diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 2832b4ad3194..f110976ed28b 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ Linux
 
     $ cmake -DBOOST_ROOT=/your_boost_directory \
          -DHWLOC_ROOT=/your_hwloc_directory \
+         -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/where_hpx_should_be_installed \
          [other CMake variable definitions] \
          /path/to/hpx/source/tree
 
@@ -120,8 +121,12 @@ Linux
 
    to build and install the examples.
 
-Mac OSX
--------
+OS X (Mac)
+----------
+
+The standard system compiler on OS X is too old to build HPX. You will
+have to install a newer compiler manually, either Clang or GCC. Below
+we describe two possibilities:
 
 1) Install a recent version of LLVM and Clang.
    In order to build hpx you will need a fairly recent version of Clang
@@ -198,6 +203,31 @@ Mac OSX
 
    to build and install the examples.
 
+
+Alternatively, you can install a recent version of gcc as well as all
+required libraries via MacPorts:
+
+1) Install MacPorts <http://www.macports.org/>
+
+2) Install Boost, CMake, gcc 4.8, and hwloc:
+
+   $ sudo port install boost
+   $ sudo port install gcc48
+   $ sudo port install hwloc
+
+   You may also want:
+
+   $ sudo port install cmake
+   $ sudo port install git-core
+
+3) Make this version of gcc your default compiler:
+
+   $ sudo port install gcc_select
+   $ sudo port select gcc mp-gcc48
+
+4) Build HPX as described above in the ``Linux'' section.
+
+
 Windows
 -------
 
diff --git a/docs/tutorial/gettingstarted.qbk b/docs/tutorial/gettingstarted.qbk
index e9356d8a14ff..954278bbb0c6 100644
--- a/docs/tutorial/gettingstarted.qbk
+++ b/docs/tutorial/gettingstarted.qbk
@@ -261,13 +261,17 @@ HPX_MALLOC as this is crucial for getting decent performance.
 [endsect] [/ How to Install __hpx__ on Unix Variants]
 
 [/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////]
-[section:macos_installation How to Install __hpx__ on MacOS]
+[section:macos_installation How to Install __hpx__ on OS X (Mac)]
 
-This section describes how to build__hpx__ for Mac OS X (with recent versions
+This section describes how to build__hpx__ for OS X (Mac) (with recent versions
 of Clang, libc++, and Boost).
 
 [teletype]
 
+The standard system compiler on OS X is too old to build HPX. You will
+have to install a newer compiler manually, either Clang or GCC. Below
+we describe two possibilities:
+
 [heading Install a recent version of LLVM and Clang]
 
     In order to build __hpx__ you will need a fairly recent version of Clang
@@ -379,6 +383,32 @@ For more detailed information about using __cmake__ please refer its documentati
 and to the section __cmake_hpx__ for. Please pay special attention to the section about
 HPX_MALLOC as this is crucial for getting decent performance.
 
+[heading Alternative Installation method of HPX on OS X (Mac)]
+
+Alternatively, you can install a recent version of gcc as well as all
+required libraries via MacPorts:
+
+1) Install MacPorts <http://www.macports.org/>
+
+2) Install Boost, CMake, gcc 4.8, and hwloc:
+
+   $ sudo port install boost
+   $ sudo port install gcc48
+   $ sudo port install hwloc
+
+   You may also want:
+
+   $ sudo port install cmake
+   $ sudo port install git-core
+
+3) Make this version of gcc your default compiler:
+
+   $ sudo port install gcc_select
+   $ sudo port select gcc mp-gcc48
+
+4) Build HPX as described above in the __unix_installation__ section.
+
+
 [c++]
 [endsect]