande lays out in extensive detail all the steps he took to load OS X on his Dell Inspiron Mini. first thing’s first. This is a clear violation of Apple’s licensing agreements. You are not supposed to install OS X on non-Apple hardware. Once ou get past that minor detail, you should be aware of a few other things:

  • You’ll have to reboot with USB devices plugged in if you want them to be recognized
  • You’ll need to do a bit of extra tweaking to get WiFi and audio working
  • Ethernet simply won’t work
  • Sleep mode causes problems. Unless and until someone fixes this, you might want to disable sleep
This isn’t the first writeup I’ve seen about installing OS X on a Dell mini, but it’s certainly the most comprehensive writeup so far.

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5 replies on “Everything you need to know to install OS X on a Dell Mini”

  1. >This is a clear violation of Apple’s licensing agreements
    I remember how those FBI warning on old VHS cassettes used to say the same thing.

    I love the stickers suggestion….

  2. QUOTE:”This is a clear violation of Apple’s licensing agreements. You are not supposed to install OS X on non-Apple hardware.”

    Now that is not exactly true. TFA quotes the EULA passage that you refer to:
    “You agree not to install, use or run the Apple software on any non-Apple-labeled computer, or enable others to do so.”

    So, your computer needs to have Apple label on it, and your free to install OSX on it. Remember those stickers that you got w your iPod? . . . 😀

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