Engadget has their hands on “the first Psystar Open Computer shipped out for review,” Nilay Patel reports.
“We’re just getting it set up, but check out the unboxing [photos],” Patel writes.
See the photos here.
MacDailyNews Take: Focacta from the packaging to the plug.
MacDailyNews Note: From Psystar’s online FAQ: Can I update my Open/OpenPro with the Leopard OS using the Apple web site or the Leopard Automatic Update Feature [sic]? We do not support that feature of the operating system. Supported updates will be listed under support on the Psystar website. Future operating system updates may cause severe system problems. Only install updates that have been tested and posted to the Psystar support website.
God that is one ugly designed mac.
Makes you realise how great Apple’s designs are.
Goodluck trying to update the OS on that shitbox.
I bet Apple adds some update when means you wont be able to install any apple updates on non apple hardware.
This is exactly why Apple will NEVER licence OS X.
A prime example of the horrors of potentially licencing Mac OS X to other shitbox makers.
If Apple ever licences OSX – and I hope they NEVER EVER do, then this will be the future.
I pray Steve Jobs NEVER Licences OS X regardless of how much additonal marketshare they would gain..
10 pounds of shit in a 5 pound box.
I wonder if anyone else has actually received a computer. From following this story over the last few weeks, it would seem that large numbers of people (certainly in the hundreds, perhaps in the thousands) ordered a computer. One shipment does not a legitimate company make.
Also, has anyone else explored the rest of their online store? For a company with very little real-world presence prior to the introduction of the Open Computer, they seem to be hawking quite a few enterprise solutions (networking, VOiP phones, security systems).
I am wary of their entire operation. It seems that many people have been satisfied with the video evidence of ONE satisfied customer, but I wonder if this isn’t some kind of elaborate scam. Take the credit card numbers of thousands of people, reduce skepticism of scams by shipping a couple of computers (at what real cost to the operation?), and take even more credit card numbers as orders flow in. I am still skeptical, and I would caution anyone to hold off on giving this company their credit card information.
I wonder “if” they did send ’em Mac Mini’s what kinda reaction those folks would get to the “whole experience”? From the un-boxing, how tiny it is, how quiet it is, how powerful it is and as a big bonus: Firewire and iLife ’08!! Oh yeah and the Apple Software Updates can be setup to be automatic no need to check Psystar’s site to see if the next 10.5.X update or even an iTunes, Safari, Quicktime or security upgrade is available like months later and “if” Psystar is still in business. Yeah, big mistake by these folks I mean total dumb a$$e$ in even buying one of these future “Pet Rock” ‘puters! I don’t feel sorry for them cuz they’ll learn the hard way and will prolly end up putting XP or Vista on it to make it work and update properly! Or they’ll get frustrated and break down and get a Mac Mini instead and be wOwed!
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At last Mac users have a choice.
For many years, people have been complaining that it’s difficult to upgrade the hardware on a Mac. Pystar are offering a computer that will run OS X, but where you can easily upgrade the hardware.
But if you choose that option, there’s a small drawback. Although the hardware may be easily upgraded, it’s not so easy to upgrade the software.
It’s your choice.
Really thought engadget would get some real inside pics. I think Psystar are using the LifeHacker instructions for making a Hackintosh. Been toying with the idea of making one for giggles myself.
Link to lifehacker hackintosh article.
http://lifehacker.com/software/hack-attack/build-a-hackintosh-mac-for-under-800-321913.php
The Dude abides.
Ah, the sweet savour of the Walmart ethos comes to Macintosh. Not unlike the scent of decay redolent about the vulture, the shipping box forfends the box within.
Mongol General: Hao! Dai ye! We won again! This is good, but what is best in life?
Mongol: The open steppe, fleet horse, falcons at your wrist, and the wind in your hair.
Mongol General: Wrong! Conan! What is best in life?
Conan: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women.
Instead of using popcorn for the packing material- they should have used toilet paper. They’d have a matched set then.
“Oh, it IS just a cheap plastic case with cheap components. So basically your average PC box assembler, name or otherwise.”
That’s right Apple has expensive Aluminium cases with cheap components, which makes a world of difference. Macs also come in a nicer packaging box. Money well spent in my book.
Joe, lay off the weed, man.
@: Demon
“There is so many 8 and 16 bit legacy chips and subsystems on the board that it looses 30% of it’s performance in bus bottle-necks. The lowest end Mac Mini will most likely run circles around the Psystar cheap box.”
If you read the benchmark at
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
the clone seems to stack up fairly well against the current iMac in terms of IO.
They did say however that the fan doesn’t interface correctly with OSX which means it sounds like a jet taking off constantly. Not good.
[That’s one twisted Psystar and we’re not gonna take it.]
Love the lack of the firewire as someone mentioned… but hey you can use lightscribe to burn the label onto your CD
so basically, if you are the kind of putz that can’t even manage, with a digital camera no less, to get even a single non-fuzzy/camera motion blurred image of an ugly box sitting still right in front of you, you might buy this POS.
they should make an ad…..
Maybe Apple is willing to tolerate Psystar’s indiscretions for the moment, if only to allow users to compare the ugliness of Psystar with the magnificence of the Macs. However, I suspect that if Apple thought that if Psystar was hurting Apple profits that Jobs’ team of lawyers would descend upon Psystar like the plague.
did a google search on apple + psystar and the first “hit” was a thread on APPLE”S discussion board…
clicked on it, and it said you may need to log-in, etc. so i did and searched “psystar”
here’s what came up
No search results for “psystar”. You should try a less restrictive search.
Did you mean: shyster
(Hint Hammer: Now I can’t get that friggin’ song out of my head.)
It’s the next day. Shouldn’t the reboxing photos be online by now?
1.It’s so cheap, it comes with to gerbils that have to run a treadmill to power it.
2. You need a stick to prop open the case when it’s opened.
3. After one year, you need to shoot it to put it out of it’s misery.
4. Carefully replace the chewing gum and duct tape from the insides after opening.
I think Microsoft is behind this…
@ “Reality”
The Psystar boxes are shipping with custom OS X installs which have Software Update either disabled or removed, and according to Psystar reinstallation of OS X is “not supported”.
Their custom OS X installation has nothing to do with the EFI firmware hack you talked about, but has everything to do with my suspicions about what possibly hidden “features” they’re installing on these machines, and what their motives are for selling them despite the legal ramifications.
I sincerely hope others are looking closely into what may be lurking on these Psystar machines.
Unboxed and benchmarked.
Of interest from the “review”:
It’s running 10.5.2, build 9C31, which is behind the latest Apple build of 9C7010.(security holes intact)
It’s LOUD. Crazy loud. OS X doesn’t seem to interface with the fan controller, so it runs at full tilt all the time. It doesn’t really come across on the video, but it’s loud enough so that it’s hard to talk on the phone when the machine is running. There’s no way we could deal with this thing on a daily basis.
The DHCP lease drops every fifteen minutes or so and you have to manually renew it in prefs.
The included copy of Leopard was out of the shrinkwrap, but there’s no way to install it — it shows up in Startup Disk but it won’t restart, and it’s not recognized at boot
(Specs, etc here http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/ )
Ampar,
I’ve got a remedy. Give Psystar’s new ad jingle a listen.
“Cum On Feel The Noize!”
“Cum On Feel The Noize!”
And then?
“Round and Round
What comes around goes around
I’ll tell you why”
Following jingles will include…
Turn Up the Radio.
Blow My Fuse.
Rock You Like a Hurricane.
Looks That Kill.