Announcing the netXbook

I'm simplifying my netXbook pricing. A netXbook is a netbook that runs OS X, and/or other operating systems. I'm offering 3 levels of hardware with 3 options of operating systems. If what you need is more precise than this, or if you have your own MSI Wind or derivative that you want me to Mac-ify, please see my more detailed post and/or contact me.

The netXbook is on the left. The MacBook is the one on the right.

netXbook Dual (Mac OS X 10.5 and Windows XP SP3)

• Entry Model - 1.6GHz, 1GB, 120GB, WiFi G, 3-Cell battery, 3xUSB 2.0, 1.3MP Webcam
• $399
  
• Midrange - 1.6GHz, 2GB, 160GB, WiFi N, 6-Cell, 3xUSB 2.0, 1.3MP Webcam, Bluetooth
• $499
  
• Powerhouse - 1.6GHz, 2GB, 320GB, WiFi N, 9-Cell, 3xUSB 2.0, 1.3MP Webcam, Bluetooth
• $599

netXbook Triple (Mac OS X 10.5, Windows XP SP3, Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.04)

• Entry Model - 1.6GHz, 1GB, 120GB, WiFi G, 3-Cell battery, 3xUSB 2.0, 1.3MP Webcam
• $429
  
• Midrange - 1.6GHz, 2GB, 160GB, WiFi N, 6-Cell, 3xUSB 2.0, 1.3MP Webcam, Bluetooth
• $529
  
• Powerhouse - 1.6GHz, 2GB, 320GB, WiFi N, 9-Cell, 3xUSB 2.0, 1.3MP Webcam, Bluetooth
• $629

netXbook Mono (Mac OS X 10.5)

• Entry Model - 1.6GHz, 1GB, 120GB, WiFi G, 3-Cell battery, 3xUSB 2.0, 1.3MP Webcam
• $379
  
• Midrange - 1.6GHz, 2GB, 160GB, WiFi N, 6-Cell, 3xUSB 2.0, 1.3MP Webcam, Bluetooth
• $479
  
• Powerhouse - 1.6GHz, 2GB, 320GB, WiFi N, 9-Cell, 3xUSB 2.0, 1.3MP Webcam, Bluetooth
• $579

Add Touchscreen to any model for $199.
Add External USB DVD-DL Burner Drive for $79.

Shipping on anything - even if you order 57 complete netXbooks - $10 to the US, $25 Worldwide

All payments will be made by PayPal - but email me first to set up the order, (my email address is different from my paypal account email.)

It takes some time for me to do this - especially if I need to order parts - so please allow up to 3 weeks for me to do it.

Any questions at all, please email me, I'll be glad to answer any questions you have. Thanks!

All netXbooks are MSI Wind U100s (or rebranded derivatives). I am in no way associated with Apple. Apple does not produce the netXbook.

Let me make you an OS X netbook!

If you read my blog, you know that I love me some Hackintosh Netbooks. Well, I've made and sold two of them already, and my third MSI Wind is on its way to my door. So I thought I'd start taking requests via my blog. When I get the next MSI Wind - I plan on making a YouTube video and offering to make them on there as well.

How this works.

There are two basic ways you can get your very own "MacBook Nano". (Just a note for clarity's sake - there is no official Apple product called "MacBook Nano" - that's just the name that I and others have used for a Netbook mini-laptop running OS X.)

• You supply the hardware - I supply the work and software
• You tell me what you want, and I do it all

So far, I've only done this on MSI Winds - and from my research and experience - they really are the best bet. First I recommend using a hard drive and not an SSD. It's merely the practical matter that if you installed Windows and Mac on a 8 GB flash drive, you won't have much room for anything else, like applications and files.

Also, you want something that has similar features to a real Apple MacBook. A built-in Webcam, WiFi-N, BlueTooth, ethernet, and, and nice slick appearence help make your netbook more Mac-like. Also, Mac OS X - especially "Hackintosh OSX86" - seems to use more power than Windows. So, a powerful battery is also important.

No, you're not seeing double. The MacBook is the one on the right.

It's for all these reasons that I picked the MSI Wind - spacious 160 GB Hard Drive, one of the best prices on netbooks, 6-Cell battery, WiFi-N, Bluetooth, etc., and the only thing that doesn't work under OS X is the mic port and headphone jack (the built-in mic, built-in stereo speakers, or USB/Bluetooth options all work).

Now, why do you want this - and what will you be able to do with this?

With a dual-booting netbook, you're basically looking at carrying two fully functioning computers that you can carry with you anywhere. Run Office 2007 on the same computer as iLife and iWork '09. Use iMovie to make vlogs and podcasts on the road. Use Skype on Mac for screensharing, video chat, and cheap mobile phone calls from free WiFi hotspots. And so much more.

Options and Pricing

OK - you're interested. But now comes the hard question - how much? I'll break down the options in a second, but I want you to know you can have a full featured dual booting MSI Wind for under $500 - and that's with me doing all the work and shopping for you. If you do your own "legwork" and shop around for the hardware yourself - you might be able to go for less than that.

Here's the breakdown.

• Ready Made Options
  
1. Base - MSI Wind u100 with 1.6Ghz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB RAM, 3-Cell Battery, 120GB HD, WiFi G, 3x USB 2.0 ports, VGA out, SDHC Card Reader, running Genuine MS Windows XP Home SP 3 - $339
2. Upgrade to 2GB RAM - $35
3. Upgrade to 320GB 7200RPM HDD - $100
4. Upgrade to 500GB 5400RPM HDD - $125
5. Upgrade to 500GB 7200RPM HDD - $175
   
6. Upgrade to a 6-Cell Battery - $45
7. Upgrade to a 9-Cell Battery - $110
   
8. Upgrade Package A - 2GB RAM, 6-Cell Battery, BlueTooth 2.1, WiFi N, 160GB HD - $60
9. Upgrade Package B - 2GB RAM, 6-Cell Battery, BlueTooth 2.1, WiFi N, 320GB 7200RPM HD - $145
10. Upgrade Package C - 2GB RAM, 9-Cell Battery, BlueTooth 2.1, WiFi N, 500GB 7200RPM HD - $250
    
11. Upgrade to Mac OS X 10.5.6 (not dual-boot, Mac Only) - $75
12. Upgrade to Mac OS X & Windows XP (Dual-Boot) - $100
13. Upgrade to Linux (no Windows) - $25
14. Upgrade to Mac OS X & Linux (Dual-Boot) - $100
15. Upgrade to Triple Boot (Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows) - $125
16. Software Package A - Offices - MS Office Enterprise 2007 (Windows) & MS Office 2008 (Mac) - $35
17. Software Package B - iApps - iWork '09 & iLife '09 - $35
18. Add External USB CD-ROM Drive - $40
19. Add External USB CD Burner Drive - $50
20. Add External USB DVD-ROM Drive - $65
21. Add External USB DVD-DL Burner Drive - $85
    
22. Upgrade to TOUCHSCREEN - $200
    
• You supply the Netbook
  
1. OS X (not dual-boot) - $75
2. OS X & Windows (dual-boot) - $100
3. Linux - $25
4. OS X & Linux (dual-boot) - $100
5. OS X, Linux, & Windows XP (triple-boot) - $125
6. Installing user-supplied RAM - $15
7. 2GB of RAM - $35
   Note - Any Installation of Hard Drives Requires the Installation of one or more of the above listed Operating Systems - otherwise the hard drive will be left blank!
   
8. Installing user-supplied hard drive (any capacity / RPM) - $35 + OS
9. 160GB 5400RPM HDD - $85 + OS
10. 320GB 7200RPM HDD - $115 + OS
11. 500GB 5400RPM HDD - $145 + OS
12. 500GB 7200RPM HDD - $185 + OS
    Note - If you just want a new battery - nothing else, there's no need to send me your computer
13. 6-Cell Battery - $75
    
14. 9-Cell Battery - $110
15. External USB CD-ROM Drive - $40
16. External USB CD Burner Drive - $50
17. External USB DVD-ROM Drive - $65
18. External USB DVD-DL Burner Drive - $85
    
19. Software Package A - Offices - MS Office Enterprise 2007 (Windows) & MS Office 2008 (Mac) - $35
20. Software Package B - iApps - iWork '09 & iLife '09 - $35
21. TOUCHSCREEN - $200

Shipping on anything - even if you order 57 complete netbooks - $10 to the US, $25 Worldwide

All payments will be made by PayPal - but email me first to set up the order, (my email address is different from my paypal account email.)

It takes some time for me to do this - especially if I need to order parts - so please allow up to 3 weeks for me to do it.

Prices as quoted are for an MSI Wind. If you want me to upgrade another brand of netbook, please contact me first for options. Some are easier to upgrade than others - so pricing will vary.

If you are concerned about me running off with your money - I can set up a private ebay Buy-it-Now auction, and PayPal will be protect your purchase - or we can work something out with a down payment for me to start, and then you pay the rest when I ready to ship it. I'm not about to throw away my online rep for a couple hundred dollars.

So, there you have it. Let's get you the Mac-running netbook Apple refuses to make.

My netbook plans - 4 OSes, touchscreen, BT, WiFi-N, and less than $500

Check out the Mac OS X Netbook Compatibility Chart for the best options for installing OSx86 aka Hackintosh on a non-Apple netbook, (of course, there is no non-non-Apple netbook... let's see 3 negatives... the last two cancel out... yeah, that's right). According to the chart, the two netbooks that are most compatible are the MSI Wind U100 and the Dell Mini 9. Since the MSI Wind has more storage, costs less, and doesn't have a compatibility exception (the Dell Mini 9 doesn't sleep in some models), and since MSI has officially released drivers for the WiFi under OS X - I suggest the MSI Wind.

In fact, that's what I plan on ordering as soon as I get my next check. My plan is to get the 160 GB model with the 6-cell battery, do a triple boot of OS X, Windows XP Pro, and Linux. Then on top of OS X, install SheepShaver to run Mac OS 9. Four powerful operating systems on a system that costs less than $400 and weighs less than 2.7 pounds - that ain't bad.

I also plan on, eventually, adding a touchscreen kit - (which comes with drivers for all the operating systems - except OS 9, I imagine) - so make that a ultraportable tablet with four operating systems for under $500.

Oh, and did I mention it comes with Bluetooth, WiFi N, a built-in webcam, and card reader... Not too shabby.

Nokia NSeries N800 Linux-based Internet Tablet Review

Here's my (first?) review of the Nokia NSeries N800 Internet Tablet. It's got WiFi, BlueTooth, a Touchscreen, VOIP, Games, a full web browser, and more. Check it out!

Also, I mention that I'm selling my MacBook on ebay in the video.

Here's the auction for the "Apple MacBook Dual Core OS X Leopard Mac Windows XP OSX
White MacBook with Leopard iLife iWork Office and more!" - ebay Item # 230214193666.