Psystar Mac Notebook Clone in the Works

[MacRumors]

One reader wrote Psystar asking about the possibility of a Mac notebook clone. Psystar responded confirming that one was in the works:

Thank you for your interest in Open Computing. Although there is no mobile open computer at the moment, I can tell you that it is something that is in development. Once we release a final product, it will be posted on our website along with an automatic notification for all Open Computing newsletter subscribers.

No release day or price has been set for any potential mobile product line. However I can assure you that at release it will be very competitively priced.

Thank you for your inquiry,

Psystar is currently in a legal dispute with Apple about offering these Mac-compatible computers.

Article Link: Psystar Mac Notebook Clone in the Works

 

[Flhusky]

With & Psystar in arbitration I wonder how this will work?

/traitor mode on
I would purchase 1 of their laptops for Mom and Grandmother to use IF the price is right.

 

[Darth.Titan]

With & Psystar in arbitration I wonder how this will work?

/traitor mode on
I would purchase 1 of their laptops for Mom and Grandmother to use IF the price is right.

Seems like a Psystar would be a bad choice unless Mom and Grandmother are pretty computer-savvy.

A Hackintosh may be cheaper, but you can expect quite a few tech support calls when their jury-rigged hacked OS breaks.

 

[nplima]

Here's the lineup for 2008:

Psystar PWND400, with 4 USB ports and 2 FW
Psystar PWND200, based on the OEM MSI Wind, but with a Brown case and 1x FW

 

[wheelhot]

Zzzzz, this guys is going too much, if they stay low, Im quite sure Apple will in the end just ignore them but they are gaining reputation and starting to appear in ads, Im sure Apple will start taking them more serious.

BRING THEM TO THE GROUND APPLE!!!!

 

[rmb7984]

You think it'll be a 13" notebook with a firewire port?

 

[BrotherCrack]

I'm a little crossed with the whole Psystar thing. Though I would personally never buy one of their machines, I would rather do it myself (which I have on a toshiba). But what really bothers me is that these people are really leeching off the work of an entire open source community and they don't give any credit to the people who really put their all into developing the whole drivers and patches. Yes it's "hackintosh" but developers like Netkas worked really hard on this and these people simply go and not only put it in their systems but take full credit. And that's not really right.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

If it has a nice design, this might well be my next Mac.

 

[borjasanz]

Lol an OpenBook, I just hope it has BluRay Drive, and Firewire 800. lol Psystar sucks man!

 

[Blue Velvet]

I read some reviews about their towers, saying they were extremely poorly-built and noisy as hell. If that's the case, I'd hate to think what one of their laptops is like.

Regardless of Apple's flaws, and there are many, I like knowing there's someone reliable to take it back to if it stops working, that there will be parts for it for years, that they'll deal with complaints and warrantees in a professional manner... and that when I'm sick of a machine, someone will be willing to pay good money for it.

 

[DaBrain]

You think it'll be a 13" notebook with a firewire port?

Nagh! IM betting on a 10 in notebook with firewire!

 

[kkat69]

And here it is lady's and gentlemen! The Psystar Air! (complete with FW) sorry there's no elevator shop, but if you've seen the pictures of their store on gizmodo you'll notice it's a 1 story building.

 

[C00rDiNaT0r]

I don't think psystar is that big of a threat to Apple.

When Apple and Psystar both sell a computer that offers the same features for the same price, Psystar is earning $130 less because they have to purchase a legit copy of OSX from Apple. And since the Psystar computer is built with off-the-shelf parts, it will never have the same build quality as a Mac. So most consumers will rather buy the Mac anyways.

 

[ppdix]

PowerComputing 10 years later?

Power Computing Corporation (often referred to as Power Computing) was the first company selected by Apple Computer to create Macintosh-compatible computers. Stephen “Steve” Kahng, a computer engineer best known for his design of the Leading Edge Model D, founded the company in November 1993. Power Computing started out with financial backing from Olivetti ($5 million) and $4 million of Mr. Kahng’s money.
The first Mac-compatible (clone) PC shipped in May 1995. Like Dell Computer, Power Computing followed a direct, build-to-order sales model. In one year, Power Computing shipped 100,000 units with revenues of $250 million in the first year.
Power Computing released upgraded models until 1997 with revenues reaching $400 million a year. The Mac clone business was killed after Steve Jobs returned as interim CEO of Apple in July 1997. In September, Apple bought Power Computing for $100 million in Apple stock and terminated the Mac cloning business.

 

[OS X Dude]

if they're successful, they will drive Apple to incorporate more features (like BR and FW again) on their notebook and desktop lines (though hopefully a FW-less desktop won't happen from Apple anyway).

It's good, competition drives innovation. And God knows Apple needs some after recent stumbles.

 

[themoonisdown09]

In September, Apple bought Power Computing for $100 million in Apple stock and terminated the Mac cloning business.

I think this could be the main reason why Psystar is doing what they're doing. They think that if they get big enough, Apple will buy them out.

 

[kironin]

A 13" with FireWire would get my attention.

 

[840quadra]

I think this could be the main reason why Psystar is doing what they're doing. They think that if they get big enough, Apple will buy them out.

They sponsored Apple clones back then. The OS was licensed for those companies to use. In the case of paystar, that model does not exist.

 

[localoid]

This is (new) news?

"In August, when his lawyers announced the countersuit, Rudy Pedraza, president and co-founder of Psystar, also said the company was working on a notebook that would run Mac OS X." [source]

 

[Sun Baked]

With & Psystar in arbitration I wonder how this will work?

/traitor mode on
I would purchase 1 of their laptops for Mom and Grandmother to use IF the price is right.

It is non-binding arbitration and dispute mediation.

They are still making filings with the current case, doubtful the ADR will come to much.

 

[highjumppudding]

can you bring this computer into the genius bar for service?

 

[MacTheSpoon]

Wow, these guys are really slimeballs.

 

[Chrisedmo]

wow, i was joking about that this morning after looking at their other computers and this whole macbook nonsense.. If they bring out a small (under 13" hopefully) with Firewire, this will be my next computer..

Im getting fed up of Apple of recent.. I've been using Macs since 86, and they're starting to take the piss frankly.

 

[derryquinn]

Psystar's argument is that the EULA is monopolistic, but when you buy a mac, the product is Mac+OS X just like iPod+iTunes. many people don't know this, and I think this is why Apple will win the case, and will not have Anti-Trust measures brought against them.

 

[nick9191]

Will be interested in a Pystar if Apple loses.

Then again if Apple loses every OEM in the world will start offering them, and I'll build a lovely Mac, perhaps with a Mac Pro case.