Mac Clone Maker Psystar Files For Bankruptcy

StikyPad was one of several readers letting us know that Psystar has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. We've discussed the Mac clone maker's battles with Apple extensively. The company apparently has over $250,000US in debt, and states that it cannot turn a profit in the current economy. "The Chapter 11 filing will temporarily suspend Apple's copyright infringement suit against Psystar, which is currently before the US District Court of Northern California. But once the bankruptcy protection is sorted out, the copyright case will resume." And PC Mag is reporting that, on the other side of the Atlantic, two new clone companies are just getting started. Like PsyStar, FreedomPC and RussianMac promise to deliver PCs with OS X preloaded.

Comments

Re:So XP isn't ready for the desktop either?

[hairyfeet]

P.L.E.A.S.E Do NOT compare the large pile of fail that is Linux to Mac OSX! A Mac is like a Ferrari, folks don't expect that sleek and shiny Ferrari to use the same parts that will fit a Ford. Instead you go to the Ferrari store and find all the goodies for a Ferrari you could ever want. But there is NOT a "Linux" store, so your comparison is completely worthless. If I buy Mac there is a network of Apple stores from one side of the country to the other to support me.

If you buy Linux it is running on the same hardware that the Windows one uses. It looks the same, and from a consumer standpoint it had better work the same. For your comparison to be worth anything there would have to be a company that did nothing but create Linux boxed versions on exotic hardware and back it up with a network of stores from one end of the country to the other. But the fact is you simply don't have anything to compare. So you NEED all the mom&pop shops across the country to support you just like they support Windows. if someone buys a Windows box they can take it to me or one of thousands of shops across the country and have any problems or upgrades done with a smile. But we don't support Linux. It isn't because we don't like Linux, in fact if it didn't have such shitty support I think Linux would be perfect for the "I only download and watch Youtube" types.

But the simple fact is when I sold Linux boxes I was looking at a 400%-600% return rate VS a 0% return rate for Windows. All I hear from the Linux zealots is "You should force them to buy a support contract" or "don't sell Linux to teh luzerz!". But I hate to break the news to you, geeks that run Linux don't actually buy anything! They build their own machines or enjoy making some ancient POS hardware run Linux. So for Linux your "nationwide support network" consists of some LUGs. Wow, that is really going to compete with the Apple stores and the guys like me with nice little friendly Windows shops from sea to shining sea. Face it, there is a REASON why Linux is a tiny niche compared to Mac OSX and Windows. It is because its support for consumer level hardware sucks. If I buy Mac I can go to the Apple store, if I buy Windows I get a driver CD, if I buy Linux I get "LOL Winjunk! LOL Windblowz!". Sorry, no comparison there.