Windows on Mac but not Mac on Windows - why?

[chapmac]

Hi all, just a question. Many of us here run some kind of virtualisation software to run Windows on our Mac - Parallels, VMware or Virtual box.

But why doesn't this occur the other way round? Why can't we run virtual OSX boxes on windows machines? Parallels supports virtually every other OS under windows so I assume there is a very good technical reason why this is the case, and this is why people make hackintosh's.

Just interested to know why - can anyone shed some light? I am sure there would be huge demand for it if it were possible (and may well affect Apple h/w sales?????)

 

[OllyW]

Just interested to know why - can anyone shed some light? I am sure there would be huge demand for it if it were possible (and may well affect Apple h/w sales?????)

You have answered your own question.

Apple has too much to lose by unlocking Mac OS from Apple hardware.

 

[dsharits]

Because Apple does not allow it to work. Their software is licensed only for their hardware, and they build it so only their hardware will recognize it and run it.
They had tried licensing the software for other machines back in the mid-90's and it almost killed Apple. While I don't think that would happen today, it is a better idea to avoid licensing for other hardware. Part of what makes Apple computers so special is that the same company makes both the hardware and the software, which makes everything work so well together.

 

[jav6454]

Hi all, just a question. Many of us here run some kind of virtualisation software to run Windows on our Mac - Parallels, VMware or Virtual box.

But why doesn't this occur the other way round? Why can't we run virtual OSX boxes on windows machines? Parallels supports virtually every other OS under windows so I assume there is a very good technical reason why this is the case, and this is why people make hackintosh's.

Just interested to know why - can anyone shed some light? I am sure there would be huge demand for it if it were possible (and may well affect Apple h/w sales?????)

Answered your question, you have.

 

[chapmac]

Clear I have felt the force on this one.......and the knowledge was within me all the time master jedi!

 

[Eric S.]

A big part of the justification for running a virtualized Windows (not necessarily Boot Camp, but generally) is that a Windows crash won't bring down your whole system. Running your VM software inside Windows kind of defeats that purpose!

 

[jon86]

They have clearly not tried hard enough to stop Mac OS X from running on non-Mac hardware otherwise Hackintosh computers would not exist. The main reason I believe is that Apple would lose loads of the vast profits they currently get from selling hardware and also that it would break the closed Apple ecosystem.