Update: It looks like this was a false alarm. A new developer build of OS X 10.6.2 brings back support for Atom processors.
Over the past two years pretty much every major PC maker with the exception of Apple has released a netbook. Most of them use Intel Atom processors. And you know what? It turns out it’s actually not that difficult to install Apple’s OS X operating system on most of those Atom-powered netbooks. The folks at Boing Boing even maintain a chart showing which netbooks are most compatible with the operating system.
But it looks like that could be about to change, because there are reports that OS X 10.6.2 will feature a number of changes in the way the operating system interacts with the CPU — and one effect is that the new version of OS X will not work with machines using Intel Atom processors.
It’s not clear whether this is an intentional move by Apple to discourage people from installing OS X on netbooks or if it’s just a side effect related to other changes. OS X 10.6.2 isn’t officially available yet, but it’s in the hands of some developers already, and according to StellaRolla, netbook hackintoshers may want to stick with version 10.6.1 when the update is available. If you’re using OS X Leopard 10.5.8, there’s a goo change you’ll want to hold off on updating to 10.5.9 when that update is out, as it’s likely to have problems as well.
Of course, the OSx86 community is full of hackers with bright ideas, so this may just be a temporary roadbump for hackintosh netbook enthusiasts. But it’s too early to say for sure.
via Engadget and OS X Daily
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6 Comments on "Rumor: OS X update kills Intel Atom compatibility"
And if so….. Apple AGAIN breaks the Copyright Misuse Doctrine by sabotaging code to exclusively run with 1 vendor’s hardware.
Feds? Why does one company get to break the law while you enforce this on others?!
This is not necessarily a situation like that. The atom is a very limited, 32-bit CPU which lacks many of the instruction sets of modern CPUs. If Apple updated their OS to take advantage of these modern features, it could break compatibility with the low-end atom (which Apple has never used and therefore doesn’t care about).
Now, if the update just looks at what CPU is used and shuts off if it’s an Atom, then you make a valid argument. But if this is an update to improve the OS, and doing so breaks compatibility by necessity, then there is no problem.
Apple shouldn’t stop people from using their legitimately purchased software however they want, but Apple also does not have to go out of their way to make their software support other systems.
If apple followed microsoft and how they let any machine use its software, they would have more then just what is it now 10% of the market. Hell, I am betting it would be a 50/50 windows-mac world.
> If apple followed microsoft and how they let any machine use its software
Been there, done that, picked it up, put it down, left it there…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Computing_Corporation
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