[atomskaze]

Hey guys -

I've been taking this Computer Architecture class and me and my mates need to write an essay on the differences in hardware between a mac and a PC, which can answers questions such as why you can't install MAC OS on a regular PC and so on. I haven't find much about that in the internet, so if anybody can lead me to the correct way I'd be really grateful.

[dorknexus]

As of now they both run on x86 architecture so there is very little different between the two. The major reason you can't install OS X on just any old PC has more to do with firmware and OS tom foolery than anything.

This post has been edited by Dark_Nexus: 31 October 2010 - 12:01 PM

[atomskaze]

Thanks. I found a bunch of information on the differences in the past and you helped me confirm the current differences.

[AlbuquerqueApache]

atomskaze, on 31 October 2010 - 12:53 PM, said:

Thanks. I found a bunch of information on the differences in the past and you helped me confirm the current differences.

At one time the Mac OS was also stored in eproms versus the hard drive. As someone else noted, they now use intel x86 processors I believe.

[no2pencil]

Not to be confused with the answer given by as his answer is 100% accurate...

but on a higher level of hardware, any Apple laptop that I've taken apart is just a thing of beauty. They are so much simpler than a PC laptop design. For a PC laptop, the bottom bezel consists of many parts, including the keyboard, upper & lower shroud, & a top bezel to house the power buttons & sit ontop of the keyboard hiding it's screws. The hardrive is accessible from the outside of the laptop by removing (usually) two screws. A PC style laptop will usually have a conglomerate of screw types, almost always four or more. Lastly there are almost always multiple boards. Sometimes the power/DC Jack is on it's own daughter board, theAn Apple laptop, however, allows for the battery to hide the hardrive (which is housed inside the laptop), & the screws to open the laptop are on the sides. Once all the screws are removed, the top half of the lower shroud is actually one piece, including the keyboard, power button, everything. Once that's removed the entire main board is just one piece. It's really elegant craftsmanship (in my opinion), & extremely easy to work on when compared to PC laptops.

[dorknexus]

Never been inside of an Apple laptop. Seems like good quality stuff from the exterior. Good to hear same is true on the inside.

[JustinDe]

It's good to know that their over priced machines are at least well constructed.

[no2pencil]

Anything other than Toshiba is well constructed. It's the design that I find impressive.

Toshiba makes some pretty piss-poor laptops. I'm talking masking tape holding down wires. The heat from standard operation dries the tape, tape residue gets on the CPU & clogs the CPU fan... yeah, piss-poor construction.

& I've seen about five of these, so it's not like someone just quick patch-fixed it. These are coming from the manufacturer this way.