Posts tagged as:

mac book air

Mac OSX running on my Sony Z128 (Win7 64bit!)

by Geekboy on 21 December, 2010

Short of giving in to temptation and buy the new 11inch MacBook Air (still tempting after I do this hack), I came across some articles of running Mac OSX as virtualization (as a App not boot up native) program. With that my Sony VPCZ128GG will run Mac OSX AND Windows 7 64bit together!

I started with using VirtualBox which is Opensource and works with those that don’t have Intel VT-x support (it’s in the Bios setting).

Here’s the link http://tek411.blogspot.com/2010/06/osx-in-virtual-box-hackintoshed-vm.html

But after further reading, I decided to use VMware since they released the free Player version (non-commercial use only).

There are quite a number of big files to download like the OSX86 file by Hazard. So after all that waiting, I followed the instructions on these videos below and it worked!

There are links to the files at the description section of the videos.

1. Setting Up OSX to run in Windows 7

I waited quite a long time and did a number of restarts before I saw the boot up screen.. so be patient! :)

2. Getting VMware Tools -> Enables screen resolution, sharing of folders and more!
+ Sound enabled and fix Top Gray bar

3. Updating from Mac OS 10.6.2 to 10.6.5

Here’s the step by step instructions:

Preparation:

1. Make sure you have vmware 7  installed on your OS, download required file from above link and place it on your HDD.
2. edit Mac OS X Server 10.6 (experimental).vmx with a text editor
Change :: smc.present = “TRUE” —>> smc.present = “FALSE”
(fix KP caused by fakesmc.kext on Shutdown/Restart)
3. Open VMware and load the vmx file (Mac OS X Server 10.6 (experimental).vmx)
4. Edit your Guest OS configuration mach to your need . (memory, CPU, Network, ect)
5. Set darwin_snow.iso ad you cdrom media
6. Save your Setting.

Installation

1. Run your Snow Leopard Guest OS
2. Quickly type F8 on your keyboard
3. Now you need to change cdrom with Snow Leopard Retail DVD and choose Boot DVD from boot menu
4. Hit F8 and type -v on the boot argument.. wait until installation windows apear..

5. Begin your snow leopard installation, (you may customize your installation) and reboot

Post Installation
1. select darwin_snow.iso as you cdrom and start your Snow Leopard
2. If you lucky you will enter the registration form, if you get KP keep restarting your Guest OS

3. Fill the registration form and you will have a working Snow Leopard on your VMware.
4. You can update your Snow Leopard From Sofware Update or install update manually
5. Install VMware tools (inside the darwin_snow.iso) [you may need to reconect your cdrom]
6. Install sound driver (include in download link above)
7. Finish…

Credit belong to Prasys

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Decide: Mac Book Pro 13inch vs Mac Book Air 2009

by Geekboy on 13 August, 2009

My friend is looking at getting a Mac, but is having trouble deciding between the Mac Book Pro 13 inch or the Mac Book Air…

Here’s a comparison chart I came up to help with her decision making.

Which MacBook are you? (Specs table courtesy of apple.com.sg)

http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/2041/4202/store.apple.com/Catalog/regional/apac/family/mac/compare-macbookpro-13.jpg

13″ MacBook Pro

http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/2041/4202/store.apple.com/Catalog/regional/apac/family/mac/compare-macbookair.jpg

MacBook Air

Price

2.26GHz, 160GB S$
1,988.00

2.53GHz,
250GB S$ 2,488.00

1.86GHz, 120GB SATA S$
2,488.00

2.13GHz, 128GB SSD S$
2,988.00

Display

13.3-inch
(viewable) LED-backlit glossy widescreen

1280
x 800 pixels

13.3-inch
(viewable) LED-backlit glossy widescreen

1280
x 800 pixels

Processor

Intel
Core 2 Duo

1066MHz
frontside bus

3MB
shared L2 cache

Intel Core 2 Duo

1066MHz frontside bus

6MB shared L2 cache

Graphics

NVIDIA
GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main
memory

NVIDIA
GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main
memory

Memory

2GB
(two 1GB) or 4GB (two 2GB) of 1066MHz DDR3
SDRAM

Option:
Up to 8GB

2GB
of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (onboard)

Battery2

Built-in
lithium-polymer battery

Up to 7 hours
of wireless productivity

Built-in
lithium-polymer battery

Up to 5 hours of wireless
productivity

Hard drive1

160GB
or 250GB Serial ATA, 5400 rpm

Options:
Up to 500GB hard drive or 128GB or 256GB solid-state drive

120GB
Serial ATA, 4200 rpm; or 128GB solid-state drive

Optical drive

8x
double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

Option:
External MacBook Air USB SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

Expansion

Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, one SD card slot

One
USB 2.0 port

Video

Built-in
iSight camera

Mini
DisplayPort output with support for DVI, Dual-Link DVI, and VGA video
(requires adapters, sold separately)

Audio

Combined
optical digital/headphone out (with selectable analog line in), microphone,
speakers

Headphone
out, microphone, speaker

Wireless

Built-in AirPort Extreme
(802.11n)3

Built-in
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)

Ethernet

10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit)

Apple
USB Ethernet Adapter [need to buy to collect to hotels/places with no
wifi]

Input

Full-size,
illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor

Glass
Multi-Touch trackpad

Full-size,
illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor

Multi-Touch
trackpad

Enclosure

Precision
aluminum unibody

Size(H x W x D)

0.95
x 12.78 x 8.94 inches

2.41
x 32.5 x 22.7 cm

0.16 to 0.76 x 12.8 x 8.94 inches

0.4 to 1.94 x 32.5 x 22.7 cm

Weight4

4.5
pounds

2.04
kg

3.0 pounds

1.36 kg

Mac Book Pro 13inch
Everything you need is built-in, and up to 7 hours of wifi usage. If you get this, go for a total of 4gb RAM(long term investment for a faster system) and at least 250gb HD or 500gb (store more pictures/music/videos) .

Good when you don’t mind the 2kg (not light, plus case or bag?), or have a car or porter to help you carry stuff around.

Mac Book Air
Sleek, sexy, thin.. lighter and you carry the minimum (no DVD, only 1 USB, 128gb HD, need adapter for no wifi internet connections.)

Slightly slower processor and only 2gb RAM but good enough for web surfing – youtube/facebook/emails and photo and simple video editing, for up to 5 hours only.

Sexy enough that you want to carry yourself.

If you get this, you will definitely need the Ethernet Adapter, and optionally ->

  1. external DVD drive,  + S$150
  2. 250gb or more external 2.5inch Harddisk  + S$150
  3. 4 port USB hub (to connect more USB devices). + S$30

Do note, since the Air has only 1 USB port, if you’re in a hotel or place that has no wifi, and you are wired up thru the Ethernet cable, you have no way to connect to other USB devices (e.g. digital camera/ipod).

BOTTOM Line

For price and performance, the mac book pro definitely seems a better deal. Of course at the expense of the additional weight and thickness.

Decide how you will use the device and see which on fits your usage better.

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