Slashdot Mirror
Psystar Offers $399 "OpenMac" Computer
mytrip writes to tell us that Psystar has announced a new line of Intel-based computers that promise to run an unmodified version of Mac OS X "Leopard". Unfortunately almost immediately after the launch their website went down and as of this story remains unaccessible. "Astute readers may well hear this news and ask themselves if it doesn't sound like a Mac clone, something whose time came -- during Gil Amelio's tenure at Apple -- and went shortly after current CEO Steve Jobs assumed the helm at the company. [...] It definitely defies the EULA for Mac OS X, which specifies that the purchaser of a legal copy of Leopard is entitled to install the operating system on an Apple-branded computer. If you buy the $399 OpenMac, you can check the EULA yourself if you also buy the pre-install option, as the company includes a retail copy of Leopard with your purchase."
Um, Macs "just work"?
I refer you to http://www.macfixit.com/
* QuickTime distortion in early 2008 MacBooks; Mac OS X 10.5.3 to fix
* Custom icons in the Dock disappearing
* QuickTime 7.4.5: app launching problems: try reinstallation
* Aluminum Keyboard Firmware Update 1.0 (#3): caps lock problems;
* Office 2004 11.4.1 can accidentally delete Excel
* Long passwords can cause iWeb publishing errors
Yeah. That's just a few from their homepage.
Macs don't "just work" anymore than anything else. They're computers. They break, and software is written by humans, who make mistakes.
Join the Free Software Foundation
Nah, only unmodified genuine branded expensive as hell POS hardware will work.
Don't buy it. If all you want to do is something cosmetic like switch out the dashboard... buy something where you can easily do that. Vote with your dollars.
There are lots of hobbyists out there who already have OS X running on stock machinery. Go talk to them if you want to do it.
If you're not prepared to get your hands dirty, you can use an off-the-shelf Mac like the rest of us do. If you can't afford it, get something else. It's as simple as that.
Apple doesn't OWE you OS X on clones. They're a business with a brand and a user experience they want to maintain and until someone convicts them of being an abusive monopoly, they can protect their OS and user experience any way that is legal.
Not allowing other manufacturers to ship OS X boxen isn't illegal. Deal with it.
Pooty tweet
Actually, they might pull it from the shelves if the EULA does not stand up.
They might try to kill it through Apple Update...Likely.
...and then tell the purchaser that it's not their fault that their operating system doesn't run on approved hardware any longer.Do you mean unapproved hardware? They could just disable it and tell consumers the version they are using is in violation of their copyright and trademark and that they should contact PsyStar for a full refund.
They might not have a quick fix at all that doesn't break too much existing gear.Unlikely. Several core libraries have copy protection that can be activated, which will break a lot of OS X.
Of course that's outright TERRIBLE PR for Apple themselves since if any of these people had intended to buy Apple branded hardware they would have done so in the first place.Yeah, but they won't have any trouble spinning it. These things were marketed using Apple's Mac trademark in their name. It was completely stupid move which leads me to believe one of two things:
- - Psystar does not really intend on selling these and is just looking for publicity to sell other products or are being paid to dilute Apple's brand.
- - Psystar did not talk to any competent IP lawyers before making this move and are about to die, die, die.
More likely they'll try to kill it through the courts..Umm, try? The copyright, EULA thing is something that the courts could debate for a while. The trademark thing is open and shut and Apple can have an injunction in days while the courts decide how much damages Psystar will have to pay for stupidly violating a registered trademark like this.
All this does is prove how overpriced Apple gear really is.Umm, did you end with an attempt to troll? Consumer reports rated Apple's 2007 laptop offerings as the most reliable in the industry and having smaller margins than the second and third place vendors for small sales margins. They labelled the mac mini the best compact system buy for several years running.
Apple does not have much on the low end and because you are locked into one hardware vendor you're more likely to have to buy features you don't need to get one you do need. For what they offer though, they have been cheaper than comparable offerings in all but the tower space for years now. 2002 would like their argument back.