“Though the blogging frenzy over whether would-be Mac clone maker Psystar is real has died down in the past few days, no one has determined the truth beyond the shadow of a doubt,” David Zeiler blogs for The Baltimore Sun.
“After a series of crazy developments last week, including an address that changed several times within a few days and a credit card payment company that abruptly terminated its relationship with Psystar, many in the Mac blogosphere declared the upstart company a hoax,” Zeiler writes.
“But over the weekend and into Monday, defenders of Psystar attributed its troubles to poor planning. They argued that the fledgling company had failed to anticipate the huge demand for cheap Mac clones they faced when news of Psystar hit the Web 10 days ago,” Zeiler writes. “Psystar posted reassuring messages on its Web site. A Friday item headlined ‘Store up and running, orders shipped’ promised that orders placed in the first week at Psystar’s online store would be shipped starting this week. On Tuesday, Psystar posted a message and photo trumpeting its new headquarters (independently verified by several news sites).”
“The ultimate proof would come when customers began to receive their orders; I have yet to read of a Psystar machine successfully delivered, but the first shipments might not arrive for a few days,” Zeiler writes.
“Even if Psystar is legit, what it is doing – selling PC boxes capable of running the Mac operating system without Apple’s blessing – raises many other questions,” Zeiler writes.
Full article here.
Reminds me of the antics of the early days of Napster copycats like Kazaa and Morpheus…
“I have yet to read of a Psystar machine successfully delivered…”
So order one and tell us what happens. You’re call yoursef a journalist. You’re supposed to…let’s see…find things out? Sheesh!
Psystar is bankrolled by John Sculley.
Except that Kazaa was real and Psystar probably isn’t. If they started shipping orders 6 days ago, why hasn’t a single person reported actually receiving one yet?
My earlier theory still holds – Psystar is a not-very-competent front for someone else’s agenda.
The fact that it keeps going despite raising the ire of the hacker who made the Mac emulation possible (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/16/hacker_slams_mac_cloner/ for more on that), tells me that they’re not in it for the ideology.
And the fact that they’re still going despite the very significant legal issues they face by pressing onward, tells me they have someone behind the scenes who has promised to help legally defend them when the time comes.
I’m still hoping that someone somewhere has the investigative ability to figure out who’s really behind this.
Wrong!
Psystar is owned by Keyser Soze!
Just my $0.02
Just another Hackintosh? What kind of “good service” could only follow?
Will the upgrades be hacked too?
I’d say they’re bankrolled by Bill Gates or Steve Ballmer.
The hope is Apple will release the legal team and put them out of Business. Which will get a big public media coverage with an anti-Apple spin to it. All in hopes of slowing or even stopping Apples march on the Windows marketshare.
My guess would be that Apple is going to let it slide because the MacOS is becoming like unlocked iPhones, “a good problem to have” to quote Mr. Oppenhiemer. The negative press will be more damaging then letting Psystar sell crap boxes with MacOS X on them. They may send Psystar a C&D;letter about their illegal use of Apple Trademarks and their defamatory unproven claims, as they are not protected under the First Amendment Business must take care to be again to prove any claim they make in an advertisement and their web site to advertisement.
Obviously, except to Steve Jobs, there is a market for a desktop Macs sans LCD other than the high-end Mac Pro designs.
@Demon
How is it a good problem to have when Psystar would be the thin edge of the wedge, the first of many?
Whether it’s good publicity for Apple or not, I don’t know. I suppose it does add to the buzz around their products.
You’d have to be crazy to buy a Psystar, though:
Systar told one MacFixit reader that their machines “do not support Leopard reinstallation”. Fun and games if you need to reinstall your OS, as can happen:
http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20080424103119539
One of the big pluses of a Mac is that, unlike with a Windows machine — most consumer level Windows machines come with no installation media, because of Gates’s obsessions with ‘piracy” — you have the installation media and can pop it in and, if you select a minimum install, be done in 20 or 30 minutes. Same with Ubuntu.
But with a Psystar Mac, you can’t do that. And at least with a Dell or an HP or whatever you’d not be breaking the EULA, and would get reasonable support if anything goes tits-up.
Assuming Psystar does deliver these machines, you’re still playing Russian Roulette.
@Afib
I would agree, that market is out there, Apple knows that market is out there. My guess is that, Apple feels that that market is not big enough to justify a machine with lower margins that would probably cannibalize the iMac and Pro segments as well. If that is the reason, it sucks for those of us in the mid-range headless market segment. I wouldn’t touch the PsyStar with a ten inch pole, I am thinking about a hackintosh, but I’m not sure the trouble is worth my time. Linux remains my choice in this regard. (I don’t like the all in one concept of the iMac – just my preference)
@ Wise Ancient One
What does all the Buzz around Psystar do, It creates publicity for Apple. Psystar shot their own foot by not coming off as credible with all the address jumping. The fact is even if they mange to sell and ship some of these cheap ass systems in the big picture it’s just going to benefit Apple. Apple customer satisfaction rating are the best in the industry. If Psystar or any, would be copy cats, thinks that customer service to something you don’t need to spend money on, they’re wrong, like every other PC hardware company. I’ll use Dell as an example here, they are struggling with loosing money, Dell rather then getting rid of the highly paid managers and eliminating VPs and the like, they went with the soft targets the Technical Support and Customer Service staffs. Apple did the opposite when they were loosing money. Apple got rid of managers and hired Tech support and customer service staff.
Psystar or any would be copy cats, only add to Apple’s mystic and if some people do get their cheap Psystar system (but the Psystar system comparable to a Mac in hardware spec.s isn’t that much cheaper then an Apple system) most will love the Mac OS X experience and will buy a real Mac In 6 months or less when they start having problems with the hardware and Psystar Tech Support and Customer Service are no where to be found.
Has unlocked iPhones harmed Apple, No! AT&T;Maybe, Apple No. Everyone talks about Apple earning revenues from the carries, but Apple’s Financial statement doesn’t reflect it currently. So, until there is proof in the Financial statement or a disclosure by Apple the revenue sharing deals are just speculation. Apple losses nothing from the sale of these cheap systems as the people buying them will be people who would not have bought a Mac in the first place but their second system after they’re hooked will be a Mac.
Uhh . . . there already is a Mac for this niche, it’s called the Mac Mini. If you want a Mac Pro, you’re going to have to pay for a Mac Pro, and believe me, it’s money well spent. I am still able to use every pro level machine I’ve bought from Apple over the past ten years.
I can’t believe you came back, Afib. You must be hell at drive-thrus, man.
Anyone who would throw money down the toilet with this supposed company deserves any and all of the pain he is going to receive.
From Psystar itself:
“We absolutely do not support customers attempting to install the Leopard operating system on our Open Computer themselves. This is due to a difficult process that we go through to get Leopard to function on our computers. We encourage you to purchase an open computer, and select the option to have Leopard Pre-installed.”
Of course, the reader asked what options were available in the event of a major system failure requiring Leopard reinstallation, to which Psystar suggested a return shipment to the company.
“Currently, (shipping the computer back to us) is the only option available. If the HDD dies, you can ship it to us for $50 plus shipping, so we can replace it for you.”
There is never a dearth of people who will willingly and enthusiastically separate a fool from his money.
“Uhh . . . there already is a Mac for this niche, it’s called the Mac Mini.
The Mac mini, Mac puny, Mac insignificant (call it what you want) is not even in the same league as the iMac. I’m not interested in paying good money for a headless Mac with lesser performance than the iMac.
“If you want a Mac Pro, you’re going to have to pay for a Mac Pro, and believe me, it’s money well spent.”
I rather not pay the cash for the Mac Pro, it’s more machine than I need. I don’t need a machine with space for 32 GB of RAM and four internal hardware bays. It should be obvious to you that the Mac Pro is for the professional user, not the typical home user.
“I am still able to use every pro level machine I’ve bought from Apple over the past ten years.”
Some of us wish to upgrade more frequently than every ten years. I don’t think that a decade-old machine has the same return on investment as a machine that is replaceable every 4 to 5 years.
“I can’t believe you came back, Afib.”
What’s so hard to “believe”, moron? I have repeatedly said I would return. Do you have difficulty understanding words with more than two syllables?
“You must be hell at drive-thrus, man.”
Wrong again. You’re getting stupider by the minute.
@Afib,
The solution to all of your problems–clearly–lies in Florida with the Psystar line of Mac clones. No need to complain, no need to fret, no need to hate Apple for all its shortcomings . . . .
JUST BUY AN OPEN COMPUTER AND BE HAPPY!
Randian wrote, “JUST BUY AN OPEN COMPUTER AND BE HAPPY!”
A heads up for you, Radian, there are NO Psystar machines, Power Computing machines, Radius machines, or Umax machines for sale. How can a MDN Mac fanboi be so completely ignorant? Wait, I think I answered my own question!
<b<“The solution to all of your problems–clearly–lies in Florida with the Psystar line of Mac clones. No need to complain, no need to fret, no need to hate Apple for all its shortcomings . . . .”</b>
I’m gratified to read that every Apple product suits you so perfectly. If you ever post a grumble about Apple, write a single word of discontent, indicate even minor disapproval, or reveal any dissatisfaction then you will confirm that you are a lying and fraudulent piece of sh*t.
@Afib
I tried to be civil with you, oh vapid cretin, but you would not have it that way. So be it, and let the games begin:
You’d better check your facts, dumbass, for according to their website Psystar has not only ACCEPTED ORDERS, THEY HAVE SHIPPED THEM! Got it, you vacuous shard of ordure? So if you have the balls, the will, the commitment to what you say, believe, and need, ORDER ONE! DO IT! LEAP BEFORE YOU LOOK! GOT IT?
And yes, simpleton/moron, every piece of Apple hardware and software that I purchase is as close to meeting my needs as is possible . . . OR I DON’T BUY IT IN THE FIRST PLACE! Again, GOT IT? Why don’t you just shut the fsck up and stay in your MisterSoftie world with your Dells/Gateways/Acers/HPs?
Man, you are on the downside of the technological evolutionary scale, and you can’t even see it for your overhanging brow. UGH, YOU CAVEMAN. HATE EVERYTHING. BAM, BAM.
Now get back to your masturbating, you hunk of detritus.
Don’t listen to this guy, he clearly has no clue what he is talking about, the crap that came out of my dogs butt this morning is smarter that Afib, not to mention makes more sense
And Afibs mom gives handjobs at street corners and the dad sucks dick in hell
Just my $0.02
Ha, ha,
suckers!
Look at those parked cars! This is where your money ended up, that’s why you are still waiting for your Psystar Mac
Randian:
Touchy, eh? Let me clarify for you. Psystar is not licensed to sell machines with OS X installed and I am not willing to install OS X on a machine and violate the EULA. You see, I believe in following the rules. Obviously, civility and honesty is beyond you if lying and a cheating are acceptable to you.
“And yes, simpleton/moron, every piece of Apple hardware and software that I purchase is as close to meeting my needs as is possible”
“Close”, but not exactly meeting your needs? Thus, you admit that every Apple purchase you make is a compromise of your ideals? That’s what I said.
. . . OR I DON’T BUY IT IN THE FIRST PLACE! Again, GOT IT?”</b>
I couldn’t care less what you do with your own money, Randian.
Ray and Randian:
You are a prime examples of the lack of wit and intelligence of Apple fanbois.
“Anonymous” coward:
See posts for Ray and Randian.
The Mac Mini is a nice little machine, I am using one as a media center. But for an everyday machine my needs are a little more robust. I love Apple products, I use them everyday, but that does change the fact that there is a missing machine in the lineup between the mini and the pro and no, its not the iMac.
The great Mac Myth of Apple controlling the whole widget thus producing a superior hunk of hardware died a painful and ignominious death during the Invasion of the Clones of the 20th century. Many Mac users gladly paid less cash for clones with the Mac OS and were quite content. When Jobs saw that licensing his OS to the clone manufactures caused a drop in Apple profits, Jobs killed the clones. It wasn’t because the clones were lower performing imitations of “real” Macs and were spoiling Apple’s brand, it was because the clones were less expensive and equal in performance to the “real” Macs that compelled Jobs to annihilate the competition. Jobs was more concerned about Apple’s survivability as a hardware company and pleasing stockholders than permitting Mac users a wealth of choices.
It is pure fantasy that Apple fabricates a better machine because Apple sells both the hardware and software in a complete package. Apple may develop the software in Cupertino, but overseas manufacturers using off the shelf and nonproprietary hardware assemble the boxes than hold the OS. The standards of design (and by that I mean functionality versus estheticism) and degree of quality control in box assembly dictates the absolute quality of the final machine. Put OS X in a well fabricated PC and the PC will function just as well as a similarly designed and speced Mac.
I would love to see a direct comparison between Open Computer and Mac mini and iMac. How about it, fanbois, do you think you could handle it? What about Apple, could Apple handle it? Why doesn’t Apple pay an independent third party to run these comparisons? Surely, the superiority of the Macs would shine through. No, actually, Apple knows full well that these tests would confirm the fallacy of the Mac Myth.