Psystar Mac Notebook Clone in the Works

[lasuther]

I don't see Pystar being able to make a better laptop than the current $999 13" MacBook (which already has FW).

However, a $600 10" NetBook with OSX would be a big deal. No way would FW be included. I think a lot of people would be excited for it, and that is where I think Pystar will be going.

 

[gkarris]

LOL...

A $499 Psystar Mini would be nice too....

 

[chadua]

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

I think the suite is alleging copyright infringement [I'd assume the issue is creating derivative works of OSX for profit, by modifying the updates].

 

[jdmlight]

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.

Yes, but you don't have to use your iPod with iTunes. There are many alternatives out there if you don't like iTunes but do like the iPod. Similarly, you don't have to use your Mac with OS X (why you would buy an Apple computer and not use OS X is beyond me, but to each his/her own).

Personally, if the build quality were there, I'd consider a Psystar laptop. I don't know how well Psystar will fare in making a laptop, however, because their desktops are pretty much off-the-shelf parts (aka anyone could build the same computer by buying the parts from NewEgg). Off-the-shelf laptop parts don't exist...

 

[mcnallym]

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.

If Apple lost then I think that they would rebrand the system and not make the OS upgrades available seperately but tie the OS upgrades into a hardware contract for the system.

That way the other companies cannot physically get hold of a license pack for OSX other then buying a physical mac and contract for the hardware.

Would still have to provide fixes but wouldn't have to provide version upgrades to people without a contract.

 

[forgetaboutpro]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

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!!!!

screw apple. If psystar offer a machine with a matte screen then I'm game.

 

[wheelhot]

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.

Yup

screw apple. If psystar offer a machine with a matte screen then I'm game.

You would rather pay a screwed up company just cause of matte screen? Not to mention about its quality. Here is a suggestion, buy a Sony or some other brand and make your own hackintosh, don't pay these slimeballs a cent of your hard earned money. See the above (top) quoted statement, that is very true cause I used to hang out there because I build my own hackintosh and when this dirtbag Psycrap appears the OSX86 developers were angry and sad at the same time.
Now I own a Mac though so I don't hang out there anymore.

Again,
BRING THEM TO THE GROUND APPLE!!!!

 

[mathcolo]

I think if Psystar releases an "openbook" then it will just make Apple even more mad and try even harder to win the lawsuit.

 

[localoid]

... Off-the-shelf laptop parts don't exist...

Barebone laptops do exist.

DIY Laptop/ Notebook Computer

 

[Eric S.]

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.

I have one, as my sig attests, and it still works. A great machine for its time. But of course there are differences. The clones of that era were threatening to outsell Apple's own products; Psystar is not that kind of threat, and would never be worth anything like $100 million to Apple. And those clones had to license the contents of Apple's proprietary ROM; unauthorized copying would certainly have been illegal. Today's Mac OS runs on generic PC hardware.

 

[himansk]

In a desktop, build quality isnt as important as it is in a notebook. A desktop goes under the desk (on the desk if it is particularly stylish), notebook goes in your hand, you feel each edge, each surface of the notebook in your hand.

 

[Kane.Elson]

I think the osx86 project is _questionable_ but this Psystar stuff is just crap. Why should they be allowed to use OSX on their machines for their own profit? Sure they pay for it but they are still taking hardware business away from Apple when Apple obviously don't want them to. I think Apple should have the say in what can and can not be done with their operating system....

They realised that their machines are actually crap in terms of build quality and specs so they had to have a selling point of being the only non-mac mac...

 

[Adamo]

I think the osx86 project is _questionable_ but this Psystar stuff is just crap. Why should they be allowed to use OSX on their machines for their own profit? Sure they pay for it but they are still taking hardware business away from Apple when Apple obviously don't want them to. I think Apple should have the say in what can and can not be done with their operating system....

They realised that their machines are actually crap in terms of build quality and specs so they had to have a selling point of being the only non-mac mac...

That's the point, if you can pay for the OS separately, why should it have to be on expensive hardware when you can build something vastly more powerful for a lot less? It's anti-competition, not having the choice to choose the hardware you want to use the software on - they should be separate. It doesn't matter what Apple want in this instance, Hackintosh computers are possible, there is a market for them.. sod it, sod you thinking we should be tied down to expensive hardware.

 

[137489]

this will play interesting. the Eula does say Apple-labeled computers only. So I don't think Psystar has a shot. But enough time and money could sway the judges based on the monopoly idea (look what happened with MS).

time will tell.. personally, I like the total solution by Apple and the fact I never had any problems with my system.

However, as a tech junkie and I/T person. i know a Gigabyte M912M Mini Tablet would sure be nice with OSX on it.... so if Apple had to change their licensing for separate purchases of OSX, I may be inclined to see what OSX could really do on a tablet. so far having my wacom is nice, but having OSX on a real mini tablet would be sweet.

Come on Apple, lower your prices, give us the mini tablet.

I know Apple does not compromise with anyone, but wouldn't it be sweet if Apple turned around and said "ok, for all those wanting to run OSX on a non-apple, you may do so with tiger and leopard (without support) now that we released snow leopard"

Give the bloated OS to those who don't want apple hardware, and save the nice OS for the apple-only machines.

Frankly, all I want it on a non-apple for is to use on a mini-tablet with only a couple of apps (for when I travel). Otherwise I have my macbook as my main computer.

Or better yet, give us a real osx on a system a little larger than the iphone, but cost only $600-$700, since Apple cannot make a good computer for under $500. I would settle for a Gigabyte M912M Mini Tablet like system with OSX for $650. no CD drive is fine with me. Just leave the 160gb hard drive and all the ports and 1 gb of ram.

 

[137489]

Barebone laptops do exist.

DIY Laptop/ Notebook Computer

Ouch, your barebone systems are still rather expensive....

 

[137489]

The clones of that era were threatening to outsell Apple's own products

remember IBM, clones and IBM compatibles - they are the whole PC industry of today and outselling IBM. of course IBM sold off their desktop and laptop line to lenovo over the last couple of years and is now strickly sticking to servers. they also broke ties with Microsoft and is venturing in the linux market. Even with all the clones and compatibles, IBM had a long run in the desktop/laptop realm.

Just think, if this goes that way, Apple will be the launching pad for the new widely used computers and operating system.

I think what we have here is the betamax vs VHS mentallity.

Apple is the Betamax - better quality, more expensive, closed platform (Apple only computers).

Other OS's (MS, Linux) are the VHS's - less quality (ok matter of opinion), more open platform and better marketing.

So who will win out - the VHS's...since their platform is more open, it attracks more developers, can run on a larger range of customized systems, offers more diversity in how it is used.

I just Apple does not make themself obsolete with their closed mentality - they almost went bankrupt and out of business once. I think they come a way to far to let this happen again.

 

[localoid]

Ouch, your barebone systems are still rather expensive....

Yet another reason why Psystar has yet to be able to pull a Psystar brand OSX compatible laptop out of their magic hat.

 

[sgntscrawn]

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.

Absolutely. That's part of the Apple experience and why people will go to Apple over a windows-based PC.

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.

I would not be surprised if this was the end result of the ADR. Far easier and cheaper, in the long run, for Apple. Especially since they apparently have so much cash in reserve.

 

[nickXedge]

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

I almost just got very upset when I saw your icon. My first thought was, "Just carefully remove it and then break out the iKlear to clean off the screen." Thanks for that. I'm going to sleep now. And I'm going to have nightmares of bugs crawling on my screen.

 

[spacepower7]

They rocked

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.

Power Computing was awesome. They were the only company that offered a Mac with NuBus and PCI. Apple didn't offer a computer with PCI and NuBus which was hard to swallow when you have $4000 invested in a ProTools NuBus rig. Plus they had customization out the wazoo...

Now Apple only offers an outdated Mac Mini, 2 year old tech for 2x the price. iMacs? whatever, maybe when they are quad-core and offer a 30" screen i'll think about it. Apple has been offering us less and less options.

I need a new 2nd cpu, and maybe a 3rd, since my current 2nd and 3rd are G4 Powerbook and Dual g4 tower. My 4th, 5th, and 6th are all G3 still running fine but not good for much more that email/websurfing.

My next Mac might be a hackintosh netbook for $400 or a hackintosh Dell quad-core for abt $600. Take that stagnant Mac Mini.

Apple I have money to spend but obviously you don't want it.

 

[MacTraveller]

LOL...

A $499 Psystar Mini would be nice too....

A Psystar iPhone imitation would be nice too.

Oh wait... the Chinese pirate-manufacturers already beat them to it. They already have like three dozen different iPhone imitation models floating around. Most of these phones are sold to poor illiterate China people who don't even own toilets inside their homes. Most of these mobile phones are total garbage selling for less than 350 yuan (maybe 50 US dollars). If the trademark-lawbreaking Communists can do the imitation fakes, I'm sure Psystar is game too.

 

[wheelhot]

In a desktop, build quality isnt as important as it is in a notebook. A desktop goes under the desk (on the desk if it is particularly stylish), notebook goes in your hand, you feel each edge, each surface of the notebook in your hand.

Yup, that is why eventhough I say Dell offers the best value for money PCs, but I won't buy their laptop cause I heard horror stories about it, for notebooks I'll go for HP or if I want Apple quality notebooks, its Vaio for me.

For desktop, definitely Dell.

Here is the problem with Psycrap doing what they doing now, Im sure most of the public don't know about the hackintosh community and that Apple NEVER support Psycrap, so lets make a convo.

---CONVO BEGINS---

Walking on the sidewalk:
Average Joe says "Hey, look a PC that runs OS X and its much cheaper then Apple PC, stupid people buying Apple PCs while there is a much cheaper alternative"

Joe's go in and buy a Psycrap

1 month later:
Joe's "Stupid Apple, release such a crappy OS, Apple sucks, I'll stick with Windows"

--CONVO ENDS--

Well that is just a very basic convo, feel free to add on your own, the problem is an average consumer don't know the problem they are getting them selves into buying Psycrap, hackintosh on the other hand requires the owner to know what are they doing and the risk that they are taking.

That's the difference and one of my reasons why I'll say...
BRING THEM TO THE GROUND APPLE!!!!

 

[OS X Dude]

I'm rooting for Psystar on this - it'd show Apple that they aren't f**king God and need to get off their high horse. Root for the little guy!

BRING THEM TO THE GROUND PSYSTAR!

 

[137489]

I almost just got very upset when I saw your icon. My first thought was, "Just carefully remove it and then break out the iKlear to clean off the screen." Thanks for that. I'm going to sleep now. And I'm going to have nightmares of bugs crawling on my screen.

LOL - the first time I saw it, I thought I had a bug on my screen too. good job to whoever made it, and made it in such a fashion that it appears to be on your screen and not part of the program.

 

[Gasu E.]

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.

Very different situation. Power Computing was in business with Apple's blessing and support. The $100M was to avoid a breach of contract lawsuit. With Psystar, Apple has been fighting against them from early on.