Russians offer hackintosh netbook

Desktops, laptops too, tovarisch

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

22nd May 2009 10:53 GMT

Want an Asus Eee PC 1000H to run Mac OS X? New Russian hackintosh supplier RussianMac is now offering just that.

It's not clear whether the Atom-based netbook - or, indeed, any of the other desktop and mobile systems RussianMac is offering - comes with the Apple operating system pre-installed or you have to do it yourself, from a legit, boxed copy of the OS, using a supplied utility.

Either way, RussianMac claims the install will be proof against Apple software updates, which usually break regular hackintosh installations.

Says the company: "We have designed and implemented a special method to make the computers fully compatible with Mac OS X." The company guarantees that all the components - Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, video, webcam etc - will work and that the OS will be stable.

RussianMac's Asus Eee-based hackintosh netbook

How it can make this guarantee, it's not saying. And it didn't mention that fact that Apple's Mac OS X End-User Licence Agreement - rightly or wrongly - forbids the installation of the operating system on hardware from anyone other than the Mac maker itself.

That's one reason why Apple's suing US-based hackintosh seller Psystar. It also claims Psystar has infringed its intellectual property rights. In return, Psystar alleges Apple is abusing its position in the market.

Will Apple take a pop at RussianMac? It's possible, but it will have a much harder time convincing a Russian court than it will one in the US.

RussianMac's website say the comapny wants €19,200 for the OS X-equipped, a price that only vaguely makes sense if the price is actually in Rubles rather than Euro, in which case it comes to £387/$613/€440.

The company only appears to be shipping to buyers in Russia. ®