Now that Apple is completing its transition to its own processors, the days of Hackintosh are numbered. Throughout the era in which Macintoshes have been powered by Intel processors, it has been possible to make a homemade Mac using PC parts. The process has always been quite difficult, and keeping the machine up to date is an even more difficult challenge. With the architecture change, all that world of hackers and custom bootloaders will become a fun memory. However, doubts may arise. whatWho made the first Hackintosh? Well, you will be surprised to know that was Apple.
The first Hackintosh was a secret even to Steve Jobs
From 2005 until very recently, both Apple computers and regular PCs shared x86-64 architecture. That led to the birth of Hackintosh, that is, ordinary computers with Intel processors capable of running macOS (OS X at that time). During all these years, very interesting communities have been formed dedicated to this practice, which is by no means for everyone. Making a fully functional Hackintosh isn't easy, and Apple hasn't made it easy for all these years either.
However, it was in Cupertino where the first Hackintosh was born. In 2001, years before the transition from PowerPC processors to Intel was made public, Apple already worked in secret in this project.
Specifically, this story is starred by a company engineer who answers to the acronym JK Joe, his section chief, wasn't quite sure what he was working on. One day, she decided to approach him to ask him, because she knew he had something on his hands, but she wanted to verify that what she was doing was worth the salary she was being paid.
Joe's jaw dropped. JK turned his screen and showed his boss three laptops running Mac OS. The engineer had even provided the computers himself so as not to draw the attention of the company prematurely. then joe returned with Bertrand Serlet, who told the engineer to go to a famous chain of computer products and buy the most expensive VAIO possible. On the way back, JK managed to get Mac OS running inside of him and the next morning, Jobs caught a plane to meet with the president of Sony.
SonyVAIO ft. MacOS. A dream that Apple could not fulfill
Steve Jobs marveled at things well done. For the same reason, he felt great admiration for Sony and its range of VAIO computers. Jobs got along very well with his CEO. The one from Sony admired iMacs, while Steve was able to publicly admit that he recognized the great job the Japanese were doing with their computers and optimizing Windows. In fact, Apple once commissioned VAIO to refine the design of its PowerBook range.
After landing in Hawaii, Those of Sony rejected Apple's offer. I'm sure Steve Jobs was very convincing, but VAIO wasn't about to undo all the optimization work they had done with Windows.
This story came to light almost 13 years later, just as Sony ended up selling the VAIO due to its fall and decline. How would the story have changed if Sony had accepted this offer?