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'OpenMac' Promises $399 Headless Mac... But Not From Apple
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It may smell like a Mac, it may run OSX, but it still isn't a Mac.
This is truly an enthusiast thing.
I know it's cheap, it's got a dedicated graphics card, it's got more HD space than a mini. But trust me when I say most people don't need that. What they want is a hassle free computer, not something thats held together with the proverbial spit.
And what you don't get is the service when things go wrong and you certainly don't get the full Mac experience. The opening of the box etc..
I've played around with one of these Hackintoshes, but it just felt cheap like a cheap hairy hooker. And I sure as hell didn't feel happy sitting behind it. When I sit behind my Mac I feel a certain happiness (can't really explain that one).
And then there is this situation: you have a girl friend bring her home. You say you have a Mac. She then says "where is it?" You point to that fugly piece-o-crap and say "it runs OSX". She then says "Goodbye you cheap looser".
This is truly an enthusiast thing.
I know it's cheap, it's got a dedicated graphics card, it's got more HD space than a mini. But trust me when I say most people don't need that. What they want is a hassle free computer, not something thats held together with the proverbial spit.
And what you don't get is the service when things go wrong and you certainly don't get the full Mac experience. The opening of the box etc..
I've played around with one of these Hackintoshes, but it just felt cheap like a cheap hairy hooker. And I sure as hell didn't feel happy sitting behind it. When I sit behind my Mac I feel a certain happiness (can't really explain that one).
And then there is this situation: you have a girl friend bring her home. You say you have a Mac. She then says "where is it?" You point to that fugly piece-o-crap and say "it runs OSX". She then says "Goodbye you cheap looser".
Oh no no no, my son! Let's pretend Leopard is a Beatles CD (ironically
Same thing for Leopard, you can't just "do what you want" because there is somethings you can't do. You can't distribute it, etc.
Linux is an OS that you can do whatever you want to do to it, because its open-source.
Actually you are wrong, GNU/Linux is not something you can do anything you want to... It is also restricted by a license. At the end of the day you still have to conform to it
Although the GPL is a bit less (understatement) restrictive than Apple's EULA!
..it just felt cheap like a cheap hairy hooker. And I sure as hell didn't feel happy sitting behind it. When I sit behind my Mac I feel a certain happiness (can't really explain that one).
And then there is this situation: you have a girl friend bring her home. You say you have a Mac. She then says "where is it?" You point to that fugly piece-o-crap and say "it runs OSX". She then says "Goodbye you cheap looser".
For a second there i thought the girlfriend was bringing home the hairy hooker,.
@applemojo
do u know why i am here?
first of all i own a iphone
2nd i am thinking of buying an macbook or mbp after the redesign.
i am not here to piss u off.
well any critism is getting crushed here?
but i am only willing to pay for a macbook or pro if they are really eliminating the problems of the current series.
btw mojo could u come down from ur horse and talk like a normal person?
its so annoying that u think u are so much better because u buy apple...
that may be a reason why some people hate apple so much, not because of the product they are selling but becaue of the little freakish fanatics of this company.
apple pros: cant count all of them
apple contra: 0
Unix, Windows and Linux were my OS's of choice for more than 15 years.
I avoided Mac's since the mid-90's and couldn't stand Mac fanboys at all. This, until a buddy of mine clued me into OS X almost 5 years ago.
After a few months of using a Mac and appreciating what it is, and what it takes for a company to produce this type of equipment will make you a complete convert.
Read my tag line below, it's there for a reason.
The great majority of anti-Mac people have never owned one and probably never used one.
In response to you; Criticism is 100% acceptable and welcomed, crap is what the Internet is full of, and I will gladly pass up the next big bowl of it that is handed my way.
Don't be naive in thinking these arguments don't have a root in the cost of a Mac. If Mac's were 1/2 the price, you'd all be crying about something else. I don't live in a multi-million dollar home, but I also don't talk smack about them either. ;-)
I'm amazed and amused at how many of you are so completely threatened by this. Some of you are emotionally rushing to defense of Apple like a child whose Mommy has been insulted. Please get over it. Steve Jobs isn't your Mommy and doesn't need you tugging at the hem of his dress.
only the real thing please.
Completely agree with the above. I am so not interested in seeing one of these ugly things anywhere running the beautiful and stable OS X. I for one will not offer my support for any friends who do the cheapskate route (not that I think this will ever materialize).
Apple can of course at any time kill such a competitor in theblink of an eye by offering a "real Apple Mac" in a similar configuration and price, but probably looking a thousand times better and have full Apple support. For the moment, yes, they (Apple) are upsetting some who want something like an iMac without the great screen attached and can't or won't pay the premium for the super-pro "Tower of Power" called Mac Pro.
I for one am one happy user with the Mac Pro (Early 2008) though, can't recommend it enough.
Jonas
Completely agree with the above. I am so not interested in seeing one of these ugly things anywhere running the beautiful and stable OS X. I for one will not offer my support for any friends who do the cheapskate route (not that I think this will ever materialize).
Apple can of course at any time kill such a competitor in theblink of an eye by offering a "real Apple Mac" in a similar configuration and price, but probably looking a thousand times better and have full Apple support. For the moment, yes, they (Apple) are upsetting some who want something like an iMac without the great screen attached and can't or won't pay the premium for the super-pro "Tower of Power" called Mac Pro.
I for one am one happy user with the Mac Pro (Early 2008) though, can't recommend it enough.
Jonas
I definitely agree with you.
Honestly, if this idea does work out, expect to see it die in a couple of months after Apple send their lawyers to eliminate this product.
Anyway, for those people who thinks that this is a cool or better way to run Mac OS X believe me, the experience is different. Getting this PC is not the answer to escape from terrible Vista.
I personally did a Hackintosh on my old Dell PC but the experience is just simply not the same. You will never feel the beauty of OS X on a hardware that looks like normal PC. Macs is a beauty because of the OS and hardware.
Besides, I know most people has called Mac overpricing their products, I got a few words for you guys, deal with it, Apple has been overpricing their product even before they switch to Intel and I dont see the reason for them to lower down their price.
If price is such a concern to you, do a favor and go to Amazon.com and get yourself a previous generation Apple product, its performance different isnt that much and if you are so concern about performance difference, feel free to ask Computer Literate people in forums.
Whoever owns this product should be called a Mac Wannabee.
I understand I am in a way flaming a lot of people but I would like to tell that Mac OS X is stable because Apple decide to limit the hardware compatibility and if they start doing like Windows, dont ever start complaining that Mac is unstable, Vista is having lots of hardware problem cause some people expect their low specced 3 years old PC can run Vista while actually a high specced 3 years old PC can run Vista, its just because there are too many hardwares out there.
Deal with it!
From my opinion, Mac Fan boys start defending Apple whenever this kind of product emerge in the market is because they want Apple product to stay quality as it has always been. Cheaper Notebooks or desktop is of coarse acceptable but at what cost? Cheaper material? Flimsy notebook screens?
I sure dont want that to happen, from my opinion, quality notebook manufacturers are Sony and Apple, and Sony laptop pricing is similar to Apple just they have more range.
Do you really believe this is a good argument ? Look at the problems Apple have when they have their OS running on limited ranges of hardware !! Do you remember the banging and popping from Mac Mini's ? The recent iMac lockup problem that was 'eventually' fixed with some firmware.......Apple's hardware choices are pretty crappy IMHO, compared to what's 'out there' it's their software that is the best part of them. Apple don't want clones for one (perhaps two) simple reason(s)............revenue, and prestige.
/ g00k this was posted before you said you had got it. /
Are you serious? Show me where I am "dooming" that which is not Mac?
4 of my servers are Linux (Fedora and SuSE), 1 is Solaris and 2 are OS X. So that would make Apple the minority in the server room.
I also don't have an iPhone, but currently a Blackberry.
Any other 'crap' (sorry to keep using this, but it fits) you wanna make up here?
I would like to think of myself as a very well rounded fellow who evaluates technology based on the role it has in my little universe. What I disagree with is the posting of generalizations, and especially those from people who have no experience such as yourself (you disclosed earlier).
Drop me a note about 1 week after you purchase a Mac and I am sure you will completely understand what I am saying here.
And if you don't buy, I hope it hasn't anything to do with me. I wouldn't let some guy I don't know keep me from anything.
I've used Macs since 1990, owned them since 1994. I disagree with much of what you've been posting here. Needless to say, your "purchase a Mac" first line of reasoning isn't very solid. When you challenge someone to "purchase a Mac" in order to argue, that's a subtle ad hominem attack, suggesting that they can't be right in their views simply because they don't own the machine in question. Logically, that doesn't follow.
very exciting
Is this real? Wow, I love it (not the company nor the machine but the development of this situation). I want to see some lawsuits between this unknown company Psystar and Apple, and want to see how the lawsuits are resolved in the court.
Is this real? Wow, I love it (not the company nor the machine but the development of this situation). I want to see some lawsuits between this unknown company Psystar and Apple, and want to see how the lawsuits are resolved in the court.
Speak for yourself. People are unethical because they dont follow your strict standard of morality? Or are you basing ethics solely on laws? That would be ridiculous. It would be pretty easy to point out how incredibly stupid and flawed that kind of ethical standard is, one just has to look at nazi germany or a government sanctioned slave trade. Laws do not equal ethics and someone who breaks the law is not automatically an unethical person.
People are not just making themselves feel better by making excuses either, believe it or not but some people think that once they buy something that its theirs to do whatever they want with and that its unethical for a company to say they cant. Software licenses mean nothing to most people, whether they break them or not they just dont care what they say, theyre going to do what THEY think is fair with it and nobody is going to stop them.
If you have ever ripped a single mp3 from a cd or made a mix cd or taped something from the radio then you are an unethical person by your standards. The RIAA says youre not allowed to do that, if you want the RIAA to dictate your moral fiber then thats your perogative.
People dont like mac pro's and they dont like mac mini's so they dont buy them. Apple doesnt have hardware they like so they make their own PC and put OS X on that. Simple.
so i apologize for all my postings before.
all okay with it?
hmm maybe i will understand u than.
if the new design of the macbooks appeal me and if there dont occur new problems i will give it a try.
july bah i hate it to wait so long.
so btw @inkswamp is it worth to have a mac... or better said did u ever regret buying a mac?
all okay with it?
hmm maybe i will understand u than.
if the new design of the macbooks appeal me and if there dont occur new problems i will give it a try.
july bah i hate it to wait so long.
so btw @inkswamp is it worth to have a mac... or better said did u ever regret buying a mac?
You know what, go for it. And good luck, and if they need support from me. They have it.
I hope this machine works, gets reviewed and runs all the hardware flawlessly, as well as Apple related software.
I'm sick of paying premium for a nice looking computer with the worst and most ignorant support in my life. Yes, you may have amazing support in the US. But trying living in the Middle East.
Two iBook battery's have been recalled and they would not replace them for me because I bought the machines from the US.
One of those iBook's recently got a big ass problem where the soldering on a piece got overheated and became loose. The only way to keep it ON is to apply pressure on it by pushing beside they touchpad. How much to fix this, $800?! No thank you.
My Macbook. Let's see, it takes 25 seconds to startup (No I choose not to put it to sleep because my Battery only lasts for 2.5hrs (if I'm just browsing the internet with minimal lighting). The charger disintegrated, it takes forever to shut it down. I've "formatted" a million times.
The last Mac that I was truly happy with was a G4. That was the first and last time I dished out money for a Mac tower though.
This company should push forward, get as much support from the community as possible, and if they have to. Invite some hackers to work on the compatibility of it all.
Because I for one, decided last year to NEVER buy another APPLE computer. I don't have an iPod or an iPhone but I did spend a lot of money for 4 computers only to get spit on with 3 of them.
You can guarantee everyone would buy these if they're tried & tested and work flawlessly. Hell, maybe just run Adobe, Final Cut, and Motion. Imagine buying 3 with GT option to just sit there and render your animations.
I hope this machine works, gets reviewed and runs all the hardware flawlessly, as well as Apple related software.
I'm sick of paying premium for a nice looking computer with the worst and most ignorant support in my life. Yes, you may have amazing support in the US. But trying living in the Middle East.
Two iBook battery's have been recalled and they would not replace them for me because I bought the machines from the US.
One of those iBook's recently got a big ass problem where the soldering on a piece got overheated and became loose. The only way to keep it ON is to apply pressure on it by pushing beside they touchpad. How much to fix this, $800?! No thank you.
My Macbook. Let's see, it takes 25 seconds to startup (No I choose not to put it to sleep because my Battery only lasts for 2.5hrs (if I'm just browsing the internet with minimal lighting). The charger disintegrated, it takes forever to shut it down. I've "formatted" a million times.
The last Mac that I was truly happy with was a G4. That was the first and last time I dished out money for a Mac tower though.
This company should push forward, get as much support from the community as possible, and if they have to. Invite some hackers to work on the compatibility of it all.
Because I for one, decided last year to NEVER buy another APPLE computer. I don't have an iPod or an iPhone but I did spend a lot of money for 4 computers only to get spit on with 3 of them.
You can guarantee everyone would buy these if they're tried & tested and work flawlessly. Hell, maybe just run Adobe, Final Cut, and Motion. Imagine buying 3 with GT option to just sit there and render your animations.
It serves to highlight how even the very cheapest mac is both hideously overpriced AND hideously underspecified.
And those saying it doesn't have the same 'quality' components as modern Mac's. Get over yourselves - modern Mac's have just as many problems as any other PC. Yellow MBP screens? Cracking Macbook cases? Unreliable Arrow keys? Poor WiFi? Apple are NOT some digital deity sent down from on high to produce the perfect PC - because they don't - not by a LONG shot - and there is NO reason (other than fanboyism and snobbery) why this machine would be any lower in quality or reliability than any modern Mac.
I don't want one ( I don't want a Mac desktop - full stop ) - but good on them for having a go. It's LONG over due.
Doug
And those saying it doesn't have the same 'quality' components as modern Mac's. Get over yourselves - modern Mac's have just as many problems as any other PC. Yellow MBP screens? Cracking Macbook cases? Unreliable Arrow keys? Poor WiFi? Apple are NOT some digital deity sent down from on high to produce the perfect PC - because they don't - not by a LONG shot - and there is NO reason (other than fanboyism and snobbery) why this machine would be any lower in quality or reliability than any modern Mac.
I don't want one ( I don't want a Mac desktop - full stop ) - but good on them for having a go. It's LONG over due.
Doug
I was. And quite blunt I might add.
I love this. Classic rationalization. I didn't imply that people are unethical because they don't use the same measurement of ethics that I do.
How the heck you get to Nazi's and slave trading is beyond me. Kind of dumb actually.
The majority of the world believes and has laws against stealing and theft. My comments refer to morals and ethics when dealing with their fellow man. What is right in 'just' business dealings.
A tip. You _are_ who you really are when no one is looking.
And thus you should read the fine print. For instance, our software is not sold... but licensed.
And again, you supported my point. "Software licenses mean nothing to most people ..." and "... what THEY think is fair with it and nobody is going to stop them."
So regardless of the rules, they will do what they wish. Which means they are not playing by the rules, which is unethical. Maybe I am not being simple enough here.
But as anticipated - you are just demonstrating how easy it is to justify ones actions.
You are correct. Too bad you are being cynical. It doesn't matter how mad it makes you, if its the rules its the rules and you are being unethical. You can disagree of course, you can even challenge the record labels and industry to change, but you (especially after you posted above) have knowledge of the rules. You choose to break them, then you pay the consequences.
It's just easier for your to say, whaaaaaaa...
Exactly. That's what they have done here. It's just illegal. ;-)
... I am getting tired of typing.