Hello everyone! I'm new here as of today, and I'm looking forward to interacting with hackintosh members. I would love to buy a new macbook pro 17" with an i7 and an ssd and a 1080P screen, but I can't afford the $3'000 or more price tag. So even though I'm not a software geek, I'd like to try and hackintosh a new well specked laptop. I'd like to keep my budget at $1299.00 but could go up to a total of $1500. Definitely want a sandy-bridge processor. Any suggestions on a laptop that would present the least amount of challenges to being hackintoshed? I have some costco credit, so a costco build would be ideal. Thanks in advance for any advice! Sandy bridge laptops are just beginning to hit the market, so I'm not in a rush and can wait till all the new models have come out, probably next month.

Johnnyd

I am sorry.....but you are putting it out there like you expect everyone to do the homework for you. I would suggest that you do a little reading and investigation on your own and try to figure out what you need to do, the same way as most of the rest of us arrived at this point. If and when you have done a little research, I think you will find more people willing to try and help you resolve any outstanding issues that you might have.

There are some excellent sources of information available including: InsanelyMac, TonyMac, Kexts and of course this site and numerous others.

Trying to "hackintosh" a laptop is probably the least successful thing you can try (I have tried several times). Your best bet for the most functionality is to build a desktop with the most compatible parts.....after doing a little research, of course.

If you are dead set on a laptop then I would suggest that you buy a real Mac, as you are never likely to EVER achieve complete functionality with the ability to update from the Apple servers, there will always be outstanding issues and the need to patch something.

I am quite sure this is everything that you did not want to hear, but hey, it is my two-cents worth.

Good luck and best regards.

I was hoping for input based on experience, not doing research for me, but thanks for the input, Spike. So I guess a laptop is out then. Might get a new imac when they release them. How much did your build run?

Well, that is the problem. As Sandy-Bridge technology is so new for Apple it represents bleeding edge for the Hackintosh community and as such there is very limited experience in this area at the moment. I have no doubt that it will move forward very quickly and the TonyMac site has already put forward an experimental procedure on how you can get the kernel update that will support Sandy-Bridge. If you want to wait a while someone "will crack this nut". But the main issue with laptops is that each vendor puts in their own components and no two are usually the same, which makes trying to "Hackintosh" it that much more difficult. If you are willing to compromise on some possible functionality then a laptop is not out of the question. Of course it would be nice if we could all find one that is completely compatible, but I have yet to see that. Lot's of people get theirs working to their own satisfaction, but it means hunting for different drivers for different components.

Desktops are the best option to Hackintosh as you can choose all the right parts to put into your build. My rig has been completely compatible with everything working since day one. I have installed all the updates from the Apple site and they have always installed without a single glitch.

I put my build together in 2009 for approx. $1100

I wanted to add this readme from the TonyMac site, just to give you a "feel" for some of the issues that you run into with a laptop Hackintosh.

Please read this before posting:

1) If you having issues when installing something other than with your purchased retail copy of Snow Leopard, STOP and read this: faq.php#f0r3. Then go purchase you own copy and post your results.

2) Since installation on laptops and desktops are so very different, only use the Laptop forum for all questions and threads.

3) Apple has never supported AMD CPUs so the methods and software on this site won't work.

4) Apple removed support for Atom CPUs in 10.6.2. So the last version you can run is 10.6.1.

5) OS X can ONLY be installed on a disk using GPT, it does NOT support MBR. If you want to install on your current disk you will need to erase it in OS X or purchase a separate disk to install on.

6) Installing on a non-Apple laptop is a science experiment. You will most likely have issues with things like graphics, networking (wired and/or wireless), power management, sleep, integrated cameras, battery status, etc.

7) If you are trying to install on to a laptop that only has Intel HD Graphics, be aware that this GPU is not supported. It will only run at 1024x768 with NO graphics acceleration and you will not be able to run things iTunes.

8) If your laptop is using NVIDIA Optimus graphics switching technology, you can stop reading as it's not supported and most likely will never be.

9) Apple Software Updates will most likely break your working system. So ensure you have a good backup before installing.

10) Since there are so many configurations of laptops, and components can vary even with same model, you may not find another person with your exact specs to help.

11) If you're still reading this and want to proceed - use search before posting.

Thank you and good luck.

tonymacx86 and MacMan

Thanks again Spike! I new it would take some work to do, but since apple now uses intel chips that it wouldn't be too difficult. Sandy bridge chips are in all the new macbook pro's so apple already supports them. I'm thinking for not much more than you spent, a new imac with sandy bridge would be a good option when they come out in a month or three. I need a laptop for my work, so not sure what to do there. Laptop doesn't need to be powerful if I get an imac or build a hackintosh. Maybe I'll get a plain macbook. Appreciate your help.

Hi, I'm also a newbie to this, but what with the spate of new Sandy bridge laptops coming out, and the fact that many of them feature the exact same processor as the 13inch MBP (2410m), how hard can it be? From what I've read, most of the system is on the chip, gfx, audio etc. much of it should already be configured and supported, no?

What I want is a light 13 inch machine with a big HD and an optical drive. Apple don't make such a machine. The 13 MBP is quite heavy, the MBA tops out at 250 Gb. Lo and behold, Toshiba has just released this; Toshiba Portégé® R835-P55X 13.3" widescreen Laptop
which uses the 2410, has a 640gb hd, a dvd drive and good battery life and weighs just 3.2lbs! Also it costs less than any MBP or Air. There is also a cheaper Best Buy version, which uses the 2310 chip. Some site list this as the same as the 2410, sans turbo boost, so maybe it works too? I think I'd stick with the 2410 though.

My only worry is that I can't seem to find anyone considering this on the web. Perhaps I'm not looking in the right places. Any suggestions?