How to Legally Make Your PC into a "Mac"
Fortunately, there is a legal way to make your PC into a Mac, or at least a very Mac-like computer! What's more, it's free. Read on!
Start with Ubuntu
Ubuntu is an African word that means "humanity to others." It's also the name of a free operating system, which is close enough to being like Mac OS X that we can tweak it to get it most of the rest of the way. You can download it at ubuntu.com; or, you can download Linux Mint at linuxmint.com. Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, but it's easier to use and it also includes things that you'd download anyway, like Java and Flash.
Once you download Ubuntu or Linux Mint and burn it to CD, you can try it out by rebooting your PC with the CD in the drive. That way, you can make sure that it has all the drivers needed for your PC -- i.e. that you can go online with it, and hear sound, and use the 3d effects. After that you can install it from the CD, and you can choose whether to boot into Ubuntu (or Linux Mint) or Windows every time you start your PC.
Add the Mac-like apps you need
Ubuntu and Linux Mint both come with a ton of free software, and let you download more anytime. It's like the iTunes App Store, except that everything's free! To make your Ubuntu or Linux Mint PC into a Mac-like computer, though, we need to go digging a bit, and find just the right apps.
Click here to read an article I wrote that might help.
You can also read more articles that I wrote by clicking here! I write about these things a lot!
Another resource that may help is the OMG! Ubuntu! blog, which you can visit here: homgubuntu.co.uk. The author is always talking about the latest Mac-like Linux apps, including free apps that work like a Mac's iLife suite. I get a lot of ideas for what to put on my Mac-like PC from this blog!
Ask for help if you need it
Did you have trouble figuring something out? Try visiting the Ubuntu Forums, at ubuntuforums.org; or if you used Linux Mint, visit the Linux Mint Forums, at forums.linuxmint.com. Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, though, so Linux Mint users can ask for help at the Ubuntu Forums as well.
Just sign up to use the forums you go to, then look for the board that's talking about what you're trying to get working (graphics and sound, software, etc.). Be polite and patient; these are other people like you that you're asking for help, not paid employees. And use the forum's search feature, too, to see if anyone else has been having the same problem. You might also have luck using Google or your favorite search engine, to look for something like "Ubuntu (the problem you're having)" without the quotation marks. If you know the name of the app or the hardware component that's giving you trouble, put that in too!
The Upshot
Did this guide help you at all? Then click here to check out my other articles! Either way, leave a comment to let me know how things turned out. And good luck making your PC Mac-like!
Published by Jared Spurbeck - Featured Contributor in Technology
I'm a tabletop gamer and technology enthusiast, who is passionate about social justice and open-source software. I was also raised in the Mormon church, and enjoy bringing a former member's perspective to di... View profile
- Apple Releases Free 10.5.3 Mac OS X Software UpgradeA free upgrade to the Mac operating system has just been released by California-based Apple, Inc.
- Ubuntu One is the Worst Thing to Happen to UbuntuUbuntu One is a free online backup service like Dropbox, made just for Ubuntu users. So how can it be a bad thing ... the worst thing to happen to Ubuntu and Ubuntu users, in fact? Find out how it takes your freedom a...
Are There Too Many Varieties of Linux?There are hundreds of different "flavors" of Linux, nearly all of them available completely free of charge. Linux is stable, fast, and is compatible with both Windows and Mac,...
The Mac Vs. PC Commercials: International EditionsIt's easy to say that Apple is trying to take over the world with their Macintosh. Well, that's nothing new under the sun in a Microsoft frame of mind. It's probably surprising...- Giving an Old Computer Life with LinuxSo you have an old pc gathering dust in the garage. You have Windows but its full of viruses and Microsoft doesn't support windows 98 any more. Why not install Linux on it and bring it back to life.
- Linux Mint "Tastes Better" Than Ubuntu Linux
- Linux Mint: is it a Better Linux Than Ubuntu?
- Put Mac OS X's Expose Into Ubuntu
- The Flavors of Linux - Which One to Choose...?
- How To: Dual Boot XP and Linux Mint OS
- Linux Mint: A Refreshing Taste of Linux
- Linux Software Showcase
6 Comments
Post a CommentIt is a little involved, yes! You can get started with Ubuntu just by visiting Ubuntu.com, though ... they'll even mail you a CD if you can't figure out how to burn it and download it. Then you can try it out without needing to change anything on your computer. You may find it simpler / easier than your current setup is, and the people on ubuntuforums.org are always happy to answer questions! A lot of non-techies have tried it -- give it a shot, maybe!
Sounds interesting, although a little beyond my techie-less abilities. :)
The Evolution groupware suite is capable of syncing contacts and calendars with numerous smartphones! It receives a good deal of commercial funding / development from Novell. Likewise, Google's online offerings present a viable alternative for many, although they are not open-source. I admire the Mac world's simplicity and consider it an ideal to strive for, but for me open-source is an important feature is well, if not a prerequisite. It allows me to become more excited / involved with the developers of my favorite apps, and ensures that I won't be locked in to any one platform (no matter how shiny). Read "You Aren't Allowed To Stop Using Facebook" for more thoughts on this subject!
Thanks Jared. Unfortunately, no iLife apps is a real problem, and also, the almost complete lack of any other commercial software. I know there are a lot of alternatives like open office, etc... I mean no disrespect of the open source people, but most of us need at least a couple commercial software programs. Even in Windows, at least you can connect your iPod/iPhone, sync your contacts, calendars, music, etc... I know there are programs to play MP3, etc... in Linux, but how would you sync contacts, calendars, etc...? Apple uses open standards like iCal and vCal, which I am sure are supported to some extent, but I imagine you would have to use several programs manually to do what comes automatically on a Mac?
Brian: A helpful suggestion, and one that I echoed in my article "How to Save Money on Your Mac!" However, if you haven't tried it yourself then you don't know just how close it comes. ~.^
I admit that it's several years behind the state-of-the-art in the Mac world; features like Coverflow, QuickLook and Leopard's 3d Dock are just now being implemented in projects like Gloobus and Spaces. And iLife has no peer anywhere. So I wouldn't suggest this setup for someone who's dependent on Mac apps and features already.
I personally like it because it's a hybrid of Mac usability (elegance, dock + top menu bar, consistent look and feel) with open-source sensibility (everything's free to everyone). The open-source movement has accomplished a lot, and with Mark Shuttleworth's millions going into Linux usability I think it just might compete with Snow Leopard soon ... if it doesn't already!
Try it out sometime, maybe it'll change your mind!
Nice try, but this doesn't really get you that close. Better than Windows, sure, but it's not a Mac.
You can get a refurbed mac mini for about $500 or less, brand new, with warranty. It runs everything, no pretending (or violating any legal contracts) necessary.