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Psystar sells a $399 Mac clone

techs

techs

Lifer
http://www.macworld.com/articl...4/2008/04/psystar.html

Miami-based Psystar has begun selling a new computer that it says will run Mac OS X Leopard ? in other words, a Mac clone. The company is touting the computer as the ?Open Computer: The Smart Alternative to an Apple.?

?Why spend $1999 to get the least expensive Apple computer with a decent video card when you can pay less than a fourth of that for an equivalent sleek and small form-factor desktop with the same hardware,? says a note on the company Web site.

The basic $399 configuration for the Open Computer is a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Processor; 2GB of DDR2 667 memory; Integrated Intel GMA 950 Graphics; 20x DVD+/-R SATA drive that is Lightscribe-capable; and 4 rear USB Ports.

Apple?s cheapest desktop computer is the Mac mini, which comes with a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; 1GB memory; and an 80GB hard drive. That configuration costs $599.

Psystar isn?t the first company to make a Mac clone. Apple allowed a limited number of computer-makers to install the Mac OS on its hardware in the mid-1990s, but upon his return, Steve Jobs put an end to the clone computers.

There may be another problem for Psystar on the horizon. Apple?s end user license agreement states that ?You agree not to install, use or run the Apple Software on any non-Apple-labeled computer, or to enable others to do so.? It seems pretty clear that the new computers are in violation of this agreement.

Apple representatives were not immediately available to comment



Can a tire company tell me which cars I can legally put the tires on?
Can a peanut butter maker tell me which type of bread I can put it on?
Can a shaving cream company tell me what type of razor blade I can use?

Then how can a software company tell me what computer I can put the software on?

EDIT:
http://www.computerworld.com/a...9078198&intsrc=hm_list

April 16, 2008 (Computerworld) The company that claimed it's selling Macintosh clones is supposedly located at a Miami address occupied by a T-shirt maker that today said there is no computer maker in its building, raising suspicions about the legitimacy of PsyStar Corp.

Also on Wednesday, the telephone number for PsyStar was disconnected.
 
I suspect it's legal if they're not actually installing MacOSX for the user. My guess is they're selling a system with a very easy hardware configuration to turn it into a hackintosh using the simplest method possible (can't get through to the actual site).
 
Originally posted by: techs


Can a tire company tell me which cars I can legally put the tires on?
Can a peanut butter maker tell me which type of bread I can put it on?
Can a shaving cream company tell me what type of razor blade I can use?

Then how can a software company tell me what computer I can put the software on?
Click to expand...

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

The reason why is the terms of service and licensing agreement (EULA). When you buy that software (or merchandise), you agree (supposedly) to use it in the manner they specify.

Does it suck? Yes.

I wonder though how this will go in court. Haven't there been EULA cases in the past where it was ruled they aren't a legally binding contract since no signature was required.






 
Originally posted by: techs
http://www.macworld.com/articl...4/2008/04/psystar.html

Miami-based Psystar has begun selling a new computer that it says will run Mac OS X Leopard ? in other words, a Mac clone. The company is touting the computer as the ?Open Computer: The Smart Alternative to an Apple.?

?Why spend $1999 to get the least expensive Apple computer with a decent video card when you can pay less than a fourth of that for an equivalent sleek and small form-factor desktop with the same hardware,? says a note on the company Web site.

The basic $399 configuration for the Open Computer is a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Processor; 2GB of DDR2 667 memory; Integrated Intel GMA 950 Graphics; 20x DVD+/-R SATA drive that is Lightscribe-capable; and 4 rear USB Ports.

Apple?s cheapest desktop computer is the Mac mini, which comes with a 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; 1GB memory; and an 80GB hard drive. That configuration costs $599.

Psystar isn?t the first company to make a Mac clone. Apple allowed a limited number of computer-makers to install the Mac OS on its hardware in the mid-1990s, but upon his return, Steve Jobs put an end to the clone computers.

There may be another problem for Psystar on the horizon. Apple?s end user license agreement states that ?You agree not to install, use or run the Apple Software on any non-Apple-labeled computer, or to enable others to do so.? It seems pretty clear that the new computers are in violation of this agreement.

Apple representatives were not immediately available to comment



Can a tire company tell me which cars I can legally put the tires on?
Can a peanut butter maker tell me which type of bread I can put it on?
Can a shaving cream company tell me what type of razor blade I can use?

Then how can a software company tell me what computer I can put the software on?
Click to expand...

I agree with you, but Apple will win the court case simply because the seller "Infringed on their copyrights" by marketing with the apple brand name, which he has to do to let people know the computers are running OSX.

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
Originally posted by: techs


Can a tire company tell me which cars I can legally put the tires on?
Can a peanut butter maker tell me which type of bread I can put it on?
Can a shaving cream company tell me what type of razor blade I can use?

Then how can a software company tell me what computer I can put the software on?
Click to expand...

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

The reason why is the terms of service and licensing agreement (EULA). When you buy that software (or merchandise), you agree (supposedly) to use it in the manner they specify.

Does it suck? Yes.

I wonder though how this will go in court. Haven't there been EULA cases in the past where it was ruled they aren't a legally binding contract since no signature was required.
Click to expand...

Just because someone puts it inside of a EULA, does not mean it is legally binding. If terms in the EULA violate state laws, then they are considered null and void. If they do not violate state laws, then their is still a lot of room for debate. IE, they weren't presented with EULA until it was too late to disagree and return the software, etc etc.
 
Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
I wonder though how this will go in court. Haven't there been EULA cases in the past where it was ruled they aren't a legally binding contract since no signature was required.
Click to expand...

I suspect Apple will sue over the marketing practice. But they can't tell them to stop selling a particular hardware configuration.

As far as EULA goes, that's only going to matter with the consumers themselves since they'll be left to install OSX on their own (or should be...the site is slow as molasses).
 
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
The Mac OS works on "standard" PC parts now correct?
Click to expand...

well... yes and no...

for legal MacOS to work on a intel-based machine, there's a special chip in the computer that allows the OS to install. they pretty much only exist on macs.

IRC, there are hacked version of MacOS that will let you install on some of the standard pc parts. there's a Hardware compatibility list out there somewhere... ahem...

seems like it's a fun thing to do with your spare pcs.
 
Originally posted by: FDF12389
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
The Mac OS works on "standard" PC parts now correct?
Click to expand...

No, you can install windows on a mac but not the other way around.
Click to expand...

That would explain why Apple computers still have a premium price then, thanks FDF12389 :beer:
 
Originally posted by: Pepsei
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
The Mac OS works on "standard" PC parts now correct?
Click to expand...

well... yes and no...

for legal MacOS to work on a intel-based machine, there's a special chip in the computer that allows the OS to install. they pretty much only exist on macs.

IRC, there are hacked version of MacOS that will let you install on some of the standard pc parts. there's a Hardware compatibility list out there somewhere... ahem...

seems like it's a fun thing to do with your spare pcs.
Click to expand...

I know what your post means, thanks for the info Pepsei! :beer:
 
Originally posted by: SoundTheSurrender
Originally posted by: FDF12389
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
The Mac OS works on "standard" PC parts now correct?
Click to expand...

No, you can install windows on a mac but not the other way around.
Click to expand...

Yes you can, they've been able to get the Mac OS to run on regular PCs for a while now.
Click to expand...

Not out of box, and not for any regular Joe.

Right?
 
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Originally posted by: FDF12389
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
The Mac OS works on "standard" PC parts now correct?
Click to expand...

No, you can install windows on a mac but not the other way around.
Click to expand...

That would explain why Apple computers still have a premium price then, thanks FDF12389 :beer:
Click to expand...

I would venture to call it more than a premium price.
 
Originally posted by: FDF12389
Originally posted by: SoundTheSurrender
Originally posted by: FDF12389
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
The Mac OS works on "standard" PC parts now correct?
Click to expand...

No, you can install windows on a mac but not the other way around.
Click to expand...

Yes you can, they've been able to get the Mac OS to run on regular PCs for a while now.
Click to expand...

Not out of box, and not for any regular Joe.

Right?
Click to expand...
It comes down to the drivers. Mac OS is Linux....it can run on anything as long as you have the proper drivers. If you use a motherboard that it doesn't recognize, or a sound card, or video, or firewire adapter, etc, etc, etc, you're going to end up with a system that you will be doing a lot of work to get functioning properly.

There are still a lot of companies that are only making components for Windows.... I run SUSE on my laptop and actually use Windows drivers to make my wireless adapter work. (ndiswrapper) I can imagine you'd have to do all kinds of tweaks and workarounds to get things working properly on a non-mac unless you took one apart and matched up each component with its OEM equivalent.
 
I recall in the mid-90s there were Mac clones and they were absolute junk, even more so than the actual Mac crap cans they were modeled after.
 
Direct link to the opencomputer
If it works. The site loads fine and fast for me.

The highly extensible Open Computer is a configuration of PC hardware capable of running unmodified OS X Leopard kernels. If you purchase Leopard with your Open Computer we will not only include the actual Leopard retail package with genuine installation disc, but we also include a Psystar restore disc for your Open Computer and we will preinstall Leopard for free so you can begin to use your computer right out of the box.
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by: techs
Can a tire company tell me which cars I can legally put the tires on?
Can a peanut butter maker tell me which type of bread I can put it on?
Can a shaving cream company tell me what type of razor blade I can use?

Then how can a software company tell me what computer I can put the software on?
Click to expand...

Actually, you can't look at it like that anymore, when you "buy" software, you dont really "own" it anymore, what you buy is a piece of plastic with a shiny back and a (indefinite unless otherwise specified like a Antivirus program) lease agreement to use it according to their terms.

It's really a glorified rental system. It's a bit ridiculous but that's how it is.
 
Originally posted by: mwmorph
Originally posted by: techs
Can a tire company tell me which cars I can legally put the tires on?
Can a peanut butter maker tell me which type of bread I can put it on?
Can a shaving cream company tell me what type of razor blade I can use?

Then how can a software company tell me what computer I can put the software on?
Click to expand...

Actually, you can't look at it like that anymore, when you "buy" software, you dont really "own" it anymore, what you buy is a piece of plastic with a shiny back and a (indefinite unless otherwise specified like a Antivirus program) lease agreement to use it according to their terms.

It's really a glorified rental system. It's a bit ridiculous but that's how it is.
Click to expand...
It's up to the vendor. Many companies sell you the software, but simply won't support it if you don't comply with their agreements. So you install something and as updates come out you get bothered by messages telling you your registration codes are invalid, or your product is out of date. All Apple would have to do is start building something into their motherboards that isn't easy to copy....then build a driver to look for it. It'd make their systems close to copy-proof.
 
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