Hey folks, I'm in a bit of a bind here. I was all set to grab a gaming PC with a 5070 GPU and an i7-14700K for around $1500 USD. But now I've got a last-minute school requirement that forces me to get either an iPad or a MacBook Air, to run specific software that only works on macOS. Instead of going for a Mac, I'm eyeing the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 with a 4070 and an i9 because I still want a powerful machine for gaming. The catch? The school wants me to bring my laptop for them to install their software, which will require a factory reset and it only works on macOS. Without this, I can't even access their Wi-Fi, and they'll be monitoring my activities. So, I'm wondering: 1) Can I Hackintosh the Zephyrus G16 to make it work with their software? 2) How's gaming on macOS in 2025? 3) Is there any way to run a macOS virtual machine and keep it hidden from the school's IT? I'm trying to avoid being stuck with hardware I don't really want while still being able to enjoy gaming and performance! Any advice would be super helpful!
5 Answers
I think you should appeal the requirement to buy a MacBook. Forcing students into that situation is just not right. There's no need for such strict hardware policies.
Honestly, I’d say to avoid giving your personal device to school IT. They usually end up installing programs and might even enroll the laptop in their MDM (Mobile Device Management), which gives them control over your device and can limit your ability to do what you want. If they need macOS-specific software, they could provide you with a device to use instead of making you buy one.
Yeah, handing over your personal laptop like that is a scary idea, especially with all the monitoring!
In my personal experience, I'd say just go with a Mac like they want. It might not seem like you have options here, but they are making the call on devices, not you.
I really wouldn’t recommend trying to Hackintosh the Zephyrus G16. It's doable, but not reliable and the IT will likely reject that. For gaming on macOS, the performance is generally not great these days, and a lot of games simply don’t run on it. Plus, if they suspect you're running a VM for the software, they’ll definitely be able to tell.
Yeah, it’s not worth the hassle. Better to play by their rules and stick with the required devices.
Just get a basic iPad for their software needs - they’re cheap. Then you can still buy a gaming laptop for everything else and keep gaming separate from the school requirements.
That's a solid plan. If your school uses apps like MS Teams, you can manage pretty well with just a gaming laptop.
Very true! It's crazy to ask students to spend that much for a school requirement. They really should provide the necessary tech.