Hardware Good, hackintoshable laptops that are around or under $500 CAD?

[Deleted User]

I'm looking to buy a hackintoshable laptop for around or under $500 CAD. What I'm looking for is something that won't break down within a year, isn't fragile and won't break after being dropped a few times. I don't plan on using it only for OSX, but also for Windows and some Linux distros and things like that. Some of the things I will be doing on it include gaming and audio processing, so I'd prefer something that is at least somewhat fast and has a reasonable amount of RAM.

So, what'd you suggest, and why? I'd prefer not to have Acer laptops suggested to me, as I've had bad experiences with Acer laptops in the past and would prefer to avoid them.

EDIT: Since $500 CAD is probably rather laughable for a hackintosh, seeing as everything I've found from Googling has been pretty expensive, I will mention that I'm buying this through school and the full budget I have is $1,500 CAD, but I'd prefer to not spend all of that as there are other things I need to buy, so I'd be willing to buy a computer up to $1,000 CAD.

 

[Joom]

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Y50-70...st-20&linkId=50c552fc9a6fdfed2a449acc1c61216c

I've read good things about this one. You can get a used one within your budget according to Amazon. If you wouldn't mind sacrificing high end gaming, you can also take a look at this list for an idea of what to look for. From the looks of it though, you're gonna have to buy a separate wireless card if you buy any sort of new OEM laptop.

 

[Deleted User]

http://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Y50-70...st-20&linkId=50c552fc9a6fdfed2a449acc1c61216c

I've read good things about this one. You can get a used one within your budget according to Amazon. If you wouldn't mind sacrificing high end gaming, you can also take a look at this list for an idea of what to look for. From the looks of it though, you're gonna have to buy a separate wireless card if you buy any sort of new OEM laptop.

After looking through that list a little bit, I think I've decided on a HP Probook 6470B. Thank you for linking the list, I don't think I would have found it myself because everything I came across while Googling were a bunch of "Best hackintoshable laptops of [year]" lists.

 

[RevPokemon]

After looking through that list a little bit, I think I've decided on a HP Probook 6470B. Thank you for linking the list, I don't think I would have found it myself because everything I came across while Googling were a bunch of "Best hackintoshable laptops of [year]" lists.

As someone with an HP, I can say one issue is simply the HP bios can be a PIA

 

[VinsCool]

I have to agree with you. Acer is trash, hahaha. HP should be a good brand to go.

 

[Deleted User]

I have to agree with you. Acer is trash, hahaha. HP should be a good brand to go.

In a lot of lists I found of a bunch of good hackintosh computers, I almost always saw at least one Acer computer suggested.
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the reason some of them were suggested was simply because they looked kinda like Macs.

Spoiler: I mean shit, look at what this person wrote about that computer

"high-quality"? you've got to be joking lmao

 

[the_randomizer]

I have to agree with you. Acer is trash, hahaha. HP should be a good brand to go.

Asus is good brand, avoid Compaq/Dell like the plague.

 

[Deleted User]

Asus is good brand, avoid Compaq/Dell like the plague.

I think my family owned a Dell computer running XP when I was fairly young.
The motherboard died within a year or so.

 

[the_randomizer]

I think my family owned a Dell computer running XP when I was fairly young.
The motherboard died within a year or so.

Dells are notorious for their high failure rates, I've had an Lenovo (another good brand) laptop since 2011, still works just fine. Asus are just as good.

 

[VinsCool]

Dells are notorious for their high failure rates, I've had an Lenovo (another good brand) laptop since 2011, still works just fine. Asus are just as good.

Running both Lenovo and Asus laptops like a boss. They're indeed very good

Hitachi HDDs are shite though.

 

[the_randomizer]

Running both Lenovo and Asus laptops like a boss. They're indeed very good

Hitachi HDDs are shite though.

Not sure if the HDD I have in the laptop is from Toshiba or Hitachi, I'll need to look, but it's been five years, aside from the hinge wearing out when I open and close, still plugging along

 

[Mikemk]

I've never had an ASUS device last through its warranty. People tell me I'm just really unlucky, but from my perspective, ASUS devices tend to have a 100% failure rate

 

[VinsCool]

I've never had an ASUS device last through its warranty. People tell me I'm just really unlucky, but from my perspective, ASUS devices tend to have a 100% failure rate

I had no problems, unless the HDD failure is something you count.

 

[Mikemk]

I had no problems, unless the HDD failure is something you count.

I've only had tablets and stuff from them. Usually it's the non replaceable battery that has issues.

 

[Joom]

I have a Toshiba Satellite that's been going strong for nearly 6 years. Shame it came with an AMD APU though. Otherwise, Hackintoshing it would have been a breeze. Keep that in mind too, as AMD is very hard to work with when it comes to OS X.

 

[SomeGamer]

I've never had an ASUS device last through its warranty. People tell me I'm just really unlucky, but from my perspective, ASUS devices tend to have a 100% failure rate

I'm with you here. Two Asus tablets, exactly same problems, they gave back the money for one of them after sending it in for the fourth time.

 

[Mikemk]

I'm with you here. Two Asus tablets, exactly same problems, they gave back the money for one of them after sending it in for the fourth time.

They wouldn't let me send mine in. CyanogenMod and all that.
Maybe it's just their tablets with issues.

 

[baller4eva14]

I'll be honest here, but I don't see what's wrong with Dell's. I've had a Dell Inspirison when I was younger and it lasted me when I was in high school, although it did have trash specs, but it did last. After that, I got an XPS with the latest specs and so far it has never failed on me yet.

And then, I keep hearing suggestions everywhere i go.

A friend of mine in college always gloated that ASUS computer's were the best.
A cousin of mine said HP's were the best. (I hate HP's since their laptops always break on me > )
Another friend told me Gateway can last. And I've seen her still use it for nearly four years.
Another friend in college told me, Just build your own computer.

A lot of suggestions, but in the end, we choose with our gut feelings. Go for it.
PS, always have the warranty just in case.

 

[SomeGamer]

Toshibas are really nice

They wouldn't let me send mine in. CyanogenMod and all that.
Maybe it's just their tablets with issues.

It was a Windows one.
(And I have mixed experience regarding Lenovos.)

 

[The Real Jdbye]

I have to agree with you. Acer is trash, hahaha. HP should be a good brand to go.

Hitachi HDDs are shite though.

You're trolling, right? Please tell me you're trolling.

Because I have never owned or met anyone who has owned a HP product and were actually happy with it. I had a tablet PC, printer and digital camera from them, all were shit.
And Hitachi/HGST HDDs have the longest lifetime of all consumer drives. They're also among the cheapest.