http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/ Engadget Comments for Psystar Open Computer notes, benchmarks and video http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
Oh and I'd love to say this is great, but I'd recommend simply buying an iMac instead if you want to ensure a hassle-free experience with guaranteed support, guaranteed integration and built-in audio etc.

Sometimes the lazier, more expensive option is actually a better one. Certainly is in this case in my opinion. And if you can't afford the iMac, save.]]>Apr 30th 2008 7:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 8:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
Your right. The OS has nothing to do with fan speed control (in the BIOS based systems at least), nor should they, because the BIOS is perfectly capable of monitoring temps and controlling fan speeds.

Its obvious that Psystar didnt do any modifications to the system, literally dropped in all the parts like any of your corner stores, and loaded a disk image onto your hard drive. That noise could be solved by enabling a simple QFan setting on the MB.

or...

They could have cut sound output by 80% just by using a Scythe Ninja, along with some low rpm fans, which would have added about 50 bucks to the cost of this system.

In which case, screw Psystar. You would end up with a much better system for the same amount of money if you build it yourself, and possibly get it quieter than an iMac.]]>Apr 30th 2008 9:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/BUY A QUIET FAN
go ahead, splurge that extra $5-10

I suggest Vantec or Arctic Silver 12cm fans. A+, low noise. If you're going more "high end" spring for a fan with adjustable settings (ala the Antec Sonata II/III case)

Low noise.]]>May 1st 2008 2:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
I just installed it on my Dell m1330 and I'm pretty sure it's going to stay on there.]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
Only two reports of OpenMacs being recieved so far (as far as we know)... They could easily be one offs.

With the first report, that could easily be faked by the Psystar people.

With this one, it could be one they've made specially for Engadget so that people think "hey, this seems pretty good and legit. Now I'll buy one" and the Psystar people get more money before doing a runner with everyone's cash.

Unless you work for Engadget or another company that won't lose out too much if you get scammed, I wouldn't buy one... This whole thing is fishy.]]>Apr 30th 2008 6:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 7:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 10:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
this thing just isnt worth it.]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
and refreshing the DHCP every 15 minutes doesnt sound like much fun.

and having that fan blowing out my ears doesnt sound fun either.]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 6:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
...Apple may disway me from my OSx86 desires if they decide to sell a mid-level tower. And the ability to perform basic upgrades myself would also be nice. But who am I to ask SJ to release some of his control, just a simple minded replaceable customer. I mean nothing to him.]]>Apr 30th 2008 9:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
OSx86 is fantastic if you have the right hardware. People who have no idea what they are talking about like to put it down but the reality is that it has very little problems and is every bit as capable and stable as OS X on a real mac.]]>Apr 30th 2008 10:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/May 2nd 2008 8:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Jun 5th 2008 6:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
That alone seems like a dealbreaker to me.]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
Check out this link to obtain the updated kext:

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=88335

You may also want to try some of the solutions found in this thread

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=73347&pid=654954&st=120&#entry654954

Fortunately, a lot of problems have been discussed and even resolved at insanelymac.com. Since there is no support from Apple, you will have to rely on community support. Fortunately, there is tons of support out there from a large community.]]>Apr 30th 2008 8:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 10:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
nothing against hackintosh, but on an out of the box machine...]]>May 1st 2008 2:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/May 1st 2008 3:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
Also, what's with software update supposedly not working? Only new release (i.e. 10.5.2. to 10.5.3 ) updates break my hackintosh. Everything else including Security Updates works just fine.

That, combined with the fan noise is unacceptable. These things should've been weeded out in the first prototypes. Most of it, I suspect, would be solved by using a different motherboard. ]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 8:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/May 1st 2008 1:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
The plethora or problems you're going to run into with this very hacked setup makes it really impractical.]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 6:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/May 1st 2008 5:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
If I was one of the people who were working on the OSx86 project I would be very upset. This Psystar company just effectively closed the door on the whole "Hackintosh" community. I am sure that before Apple was find with some hobbyists messing around.

But now a company is making money off of it, diluting their brand and reputation. People will equate poor performing "Open Computers" with a fault of the OS manufacturer. Just as people equate poor mainstream PC performance with Windows.]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
That being said, I think your analysis of the situation is fairly accurate.]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 7:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
Second, Apple nearly went out of business (were it not for a GIANT "loan" from Microsoft) because they allowed people to release Mac Clones. They generally had cheaper hardware and a lower quality user experience. This translated to fewer people (the cost-conscious) purchasing Apple from Apple, and others (first-timers) not wanting to try Apple because of all the issues they had.

Apple worked hard to re-define itself as a premium computing experience - not as a simple OS vendor. They make their hardware and software unique to accomplish this goal. Letting another company profit from this with no control over their quality or user experience, and making only the retail price on OSX for each machine sold is corporate suicide. Apple isn't having problems meeting consumer demand, why would they willingly let a company destroy the image they spent billions generating over the last decade through ads, products, the press?

No benefit, extremely high cost. That's why Apple will kill this company in one way or another.]]>Apr 30th 2008 8:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
"This Psystar company just effectively closed the door on the whole "Hackintosh" community. I am sure that before Apple was fine with some hobbyists messing around.

But now a company is making money off of it, diluting their brand and reputation. People will equate poor performing "Open Computers" with a fault of the OS manufacturer."

I find the second part to be a pretty strong reason why Apple might now start to re-evaluate their position on the hackintosh movement.]]>Apr 30th 2008 8:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
I was with you until you regurgitated that big myth that Microsoft "saved" Apple. That is NOT true. At the time that Microsoft agreed to make a $150 million dollar investment (which was sold five years later) in Apple stock, Apple had $1.2 billion dollars in cash, but Steve Jobs needed Microsoft to restart efforts to complete a new version of Office for Mac, which had languished for three years. In turn, Bill Gates wanted Apple to use Internet Explorer as their default browser and to settle several billion dollar patent disputes involving Windows and Quicktime.

Look and Feel Lawsuit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Computer%2C_Inc._v._Microsoft_Corp.

"In 1997, five years after the lawsuit was decided, all lingering infringement questions against Microsoft regarding the Lisa and Macintosh GUI, as well as Apple's "QuickTime piracy" lawsuit against Microsoft, were settled when Apple agreed to make Internet Explorer the default browser over Netscape, and Microsoft agreed to continue developing Office and other software for the Mac for the next 5 years, and purchased $150 million of non-voting Apple stock."

Canyon Code Theft Lawsuit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_Canyon_Company

"Later testimony in the U.S. D.O.J. Microsoft anti-turst trial revealed that, at the time, Apple was threatening Microsoft with a multi-billion dollar lawsuit over the allegedly stolen code, and in return Bill Gates was threatening with the cancellation of Office for the Mac. In August 1997, Apple and Microsoft announced a settlement deal. Apple would drop all current lawsuits, including all lingering issues from the "Look & Feel" lawsuit and the "QuickTime source code" lawsuit, and agree to make Internet Explorer the default browser on the Macintosh unless the user explicitly chose the bundled Netscape browser. In return, Microsoft agreed to continue developing Office, Internet Explorer, and various developer tools and software for the Mac for the next 5 years, and purchase $150 million of non-voting Apple stock. The companies also agreed to mutual collaboration on Java technologies, and to cross-license all existing patents, and patents obtained during the five-year deal, with one another."

Also see: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CGN/is_1999_Jan_26/ai_53999515

The other big myth about Apple is that Apple "stole" the GUI from Xerox, when in fact they licensed it, but that's for another discussion. I blame the film "Pirates of Silicon Valley" for the popularity of most of these distortions.]]>Apr 30th 2008 8:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 10:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
Then factor in the ever-running fan and DHCP issues and God knows what other problems will pop up with continued use.

Get yourself a used G5 iMac for less than $700 and be happy.

http://www.powermax.com/parts/show/c-u63765

Oh, and now Pystar's Web page won't load again. That's great customer service/support! I guess you get what you pay for.]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
This myth about upgrading Macs is just that. You can add anything you want either with FW 400 or 800 or expresscard, or swap out memory or hard drives yourself. The video card is the only thing, and who is using Macs for hardcore gaming anyway?]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/
Yes, you'd have to have both drives installed and working, but it's a lot better than having to send it off to Psystar.]]>Apr 30th 2008 5:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/30/psystar-open-computer-notes-benchmarks-and-video/Apr 30th 2008 5:41PM