Psystar, a tiny computer company, claims to be selling a cheap “Mac clone” tower called “OpenMac” which comes in a black- or white-colored case.
The “OpenMac” tower comes with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard compatibility via emulated EFI firmware that Psystar claims fools Mac OS X into believing that OpenMac is a genuine Mac.
Psystar’s “OpenMac” in its base configuration retails for US$399 and includes:
• 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Processor
• 2GB of DDR2 667 memory
• Integrated Intel GMA 950 Graphics
• 20x DVD+/-R SATA drive
• 4 USB Ports
“The highly extensible OpenMac is a configuration of PC hardware capable of running unmodified OS X Leopard kernels. If you purchase Leopard with your OpenMac, we will not only include the actual Leopard retail package with genuine installation disc, but we also include a Psystar restore disc for your OpenMac and we will preinstall Leopard for free so you can begin to use your computer right out of the box”, the Psystar website states.
More info via Pystar’s website [currently inaccessible] here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “oh my” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s Software License Agreement for Mac OS X explicitly states: This License allows you to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time. You agree not to install, use or run the Apple Software on any non-Apple-labeled computer, or to enable others to do so.
Expect Psystar’s Mac mini shoved into a fugly ATX PC tower case, er… “OpenMac,” to be shut down quicker than a Windows-powered Navy destroyer.
Their web site is already down.
Pathetic. These companies are just trying to hop on the Apple bandwagon.
Hello …er Goodbye OpenMac!!!!
“The shroud of the dark side has fallen. Begun the Clone War has.”
Site down due to “massive influx” of users.
Well, whatever. The mere fact that their Mac clone was a mini tower should give Apple a hint that demand exists for such a thing.
Interesting that these cloners picked the one thing Apple does not make.
One of the factors that inhibits mass deployment of Macs in business is the lack of a mini tower in the line up.
IT guys don’t think much of all-in-one computers like the iMac, nor of the tiny, impossible-to-get-into-bring-your-putty-knife-and some-choice-cursewords Mac mini.
Both are a pain to service.
A true mini tower from Apple would be a boon.
I would go as far as to say that such a beast is inevitable, once Apple makes headway into corporate America.
What do you think chaps?
One day I was thinking about the increased popularity and market share of Apple computers. Apple is the only one who makes the hardware and they do it in a minimalist way: not only in their design but also in the range of the models they offer. Consequentially, the more people buy Apple computers, the more of the same computers you will encounter. Now, imagine a market share of 30%. Users of Apple computers will more easily branded as lemmings, because they all use the same 3 or 4 models of computers. Where is the mindshare of being “different”?
What I wanted to suggest to Apple is to let 3rd party builders come up with their own models, built on Apple certified hardware components (maybe even let them buy those components solely from Apple). Result will be that there are more models to choose from (not all people will like the design sanctioned by His Steve) and Apple retaining their profit margins.
They still will be able to sell their OS (and MS shows this can be profitable) en Apple could position itself as the original and the provider of the most sophisticated premium designs.
But I can imagine that Apple has some problems with manufacturers that come up with cheaper models that outperform their own offerings: they sure will remind the time of the clones. Still, I foresee problems with the exclusivity of Apple computers when more and more people own the same computer models.
So, anyone want to place bets as to when will they receive their cease and desist order? I’m saying today.
Although I remember the incident, I had forgotten the name of the USS Yorktown, the warship involved. I wonder if Tony DiGiorgio still has his job, or whether the military in its infinite stupidity for order and control, fired him?
@ Apple should promote this
No offense, pal, but you obviously haven’t grasped Apple’s business model.
That being said, I’d give anything for a Mac mini tower. I’d switch every machine in my office (except my server) and dance the lambada around the parking lot. Oh, think of all the maintenance work I wouldn’t have to do anymore.
@Ampar
“Done well, you have Ampar. Laugh I did, hmmmm…..”
This goes into that ‘What were they thinking?’ category.
Of course Apple will shut them down.
Site is accessible now,
Just put on the face of the computer an “Apple” label and you are good to go. I have some left over stickers…
Honda would sell more police cars in the US if they made a police car.
BMW would sell more fire trucks in the US if they made a fire truck.
The funny thing about all of the “Apple should sell an inexpensive …” features is they all hinge on the writer’s bias that great success only comes from selling the greatest quantity. As though the writer was trying to project his own version of success (the more people that read my words, the better writer I am) on to Apple.
But, they always fail to just be at ease with the simple zen of it all – make some manageable number of things, make them really well, people will buy well made things, manage the business.
All this rule the world stuff makes whoever thinks it can be done look foolish.
I once had three PowerComputing machines — two for my office, and one at home. They did everything I needed them to do, and I’m sure that company would have continued to push the state of the Mac forward.
Somewhere in my attic is the MacWorld with the sad ad “Lost our license for speeding!”
I guess they should have added more bandwidth and server capacity to their servers before they released this.
Who cares if they cloned a Mac…
I think some of you are pissed off that you bought a computer for $2k
Let them sell whatever they want.
Apple should make Tiger run on PCs and give it away for free. Then, PC users wouldn’t need to petition for XP to get its life extended, nor would they need to use Vista. Apple wouldn’t need to support Tiger, since it’s just a freebie, and PC users would get sucked into the Apple world. Next purchase, a Mac.
I really do think that Apple could eventually let the software be sold on cheaper hardware, but I know that there would have to be a number of lock ins.
the hardware would have to be a minimum level so it would be capable. And windows would have to be mostly dead in the world.
Can it be done? SURE, Will it? I do not think so. there are still too many guffus duffus PC users in the world that can screw it up. so. Dont think is will occur for some time.
Just a thought.
en
I’ve long urged Apple to release a model along the lines of the Shuttle. The xPC model I own would require only an Apple motherboard to meet our needs for a headless, expandable Mac. About the size of a small shoebox, it includes the full panoply of I/O ports. It could easily sell for $999 and still meet Apple’s profit targets. Intel could easily design the board, the box can be made even smaller and more Apple-like by going with a slot-loaded optical. Heck, Shuttle could even do the work under OEM contract.
Wow, look at that, a cheap, crappy, piece of junk PC clone tower you could buy at Fry’s. I’m sorry clones didn’t work back in the late 80’s or early 90’s and they won’t work now. Quality is non-existent and the hardware will be incompatible with all kinds of driver issues.
Without Apple’s approval they don’t stand a chance, and frankly I wouldn’t trust anything that looks that crappy to begin with. A waste of money on a hacked together PC that will surely FAIL!
There site is still down and hopefully it will stay that way!
If only Apple would release a computer like this. A tower with a real hard drive and expandability that costs in the $500 range. I’d buy one.
And don’t point to the Mac Mini — it’s specs are outdated but for some reason Apple hasn’t updated it. That’s one knock against Apple compared to the PC makers — they are not keeping up as timely with incorporating the latest processors into their boxes. Good, bad, right or wrong — it’s just not happening.
And I love Apple. But they are perfect.
(Long Sigh)…Yep…You get what you pay for…
“The mere fact that their Mac clone was a mini tower should give Apple a hint that demand exists for such a thing.”
let me get this straight, because someone makes a thing, it must be in demand…..
MS wakes windows, do you think it is in demand?
thank you for being proof that critical thinking is no longer taught in the educational system.
Why would anyone purchase one of these or anything from Apple at their inflated prices when today’s Linux is the best OS available? Oh, and did I mention that it’s free?
Next we’ll hear that Apple has dispatched an Army of lawyers by plane….
“Do or do not. There is no try.”
Going cheap will only cause grief. Look at Compaq,look at what is happening to Dell now. Apple is too clever to go for the low end market just to gain market share.
Clone makers nearly killed Apple because they went for the high end high margin sector rather than the low cost area as people had expected. Someone in those companies did the math and worked out where the money was.
I agree that a mini-tower would be a useful addition to Apple’s lineup. There are enough users out there who want the expandability. Problem is if Apple sell that for 1000, who will buy the MacPro?
I can see something like this happening to the poor saps who actually buy this thing…
1. Buy computer for cheap.
2. Crappy hardware creates problems with OS X.
3. They call Psystar to get problem fixed, only to have Psystar tell them that it is a software problem.
4. They call Apple, who turns their back on them for using Apple software on non-approved hardware.
5. Poor saps stuck with a crappy computer.
I think M$ and/or DELL is behind this, they are trying to “educate” customers on how expensive Macs are, that you can have a Mac at fraction of the current price, that you should say “no” to Apple’s high margins.
Who are they fooling. You get what you pay for, look at Dell.
@Get Serious:
The only thing that is free in your linux box is the source code. Then you will have to account for service and maintenace. Additionally, you will need to put the time in to config your computer. If you are a sysad type, sure, it would be no problem for you. However, most of us are not like you. We just want our computers to work. Besides, who has time to config a computer? Espicially linux or windows.
Apple should sue those bastards!
Wow their server is getting hammered. Down and out, tried a ping, heres what I got:
208.68.239.66
Reply from 208.68.239.66: bytes=32 time=67ms TTL=46
Reply from 208.68.239.66: bytes=32 time=65ms TTL=46
Reply from 208.68.239.66: bytes=32 time=156ms TTL=46
Reply from 208.68.239.66: bytes=32 time=121ms TTL=46
Talk about some lag! How long till the site drops off totally?
Apple needs a “Mid-Tower”. I’ve read plenty of potential PC switchers are reluctant to ditch their monitors for an imac. Many people need more power than the mac mini but want less bulk than the Mac Pro (awesome as it is!) – office folks, PC gamers. Apple needs a simple but powerful mac with a video card you can change. Only reason I guess Apple does not have a mac mid-tower is that Steve has said he hates wires sticking out!
@Get Serious,
Yeah, try getting my parents or 90% of my friends to configure Linux properly so it will work. Ubuntu is the closest to being easy, but it was still a bit of a pain to do for an IT friend of mine who is very facile in UNIX, Mac OS X, and Winblows.
@MDN: It’s not just a big MacMini. This thing has a nVidia 8600 GT as a $110 option. And yes … I am vagely interested in owning one of these things. Fills the void nicely.
@Davewrite,
You should be Daveright because I agree with everything you have said. There needs to be a monitor-less Mac positioned between the iMac and the Mac Pro.
Send in the dogs/lawyers first!
There IS a place for a mid-sized tower or pizza box Mac.
There’s a huge void between the Mac mini and MacPro. A void that USERS have been asking for for years.
I would love a MacPro that’s got half the slots, half the drive bays and half the SIZE of the MacPro: ta Half-MacPro. the current model is just too damn BIG for my space. I could use a MacPro to support one side of a desk. So, I settle for a MacBook Pro with a second monitor.
Sorry Apple, I do NOT want a shiny screened iMac or a Mac mini. The Mac mini would be perfect hooked up to my HDTV, but not as a serious work machine: I do VectorWorks CAD, 3D and Photoshop work.
Maybe an XServe is the answer? Just put a good video card in the thing.
Computer: 399, OSX Leopard: 129, iLife: 79, better video card: 110,
plus it’s probably noisy. Did anyone see any mention of Wireless network, if not forget time capsule. Not so cheap anymore except in quality and no guarantee.
Actually, I think that thing doesn’t look half bad. Not very Apple-like, but clean and, dare I say, attractive. And, I’d really, really like to see Apple make a minitower with Core 2 Duo, two 3.5″ HD bays, a high-performance graphics card option, Firewire 800 & eSATA, and one or two PCI slots. The gap between the mini and the Pro is just too big, and the iMac is not a good option for users who don’t want or need a built-in display.
This isn’t new. People have been running OSX on PCs for a while now, folks. Check out OSX86 Project. I mean, seriously, all you people talking about how much quality is in the Apple hardware compared to PC hardware seem to forget that they’re built on the same damn assembly lines as Asus, HP, Shuttle, et al. Exterior aesthetics aside, there’s not only nothing special about hardware (that’s a great thing for Mac users), there’s nothing inherently more (or less) reliable about it either.
All that said, it’s a bad idea for Apple to license out their OS. It just doesn’t work in the vertical business model Apple uses–they need to sell boxes to stay profitable. Why would they change that?
This is where Apple’s business model hits the wall of the real world. The fact is that Apple makes the best notebooks, the best handheld computers, the best all-in-one machines and the best giant tower machines, bar none. If you were in the market for any of those types of machines, you’d be nuts not to buy or at least consider Apple’s offerings. But the world is full of computing devices that don’t fit into these categories, and to these buyers, Apple has essentially given the finger. If you want a small-form-factor machine, the Mini is basically a joke. And if you want a mini-tower, small desktop case, or basically any machine that allows you to open the case easily, you’re SOL. This is the same attitude that tells a porential iPhone customer to go to hell unless they want AT&T;. And I say this as someone who owns three MacBooks, a Mini, an iMac and an iPod Touch. I’d buy several of these merely because they fill a need for me, and Apple refuses to address this market segment. And the issue is NOT price. I’d gladly pay five times the price of one of these machines to get the real deal from Apple, just as I’ve gone on record as saying that I’d gladly pay $2,000 to get a Verizon iPhone. Alas, it is not to be. Sigh.
@OBill-Wan Kenobi
I’ll do the same, but my dance would be done here in Budapest!
I run a business, and I have ‘given the finger’ to all the cheapskate, crappy, “can you do it for cash” customers out there.
I charge high rates, insist on large deposits to start work, dont advertise, only work for recommended people.
Since I changed my ‘business model’ to lose the low-end customers, I make 3 times as much for about the same amount of work.
Its still stressful and hard work, but I get the reward I deserve.
The low-end crowd can go elsewhere.
The day Apple make a cheap ‘headless Mac’ is the day I start charging $40 an hour again……it aint going to happen.
Psystar? Shouldn’t that be shyster?
It’s an Apple creation, to judge demand.
“Psystar, a tiny computer company, claims to be selling a cheap “Mac clone” tower . . .”
And this tiny company’s one clone tower that was also trying to serve their website has obviously burst into flames. Either that or Apple Legal is using it for a makeshift picnic table on the company jet back to Cupertino.
Why not write a Virtual Mac, Parallels, or other program to get the Mac OS onto existing cheap PCs? It seems like they’re reinventing the Dell wheel. Consumers want a Dell that can run Mac Software. Trying to get them to become enlightened to the Apple world of supreme excellence aint gonna happen for a while.
How very 1990 and “Power 80”
This “mini tower” market is something Apple has no interest in. That is a market for hobbyists. People that like to play with hardware configurations. Most of those people configure away all weekend, and then have nothing to actually do on the computer.
It reminds me of people who buy old cars and fix them up, but never quite finish them and never drive them. It’s just soothing to tinker with something.
If you NEED real expandability, you would be foolish not to get a Mac Pro. And since you NEED it, you’ll buy it. Most people who will buy this and tinker with it endlessly will probably end up with nothing more than an iMac.
It’s apparent that Apple isn’t in the business of selling to this market. And that’s a good thing.
I don’t think it would be a terrible idea so long as Apple can check specs for compatibility and share in a royalty + OS license fee. There would definitely be more market penetration, although it does fly in the face of Apple’s tight integration model. Still, if the option gets put on the table, who knows what kind of growth you’d be looking at. I don’t think this is the same market we were looking at back in the Scully days.
Wow, OS-X running on a non-Apple box – yawn. Don’t people realise that there are more (many more) Apple boxes running Windows or Linux than the other way around? Why is that? Because Apple makes good HW and Windows and Linux support more SW than OS-X. I’m writing this on a PowerPC Mini-mac running Ubuntu. Why? Because it’s way easier to get a full AMP package running under Ubuntu than OS-X. And, because the Mini-mac is a solid, quite, little machine that makes a great home server and web-browsing appliance. It’s the HW!
Put it this way: Say everything was virtualised and you could run any application under any OS on any HW. How would Apple do? Well, right off the bat, they would lose a segment of specific application users (like FinalCut) who just want one app to run as fast as possible for the least amount of investment. Well, Apple would still sell the app, but their HW isn’t going to compete on price. With the OS, I expect some people would prefer OS-X over Windows, but it’s a matter of taste and how much HW overhead you want to lose to the OS. Me, I actually prefer the look and feel of Ubuntu – it’s just personal opinion. As for the HW, well Apple makes a solid, stylish product. There will always be people that buy it because of build-quality. There will always be people that buy it because it looks good. Apple copyrighted the “Apple look” for a reason. Like I said at the beginning, there are more people running non-Apple OSs on Apple HW than the other way around. Even given the choice, I expect that will remain true for a while.
These Psystar people are missing the mark. Mid-grade HW with OS-X… okay, maybe if you really wanted to run GarageBand or something. Now, if they made a really smoking hot system that could render FinalCut video faster than the fasted Mac, at a fraction of the price….
A mini-tower would be a nice addition to Apple’s lineup.
However, I’ve seen many posts which hammer Apple for not having a cheap PC with the latest processors inside. Sorry, but you don’t find many cheap PCs with the latest processors. One of the reasons they’re cheap is that they’re NOT using the latest and fastest processors – those cost more money to buy!
Also, Apple while may not always have the latest, greatest processors first (but they usually do), Apple does a good job of keeping the rest of the computer fast: memory speeds, bus speeds, and other pipeline issues. Usually most items are not top-of-the-line in terms of possible speed, but taken together, they make for an overall faster PC than you can buy for comparative prices from Dell, HP, etc.
If you want cheap (or inexpensive), you don’t get the latest, greatest stuff. Intel and other manufacturers charge a premium for the fastest components, which therefore prohibits inclusion in an inexpensive PC.
A very odd customer response to this product on MDN? My loyalty to Apple as a supplier isn’t the type where I’d sniff at a company for selling a VERY tasty box and a VERY tasty price running my VERY favourite OS in a product-category Apple ignore.
Bung this under the desk and hook up a third-party matte screen… hmmm these beauties will rush of the shelves like hot cakes.
>FatMac wrote: Trying to get them to become enlightened…
Any new tidbits to offer from today’s high horse?
Let’s see…
‘Mac Clone’ = $400
+ OS X Leopard pre-installed = $150
+ iLife = $80
+ Apple Remote = $20
+ WLAN, Bluetooth, Firewire ≈ ~$100
——————
Total: ~$750
And it’s ten times bigger than Mac Mini.
No thanks.
@ Scheduler:
“I need a machine that performs, and is expandable.”
That’s why Apple makes the Mac Pro… And, the aluminum enclosure isn’t just for looks. Besides it’s obvious strength, it’s recyclable.
How about “performs, expandable, strong, recyclable.”? Besides having no way to pick it up easily, this thing looks like the other crappy boxes that once they have been moved more than three times, they start to fall apart.
Why buy something that isn’t designed with every scenario in mind?
Apple doesn’t need to add a mini-tower to the lineup. They should simply give a little more attention to the Mac mini, which could be a formidable machine with just a little modification (e.g. dedicated graphics card, more RAM and a 7200 rpm drive).
It’s so obvious that the market exists for such a machine that one wonders if Apple hesitates for fear of canabalizing iMac ( or even MacPro) sales. But I, for one, have been waiting a long time for Apple to come out with a Mac mini Pro.
For $1199U$…
– dedicated graphics card,
– DVI
– up to 3-4 GB of RAM,
– tray loading optical drive,
– two FireWire 400 ports,
– four USB 2.0 ports,
– ethernet and wireless,
– wired keyboard and mouse,
– room for two 7200 rpm drives.
…in a nice aluminum cube.
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MW: case. No foolin’!
“I sense something. A presence I’ve not felt since…”
@scheduler
“Apple soaks users for the “honor” of running OS X.”
Then don’t buy one if you can’t afford one.
If you think that’s an “elitist” attitude, then I guess I’m an elitist. To you.
It really doesn’t ruin my day one way or the other.
Maybe they gave 20% of the company to an IP lawyer in exchange for legal expenses.
I’m guessing they’re not concerned about violating the EULA because they’re also violating Apple’s IP in other ways to make the kernel run unmodified. Because, yes, the kernel checks the hardware to see if it is Apple hardware. You can get around this technologically… just like you can counterfeit designer jeans. Just ain’t legal.
btw, people, this would not be a good thing. Yes, you might like to choose your ugly gray box and run MacOS on it… but you would NOT like the effect on the Apple business model. We went the cheapest possible hardware route in the 90s… first Apple itself… then the clones. We got Dell-inspired hardware… and almost killed the Mac altogether.
You can’t separate Mac OS from Apple’s business model in a sustainable way. And I don’t think the people reading here want Apple to go the way of a recording label.
If you don’t like the Apple business model… then choose the OSes of the other business models: Vista, Linux. They are both viable alternatives.
Wanting any box with any OS… sure. I also want 50 cent a gallon gasoline, non-toll roads with no traffic, a $50,000 house on an acre within walking distance to a great high paying 4 day a week job, awesome public schools, a quiet neighborhood except when I turn on MY music…. which will be free but the artists will be magically compensated by faeries…
Life is full of compromises and bundles. Get the f’ over it!!!
Well, well, well, this is a fun idea — fun for a good laugh. Better buy it today if you want it kids, because its not going to be there tomorrow. A pity.
–mAc
“This is almost exactly what happened back in the early 80’s when the 1st PC “clones” we’re “almost compatible”. Eventually legally backward engineered BIOS (such as Award and Phoenix) we’re developed to perfectly emulate the IBM machine…”
All very true, however, the difference now is that Apple’s licensing scheme is designed to protect their IP and keep it from falling out of the protected vertical business model they’ve created.
“
Oh Yes, I looks like “crap” an all Macs “delicious”!!! and “SOOO SOOO Sexy”.. That’s what I want to give Steve Jobs 3X time money for, a “Gorgeous” and “Sexy” and “Delicious” computer with non expandable graphics that requires a putty to open..
Oh yes, and every other computer made without an Apple logo on it is “Crap” and “Junk” and will “Fall apart”.. You guys know nothing, Its the same components (except in Apple’s case,,usually a tad outdated).”
I’m not debating the sick and irrational devotion that Macolytes have to a corporation called Apple; the level of sycophancy is just incredible. And the Asus-assembled Apple MacBooks, iMacs and MacPros in their aesthetically-pleasing cases with industry-standard PC parts gives new meaning to the phrase perceived value, not to mention the PT Barnum principle. All that said and the impact of the Jobsian RDF aside, it’s in Apple’s best interest–and the interest of its customers–to prevent the proliferation of Mac clones in the marketplace by any means necessary.
@ unlocked in Europe
Hey, I know that town. I’ll meet you at the Irish Cat Pub for a shot of Unicom and a pint!
Geez MDN, what a bunch of narrow minded style snobs. Those machines are actually quite attractive and reminiscent of Apple minimalist styling. Until you turn the thing around of course.
It is kind of funny to see those pointless parallel, serial, KB and mouse ports on the back of the box however. Who actually still uses those things in PC land?
Whilst it would be tempting to pick one up, just to see how well it works, I wouldn’t count on Apple not releasing a system or EFI update which “de-authorises” these clones.
I think Apple should release a mini-tower system with computing power between the iMac and the Mac Pro. I have a Quicksilver G4 tower pushing its limits and a replacement would be nice. I don’t need the firepower of the Mac Pro but I do need expansion slots.
It can still maintain the distinction of being a quality system made from quality components like every other Mac. Just because it would be less expensive than a Mac Pro doesn’t mean it has to be ‘cheap’. Apple would be on a winner.
I do love the styling of the G4 towers. They are brilliant designs, very sturdy and attractive. Ideally, I’d like to see Apple offer an upgrade program for these machines – bring in your old G4 QS or MDD tower and Apple will replace all the guts with an expandable Intel system (positioned between the iMac and Mac Pro in terms of raw power) and you receive some cash back for all the old bits they will recycle. Do their bit for the environment.
It’s more powerful than a macmini, cheaper, has better specs, and is upgradable. If Apple released a consumer tower it would probably outsell both the macmini and iMac in my opinion.
Also, there’s little Apple could do if someone released machines that didn’t comes installed with Leopard, but were advertised as being able to run leopard.
Hmm… a lot of knee-jerk reactions, as well as posts which feel like they’re following talking points for various anti-Apple interests.
However, I’m far more interested in who’s behind this Psystar company, and what their motives are. Cheap alternatives to attack the heart of Apple’s hardware profits? (Perhaps Dell’s feeling miffed about not being able to play with Apple’s OS, or wants to stir up the old “Apple’s hardware is unnecessarily expensive” myth?) A misguided plan to spread OS X to low quality x86 hardware, despite Apple’s wishes? (It seems like they’re catering at least partially to the “Hackintosh” crowd with these.)
Either way, you have to wonder what makes them think they’ll be able to get away with this for very long – I mean, openly advertising OS X compatibility, and putting “Mac” in the name? They might as well paint a big red apple-shaped target on their backs.
I can’t speak to whether or not this indicates Apple has a “void” in its product line between the mini and the Pro – I doubt that’s the real driver of interest behind this anyway. The people who salivate over this are limited to the crowd who want to run OS X on someone else’s hardware, as well as various companies and interests who would love to see “Mac clones” put some major hurt on Apple’s increasing sales & influence. (Or at least flood Apple’s tech support & message boards with bug reports from clone users who will demand service on par with that of true Mac users, and complain loudly and frequently to various anti-Apple press outlets when that doesn’t happen. Hmm, lots of lose-lose scenarios for Apple here.)
I’ll be interested to see how Apple responds to this threat to their business model. I get the sense they’ve been mildly tolerating the “Hackintosh” crowd for the time being, as they’re a very small percentage of computer users who have to do a lot of work to get OS X running on their machines. However, if companies like Psystar can actually get away with being this blatant about selling OS X-compatible machines, then Apple may have to resort to limiting Mac OS X sales to customers who can prove ownership of an actual Mac. (And I can just imagine the manufactured “outrage” from certain quarters if Apple were to do so.)
I’m sure over time we’ll also find out more about the people running Psystar, and the people behind them. I’m quite interested to learn what their motives are. Considering how many companies are threatened by Apple’s continued success, it seems highly likely to me that this is part of someone else’s plan – it’ll be interesting to find out who that is.
New name – “open computer”
Coming soon ‘Apple Mac’
Tower featuring 2 models
$999
Dual core
integrated intel video
$1499
Quad core
Gaming Graphics card
bigger hard drive
Each system will be a mini mac pro tower
featuring 2 hard drive bays, and at least 2 full length pci express slots
It’s not just the h/w, or just the s/w & OS, or even the total experience. Apple’s tight policy is the reason why Mac OS did not flop like Vista. Possibly it is entirely beyond Apple’s current IT resources to support the level of SLA Apple customers (and Jobs) have come to expect if Apple did not tightly control the entire product line quality. You don’t think Dell has a underground lab hacking Mac OS X onto commodity PCs? Would you really buy a Compaq with a “Mac OS X Capable” sticker, say a floor model in Frys that has broken keys and frozen screen after 6 months of show room use? Bare hardware piecemeal comparison is incomplete and does not account for the craftsmanship and entire manufacturing process. Just ask the average PC power user – for the same specs which brand would they prefer?
A commercial reselling/installation of Mac OS X automatically extends Apple license support. Of course Apple would want to have a chat with those guys when the two companies obviously have no legal and contractual agreement whatsoever.
I can’t speak for OS X running on generic PCs, but for the price of the Gateway behemoth I have at work, a system with dual-core+4G RAM+GeForce in order to run the PC software without sounding like a Jet taking off, I rather have 2 or 3 Mac Mini’s hooked up together and VM the Windows. Price? No difference.
–freebeer
@Cubert
“Yeah, try getting my parents or 90% of my friends to configure Linux properly so it will work. Ubuntu is the closest to being easy, but it was still a bit of a pain to do for an IT friend of mine who is very facile in UNIX, Mac OS X, and Winblows.”
Yeah my EEE PC took me all of 0 seconds to configure properly, I didn’t even have to charge the battery. You should thank your “IT friend” for helping you with Ubuntu because it’s a faster, more stable and more secure OS than OSX.
@Gabriel Right on target.
@Macintosh
You said “This “mini tower” market is something Apple has no interest in. That is a market for hobbyists. People that like to play with hardware configurations. Most of those people configure away all weekend, and then have nothing to actually do on the computer.
…
If you NEED real expandability, you would be foolish not to get a Mac Pro. And since you NEED it, you’ll buy it. Most people who will buy this and tinker with it endlessly will probably end up with nothing more than an iMac.”
This is so not the case. Let me use myself as an example: I work in the audio/video field. I have never “tinkered” with a machine in my life, and wouldn’t know how do do so even if I wanted to. In my “studio” I don’t have room for a Mac Pro and I have to occasionally travel with my machine (in addition ot my MacBook Pro that goes everywhere with me), and a Mac Pro just isn’t portable. I can’t use an iMac simply because the monitor isn’t good enough for my work, and I can’t use a Mini because it isn’t powerful enough. That’s why I want a mini-tower, not to tinker, but to have a powerful machine that has a small form factor that allows me to use my own monitor is all I want. If they’d make a Mini that was as fast, had as much memory and disk space as the top of the line iMac, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. A pimped-out 2008 version of the G4 cube would be the ideal machine for me. It’s OK for Apple fanboys (of which I’m one) to say that people shouldn’t want the machine that they want merely because Apple decides not to make it, but can you then blame them when they buy a Linux or Windows box that suits their needs in every way except running OSX? And can you blame them for wanting to try to run OSX on that box that exactly suits their needs that Apple refuses to make?
@Not working for peanuts….I aint a monkey
You miss the point entirely. The issue isn’t price or quality, but merely flexibility and options, within the requisite price/quality parameters. You say “I charge high rates, insist on large deposits to start work, dont advertise, only work for recommended people.
Since I changed my ‘business model’ to lose the low-end customers, I make 3 times as much for about the same amount of work.” I do the same and my services cost my clients a small fortune. But if someone is willing to pay my price and I’m available, and the job doesn’t involve danger or illegailty (or porn or something else that is gross), I’ll probably take the job. It isn’t my responsibility to tell the client want to want if he’s willing to pay my price and otherwise meets my selective criteria.
The site is currently up. The only change I notice is that these thingies are no longer “OpenMac” boxes but “Open Computer” boxes. However, if you check out the provided pictures you will find they are ALL labeled as “OpenMac”. And yes, if you click on the ‘Installed OS’ pop-up menu, you can still choose to have Leopard installed. Take a picture! That little menu option means someone is getting their backside sued off.
(Maybe Apple can use the money they make off this lawsuit to pay for their FRAUD ‘Millions Of Colors’ = 6 bit color (NOT!) LCD false advertising lawsuit).
And while you’re oggling over these POS clunkers, be sure to check out the “OpenPro”. I especially like the toaster case.
http://www.psystar.com/index.php?&page=shop.product_details&category_id=3&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&product_id=19&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=72
These dummies are gonna fry. And there will be yet-another scam-Mac-clone in the Apple museum. Please, please, please use the toaster case in the display! I can see myself!
@Bobsyeruncle:
You do know that the iMacs have a DVI-out for hooking up a second monitor?
hobbyists / gamers / semi-pros want the best OS in the world too
GIVE US WHAT WE WANT.
that or come out with a gaming imac, figure it out fuckers.
you know now that I mention it the imac design would be perfect for lans…
they could have a more rugged design, with a built in handle, and a carry case..
shoehorn an ACTUAL HIGH END DESKTOP GPU in the thing.
maybe even make it conform to the mini pci-e interface for upgrading… but if you make the thing good enough you wouldn’t even need to do that. Nvidia 9600 or better..
@elgarak
Yes, I do know it, and I use one, though setting up profiles for the multiple monitors is a chore and the built-in graphics aren’t the greatest. I also don’t have a ton of room. But my Eizo ColorEdge does work fine with my iMac, though having to have two monitors is a kludge at best.
“having to have two monitors is a kludge at best.”
really? REALLY?
what is wrong with you?
Maybe you mean compared to having 3 or 4 monitors 2 is a kludge? mirite?
PsyStars service is not very good either. Was having problems with my PsyPod so I called them on my PsyPhone but couldn’t get through. Should I keep trying?