Psystar Demos 'Open Computer' on Video

[zap2]

Right, because Apple-bought Macs never have hardware/software problems.

Um, that wasn't the point. The point was where do you go when you have a problem?

(Also, you can't honestly tell me, you think that non hacked OS X will have more problems then hacked OSx86, can you?

 

[zap2]

cool...but did there reason change for why their credit card thing was pulled?

Before wasn't it too many card numbers, and now its "we're selling to different of a product then we signed up to sell"....?


I doubt their shipping yet, if ever.

 

[robert05au]

There is a good chance apple is watching and having their legal squad ready to pounce. The only thing really holding them back it no real proof and the hardware and OS X is not yet in anyones hands.

I bet apple has someone setup getting one or more of these to do their own checking so to have some basis for a legal claim.

These guys are in a way breaking apples copyright agreement which covers the OS itself and does hold a lot of legal weight.

I am doubtful that crappy looking box was actually running OS X or even hackintosh.

Time will tell if these ever get in the wild.

 

[FoxyKaye]

They never really disrupt the osx86 community either.. i havent heard of any lawsuits or cease and desist... correct if wrong.

Well there is all that ambiguous EULA law stuff and things I suppose. But it seems like one difference here is that the OSX86 community is coming from what I understand to be a purely hobbyist approach. These guys are actually selling machines with a modified Leopard installed on them.

Maybe Apple really doesn't care. I don't, but it makes for an interesting read for sure.

I'll take the Analogy of the Week prize, though.

 

[HaGG]

Very interesting, looking forward to following this one

 

[inkswamp]

I also think too that the company, should they want to impress anyone, at least keep things looking uniform among the systems being shown off ... same monitors, keyboard, and mouse.

Notice in the video the assorted monitors and mice being used for each of the computers and the Dell keyboards?

Makes things look trashy and unprofessional.

And...? If they did things flashy and slick like Apple, they wouldn't be selling computers for $400. That's sort of the point, isn't it? This is no-frills.

When I was in college, I worked in a grocery store that focused primarily on low-cost and not so much service and atmosphere. The front entryway was always piled high with canned goods and sale items and it always looked sort of cluttered and badly planned. I commented to my boss one day about it and he said it was intentional, that we were sending a message right off the bat that this isn't a highbrow kind of place, but more of a warehouse/low prices store and we're not jacking prices up to make it look pretty.

 

[kabunaru]

I think Apple is laughing at this silly attempt.

 

[inkswamp]

yet they have warranties and don't break due to security updates.

They have limited warranties, generally much shorter than the industry average to be frank, and yes, they do occasionally break because of software updates. I've seen it enough to know better. No computer is perfect, not even a Mac.

 

[stainlessliquid]

why don't people just buy a mac?

Because Apple does not offer an affordable tower. Pretty simple answer. The consumer always gets what they want one way or another. The mini is not acceptable, the imac is not acceptable, and the mac pro is not affordable.

 

[Tallest Skil]

The consumer always gets what they want one way or another.

His Jobsness always gets what he wants, one way or another.

How many industry laws apply to the way Apple runs their company and designs products?

 

[arjaosx]

So, basically, everything will work fine until you actually try to run Software Update or, gods forbid, want to re-install.

I'm wondering why Apple hasn't pounced all over these folks like a polar bear on a baby seal?

I believe the reason why Apple is ignoring this frackas is that somehow they know it will not work. I agree with them.

OSX works great because it was made to suit a particular combination of hardware and vice versa. Offering the same software on a different machine might work but then the cancels out the integration and will cause problems which breaks the effectivity of OSX as the operating system of Macs. Even if you configure the computer "basically" the same, Apple might have some chip or a different proprietary system in their Macs that off the shelf components do not have.

One other thing is that this company is small but are making big claims, any inconsistencies with the product and their marketing will cause problems leading to collapse.

Mind you most consumers who buy computers do not want to tinker with these machines and want them to just work. Would any one of you buy a new expensive TV where in order to get high def you need to download this and install that and later buy an update. This is the very reason why Dell, HP, Apple etc, assemble computers for consumers.

Back to Psystar, its a small company trying to break into the marketing by tackling what seems to be a great idea, but this will not work. So Apple is not worried.

 

[eastcoastsurfer]

Probably for the same reason that a lot of people get computers at wal-mart. A lot of people have absolutely no taste.

I hope Apple's marketing team reads macrumors. I could see them taking your post and hanging it on their wall as a sign of success.

 

[qtx43]

Haven't you guys all figured it out yet? That's what Psystar wants. The purpose of setting up this company and selling hacintoshes is not to make money (you can't make money selling PCs at that price) the purpose is to force a challange in court. They put together a company with no assets to loose. They are thinking all we have is rented office space and an invenory of 50 PCs, nothing to loose, but if we win the right to make and sell clones with a decisive court opinion we can sell the business for a mint.

[etc...]

Their route to becomming rich requires Apple taking them to court. Why else violate the ELUA in such a conspicous public way.

That's all possible, and certainly Apple has to consider that. Except for the part about selling the business for a mint. If parts of the EULA are invalidated, then anyone else can do the same thing without paying for the privilege--the legal precedent will have been set. And that's assuming it's worth doing in the first place, which it is not.

 

[biggd]

I would buy one of these. I would have saved like $1200. so I would have been able to buy 2!

 

[kresh]

Pystar relies on osx86 developer netkas' PC-EFI software, which they apparently just assumed was free for the taking (& selling) without bothering to ask him about it. Obviously he's not too happy about it and neither are the folks using it, as this could obviously bring the wrath of Apple Legal down upon his shoulders, or just simply piss him off enough to stop developing PC_EFI.

As of 15 April, Pystar is violating his licence.

Am I the only one to see the irony here

It's really funny that a hacker starts screaming bloody murder when his tool, that makes other software to be used without permission, is used without permission.

It's like a drug dealer crying that a thief stole his stash. Who is he going to run to? The Cops?

 

[ClimbingTheLog]

Re: Apple Legal

If you see an ant trying to steal your sandwich, sometimes it's fun to see how far he can actually carry it before taking back your sandwich and squishing him.

 

[Sun Baked]

At least they are admitting (sort of) that the OS needs to be hacked to go on the machine -- and the boxed OS they make you pay for is useless.

Nice to know they are charging you for a pirated/hacked version of the OS.

 

[shikimo]

So, basically, everything will work fine until you actually try to run Software Update or, gods forbid, want to re-install.

I'm wondering why Apple hasn't pounced all over these folks like a polar bear on a baby seal?

As much as I like this analogy, even polar bears don't pounce on imaginary seals just cuz they hear a little squeaking sound somewhere on the banquise .

I for one am glad that Psystar is offering this alternative... hopefully this will cause people to question whether or not a nearly-$2000 iMac is actually worth the cost when a similarly equipped open computer (albeit not as beautiful) can be had for under $1000 with OS and monitor.

Hard to argue with that. I think the people saying that this is a 'please sue me and make me famous' situation are on target...which is probably why Apple is pretending to ignore all of this. I like the idea of Psystar--if even just to read the comments of people who act like someone just walked into their house and kicked their dog--but the way this/these guy/guys are going about it is just too short-bus for me to support.

Probably for the same reason that a lot of people get computers at wal-mart. A lot of people have absolutely no taste.

For many people, that is MONEY they lack, not taste. Maxing out a Visa to get a Mac instead of a $500 Dell that the consumer can actually pay for is stupid, not tasteful.

And at the risk of going out on a limb, I'm going to say that there at least a few Mac-owners out there with questionable taste...

 

[Andrmgic]

Intel machines can run vanilla OS X kernels using PC EFI and aren't likely to have the update problems that say an amd based hackintosh would have.

I'd honestly rather build my own than pay someone else to do it, and I think it is crappy that they are making a profit off of Netkas' hard work that was freely given to help more people experience OS X for themselves.

 

[NC MacGuy]

I started a company out of my basement that was worlds apart from those clowns.

Seriously.

When I see a video of a customer opening a psystar* box, I'll believe. Or even their testing/assembly area. Come on now, any kid with a knack for the electrons could show what they did in that video. I've definitely seen more professional junior high YouTube vids.

Did they get a few foolish hopefuls to gamble and use that money to put a security deposit down on a real lease and buy paint to look like a real company? I think so.

Whole thing is hogwash. Could be wrong, been there before but I don't think so on this one.

I have been following this debacle with fervor - the vid's been up since this a.m. - why did it take 12 hours to get here?

*Not worth wasting my time hitting the caps key anymore

 

[NC MacGuy]

I would buy one of these. I would have saved like $1200. so I would have been able to buy 2!

Then by all means, give it a whirl. I'd love to see ONE delivered in any flavor.

 

[Kwill]

If you see an ant trying to steal your sandwich, sometimes it's fun to see how far he can actually carry it before taking back your sandwich and squishing him.

Squash the company after it has shipped a sizable number of units so court documents can prove copyright infringement with monetary damage.

 

[mgauss]

So they hid a mini inside a PC

So they hid a mini inside a PC

 

[RZetlin]

I am reminded of the saying "You get what you paid for".

The Open Computer maybe cheap but what happens when bad things happens to the computer?

The promotional video is not encouraging.

The office barely have any furniture setup. It looks like one of those operations that will disappear overnight.

 

[Trip.Tucker]

I hope that Psystar fails...


...because of a newly announced xMac Mid-tower straight from Apple

Oh yes, I heard about that, its called the iMac.