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'OpenMac' Promises $399 Headless Mac... But Not From Apple
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You honestly think a proper company would not have gone through all of the legal hulahoops prior to this? It's not even been 24 hours and the site went offline so they could change their own product line name.
Apple can sue whomever they want: they have about $18.5 billion in the bank. Whether they have a case or not would be decided by a judge. In the meantime, they can easily afford an army of top lawyers for what would be pocket-change to them. Psystar, on the other hand, would have to pay the legal fees necessary just to defend their claim. If they lose, they're out whatever they spent on legal fees as well as their right to sell their product; if they win there's no guarantee that they'll make a profit or that their machines will work as smoothly as Apple-made machines.
Also, one issue with intellectual property is defending it: if you have a patent on something, but don't defend or use the technology, you can lose your rights to it (look at the legal history of Apple's using Xerox's PARC development of the graphical user interface). Even if the law were such that Apple knew it couldn't win, it is probably still in their best interest to take this to court should they decide to do so.
Also, one issue with intellectual property is defending it: if you have a patent on something, but don't defend or use the technology, you can lose your rights to it (look at the legal history of Apple's using Xerox's PARC development of the graphical user interface). Even if the law were such that Apple knew it couldn't win, it is probably still in their best interest to take this to court should they decide to do so.
I think you're onto something Yvan. For those out there who don't care about design and just like to build their own machines to save money...that's a perfect solution! Me? I'll stick with the Macs from Apple.
The iBox got shut down rather quick, and it was using genuine Apple parts repackaged in another box.
Though Apple shut them down by threatening their supplier, and likely anyone else in the supply chain thinking about sourcing them parts.
Likely the same clause is in any Mac SW reseller's contract for not selling the OS for this use.
Though it would be rather petty for Apple to nail these idiots for unauthorized reseller and breach of reseller contracts, but whatever works.
Though Apple shut them down by threatening their supplier, and likely anyone else in the supply chain thinking about sourcing them parts.
Likely the same clause is in any Mac SW reseller's contract for not selling the OS for this use.
Though it would be rather petty for Apple to nail these idiots for unauthorized reseller and breach of reseller contracts, but whatever works.
No, it would probably be great for marketshare. The worry is that it would destroy apple's profit margins. But even that wouldn't happen if they price it with the same profit margin as their other models.
I don't think anyone doubts this company faces some legal difficulties and may not pull it off. But that's different than the company "not existing".
Well that was a quick name change. However they are still offering to install OSX for you. I also wonder if they are a legal distributor of OSX.
The two things that people don't seem to realize is that:
1) Whoever buys this will forever have issues upgrading their OS. They will be broken in a week or two. It will be a cat and mouse.
2) They will be a big target for hackers, they will be well behind in the security patches. As soon as Apple releases a patch, the vulnerabilities and the details are published. Anyone that does not or can not upgrade is a target.
While this is interesting and it does provide a system for a very low price, the fact that you are going to be broken by upgrades makes it next to impossible for the non-techie community. They may sell 20,000 units to users, but unless they can guaranty Apple's updates, some people will get burned and they are going to lose customers and future sales. This in turn will affect their sales of other products.
I am waiting for the next shoe to drop from Apple, I do not understand how they can sell OSX and can not understand how they can install it for you. Not sure why apple have not yet stopped them from that.
Selling the box is not an issue, it is OSX and preloading it.
The two things that people don't seem to realize is that:
1) Whoever buys this will forever have issues upgrading their OS. They will be broken in a week or two. It will be a cat and mouse.
2) They will be a big target for hackers, they will be well behind in the security patches. As soon as Apple releases a patch, the vulnerabilities and the details are published. Anyone that does not or can not upgrade is a target.
While this is interesting and it does provide a system for a very low price, the fact that you are going to be broken by upgrades makes it next to impossible for the non-techie community. They may sell 20,000 units to users, but unless they can guaranty Apple's updates, some people will get burned and they are going to lose customers and future sales. This in turn will affect their sales of other products.
I am waiting for the next shoe to drop from Apple, I do not understand how they can sell OSX and can not understand how they can install it for you. Not sure why apple have not yet stopped them from that.
Selling the box is not an issue, it is OSX and preloading it.
Your right it is not even debatable once you use GPL software, make changes to it then distribute the code it is still under the GPL and you have to give the same rights you got to the person(s) you make it available too plus you need to inform them of their rights under the GPL to the same. Apple in no way shape or form gets to own the GPL code modified by them they can hold the copyright on their part of the contribution but that part by their distributing the code is still licensed under the GPL that anyone can take and use how they see fit under the terms of the GPL.
Thanks to the other poster for the links to the Apple site they certainly don't make it easy to find although I still don't see any link there to the GPL. Also neither of you answered the question is Apple in violation of the GPL by restricting the use of the GPL software included to their own hardware???
Looked at the resellers, didn't find them ... but likely the idiots will simply walk into the nearest Apple Store and order 250 copies of the OS at a time.
That would at least get around the reseller issue of a reseller selling to a clone maker.
Tried to get in to see what it takes to purchase and their site keeps timing out.
I don't see how this could be stopped by Apple, save for the fact the part where they install OSX for you. That I could see running in to legal costs which could hurt them, even if it is legal.
All in all, very interesting and curious to see where this goes. Arn, you have $500 laying around to test it out for us? I'm sure you could re-sell it on ebay or give it away as some promotion to drive page views!
I don't see how this could be stopped by Apple, save for the fact the part where they install OSX for you. That I could see running in to legal costs which could hurt them, even if it is legal.
All in all, very interesting and curious to see where this goes. Arn, you have $500 laying around to test it out for us? I'm sure you could re-sell it on ebay or give it away as some promotion to drive page views!
I can see Rob-ART of barefeats calling these guys up for a demo model to test.
Somebody want to wake him up and get him dialing.
The fact that their site is timing out may mean one of two things:
1) They are getting a lot of attention and maybe a lot of orders.
2) or ..... Someone is making their server slow (Denial of Service).
I wonder which.
Well it is on the front page of Slashdot and they have brought down bigger sites than them ...
We've already heard reports from people who called the company that their server was overloaded due to the amount of traffic. Face it: we're a popular site, and other sites all over the internet are referencing and linking to the article. They had no reason to expect this much traffic. And the controversy should only help them, until apple stomps them out.
And I expect some serious Stomping will be done. They better open the piggy bank, they are going to need it for fines and legal fees.
I wonder how many non-techie customers will be hurt by this. Purchasing a system that they can not update, no support, open to hackers, and may stop working at any time.
Buying 101: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Buyer beware. You wouldn't expect a Bang and Olufsen hi fi to cost £100 without there being some sort of catch.
Same when purchasing anything. Computer purchases are particularly susceptible to going sour because there's still a lot of people out there who don't know much about them at all and are all too willing to part with their money first without doing their homework first.
And that's the problem. There's too many catches and complications to this otherwise good idea. Your average dumb customer WILL have problems, and that immediately regulates the market to a few geeks who would just build their own Hackintosh system.
Try releasing a product called "OpenLinux" without the proper licenses and see how fast Linus's lawyers come knocking at our door.
maybe they know apple will stop them from installing leopard, and mentioning it on their site.
All the need to do is create the hype and get the word out. Once people know that installing Leopard on that computer is easy, people will start buying them. Then its all word of mouth and blogs to carry them through with sales.
I dunno, seems like it might work to me.
All the need to do is create the hype and get the word out. Once people know that installing Leopard on that computer is easy, people will start buying them. Then its all word of mouth and blogs to carry them through with sales.
I dunno, seems like it might work to me.
I guess, but can't help but feel sorry for those customers, specially young kids that have been saving to get a Mac and may have jumped at this opportunity. Don't like kids getting hurt.
I think it is an interesting idea, and it has me tempted to buy one. I will wait and see if someone actually test one to see if it would be worth getting.