Possible Psystar Mac laptop clone in the works
By Laura June 
posted Oct 29th 2008 2:52PM
posted Oct 29th 2008 2:52PM
It looks like Psystar really hasn't been hit by either the economic downturn or the lawsuits Apple has brought against it regarding those "OS X-capable" machines. Adding insult to yesterday's injury -- the announcement of desktops with built-in Blu-ray and NVIDIA's GeForce 9800GT-- it also looks like the company is actively developing a Mac laptop clone, according to an email obtained by AppleInsider. A Psystar spokesperson claims that, "Although there is no mobile open computer at the moment, I can tell you that it is something that is in development," and adds "No release day or price has been set for any potential mobile product line. However I can assure you that at release it will be very competitively priced." Well then -- assuming the quality of the laptops will be comparable to those desktops -- we can hardly wait.
atom based 'mac compatible' netbook ~$400 could attract millions of users...
Even if an update is problematic, the os86 scene will fix it in no time and even if Steve Job wipe the scene from the surface of the earth, you still have a working computer with Unix or XP... which is quite ok for the bargain price! But of course, as we do not know about hardware quality, I feel one will be best served with a 499$ Dell laptop with the same os86 on it. Just pick a working model on the forum.
Broken comments system, it was for the post below. (Any talk about Apple competition will get you a broken post!! ;P)
Yep. I would immediately get one if everything was compatible and Apple officially supported it....
It has. Well, dozens if not millions, anyway. It's called the MSI Wind: http://kravvykrav.com/?q=node/33
Fight the man! I love it. If it looks okay and is priced under $1000 I may see a Psystar laptop in my future.
A THOUSAND? For a laptop that may or may not brick itself with an update? Come on man.
$499, tops. Like the guy above said, netbook style would be the way to go.
Word. Gonna have to cost a lot less than that for the risk involved.
Exactly why I don't jailbreak my iPhone. It works as advertised out of the box. Sure I could jailbreak it and get some apps I can't get in the app store, but then I have to live in fear of what'll happen when the next update comes out, and spend all my time 'fixing' my phone rather than having it work... as a phone.
If I didn't like what it did out of the box, I wouldn't have bought it and tried to 'improve' it, I would have bought something else that had the features I need.
I only said under $1000 because that would make it cheaper than Apple's cheapest MacBook. $499 sounds a lot better to me, too.
@Unix wannabe...
You're a unix guru, who is afraid of bricking a pile of garbage? I smell a nasty, rotting, dead fish... You shouldn't buy something and then have to worry that doing what you want with it will cause it to cease functioning. Seriously, I can't see why a person who portends to be of a crowd who are (more or less) informed, yet you are of such diminished intelligence to give in to such a rotten deal.
Seriously I can understand why there are so many 'fanboy' types who are just so against Microshaft, or just so hard for crApple; but to 'put up with it' is simply idiotic. The more who do that, the easier it is for people to get away with it.
Psystar is like that naked guy running around in the sports arena, and the ref's just cant seem to stop him.
Best analogy ever.
Psystar's secret: Vasoline.
hehehehhe... quote of the day! hehehehe... im still laughing!
heheheeeee...
Until the camera cuts away and a shitload of security guards jump on him and drag him away screaming, never to be seen again.
HurtBook Pro?
PsyBalls Pro
LOLOLOLOL!
I think I'm going to get "Bag of Hurt" embroidered on my backpack.
We need to start printing up T-shirts with that slogan....
p-p-p-powerbook.
Add a MiniPsy and a PsyServe with Mac OS X Server preinstalled et voilà, the impudence culminates.
let's not forget the psy-air lol
I think the next progression in this development should be the introduction of retail Psystar stores to sell these amazing clones. Setting up shop immediately next to Apple stores in retail locations would be the deathknell.
You know what? Good. I hope this company keeps making PCs. I think it's stupid for Apple to still try to sell OSX for their systems only. If your computers are as good as you clam, people will keep buying them. Personally, I'm sick of not being able to get one of their over-priced laptops because I owe some lunch money to my kindergarten teacher. I'm so sick of windows and Apple doesn't want an eager customer. I guess I'm screwed until my company decides to let us use Linux laptops.
I also wish Apple's products were cheaper, but guess what? You have a choice. You have alternatives, namely, Windows and Linux. What makes you think you're entitled to use a particular product? You make it seem like you're owed the ability to own a Mac. Last time I checked, this is capitalist society. If you want to own a Mac with OS X on it, then you take the steps to be able to afford it. I wish I could afford a Lexus, but because I can't, I make do with a Toyota. Quit QQing and make more so you can afford your precious Mac.
Yeah, get a pc, work with it, become rich, buy an apple and browse the web for the rest of your life!
I converted to OSX in January of last year. I still have a Dell Dimension running Vista premium on the desk next to my iMac for the few apps that I use which require Windows. (Hate trying to use Final Cut or Creative Suite while VMWare is running.) I understand why many people would like to build their own OSX machine. I have always been able to build high performance PCs for significantly less than I could buy from Dell, HP, etc. However, I'd hate for Apple to begin licensing OSX to manufacturers. I have really begun to appreciate the way OSX builds seem so lean without the extensive hardware and legacy support that Microsoft must build in to Windows to accommodate the vast selection of components and peripherals available. Even after bloating the OS with drivers, my Vista machine constantly reminds me that "A driver has been blocked due to incompatibility...". I don't mind tweaking to get a system configured to my liking, but I somewhat resent having to tweak a system to achieve normal functionality. For me, it's just nice that everything works well together right out of the box.
WM209... If you build your own computers, its not out of the box no? You will not get that kind of error from Dell or HP. Even by adding cards (Esata, firewire, graphic...) I never got that message. (but I am not building my own computers of course...)
I don't mind the errors if I built the machine. The driver errors I was referring to are own my Dell Dimension that came with Vista pre-installed.
@crispybacon: Woooooh there homefry. I don't know who pissed in your cheerio's but you need to calm down. I don't feel entitled to anything and for you're information, I could buy 5 macs right now if Apple had a store closer than 600 miles to me. Apple is the one remming themselves with their shitty line of credit and screwed up software practices. If MS tried to tie Windows to PCs only they produced, the Redmond campus would fall within an hour. Apple dies it, and people line up to go down on Jobs. You know what? Screw you and your attitude. If you are an example of the enlightened Mac user, I'd rather surf the web on Paris Hilton's virgina. An internet compatible crotch is the only reason I could see why that woman is popular at all.
@Boards of Canada: I deal with windows on a daily basis. On my PC I run Linux. My office is Windows, but I want to switch it to Mac. If it was up to me, every PC in the world would run Ubuntu, Gentoo, or Freedos.
@LameDuck
Look, for the record, I would love for OS X to be licensed for use on off-the-shelf PC hardware, but that's not the case. As long as folks keep buying Macs (and that seems to be the case if you search for the data), then Apple won't have any reason to license their OS. There's demand for their products so why would they take steps to reduce that demand? They licensed the Mac OS in 1995 and guess what happened? Demand for their hardware reduced. They're in the business to make money and they're doing so with a product line that's tightly integrated.
And since you can buy 5 Macs right now, go ahead. No one's stopping you. They offer free shipping so who cares if there's no Apple Store close to you. Complaining about their pricing structure's an old, tired argument.
Also, for the record, I have two home-built PCs and one Mac laptop.
Lameduck - that was a horrible analogy. Do you really not get how this works? If MS tried to tie Windows to specific PCs, that would be an antitrust violation because Microsoft does not make PCs. Apple can restrict their OS to their hardware BECAUSE THEY MAKE BOTH OF THEM. Do you seriously not see the difference? Or do you get it now?
If you want to try to make a point that makes sense, go for it. Bitching that Apple's OS only runs on Apple's hardware is just plain stupid. While you're at it, why not bitch that you can't play PS3 games on XBoxes? It's the same damn thing. Blu Ray discs only work on Blu Ray players! I'M SUING SONY.
*facepalm* "Personally, I'm sick of not being able to get one of their over-priced laptops because I owe some lunch money to my kindergarten teacher." - LameDuck
There is my point. Their line of credit SUCKS. S U C K S! It is so freaking horrible. I have enough credit to by a freaking condo on a beach, but I can't get a Mac? Something is really, REALLY screwed up there. As far as what you think I'm bitching about, you need some reading glasses. I never said anything about their OS being for Macs only other than I think that is a stupid business model, and it is.
As far as anti-trust and crap is concerned. "MS tried to tie Windows to PCs only they produced, the Redmond campus would fall within an hour." Right there it says, "only they produced". I knew some prick would hop out of the Mac camp at me if I didn't include the "only they produced" line, but I never though someone would totally ignore it. Even if a PC and OS are tied by greed, because a MacPro isn't any different from my custom PC now, they can still be charged with anti-trust. How? Say people stop using Windows when Windows 7 is released because they are tired of being MS' booty call. Everyone flocks to Apple. Apple jacks up the price of their PCs because they contain 99.9% more fairy dust than before since, ya know, that is why OSX can run on a Mac and not a generic PC. That would be grounds for an anti-trust lawsuit.
You know what? Forget I said anything. Here I though the Mac crowd was a little more relaxed than the PC crowd, but you guys proved me wrong. Have fun paying 2000 bux for a PC that I can make with 1000 bux and a bag of skittles.
@ Zak. Actually, if MS required Windows to run on a specific type of PC, it probably wouldn't be an antitrust violation BECAUSE Microsoft doesn't manufacture the PC (unless there is some other anticompetitive effect that occured). It is because Apple makes both the OS and the hardware, and (arguably) uses the tying arrangement to charge an artificially high price on its hardware that there is a potential antitrust violation. The fact that Apple couldn't compete in the hardware market without the tying arrangement also supports a finding of an antitrust violation.
Your other arguments are equally asinine. There is no evidence that any exclusivity of PS3 games on a PS3 platform have any kind of anticompetitive effect. Most importantly, most games are made by a developer that is not Sony, so there is no potential tying problems. Even if a game is made by Sony, unless there is some evidence of an anticompetitive effect (i.e. demonstratably higher prices beyond any increase in quality), there is no problem even if it is a tying arrangement (although I doubt Sony has a clause in its license for the game that would prevent someone from hacking an XBox to play its PS3 game). Your Blu-Ray example is even more ridiculous, since the Blu-Ray standard is not tied to Sony hardware. Anyone who pays the license fee for Blu-Ray can make hardware that supports it.
As much as I would love to see that, the problem is that one of the reasons Mac is so good is because it doesn't have driver problems and stuff like that. By specifically selecting what OS X uses, Apple can make sure it runs as smoothly as possible. The reason Apple tries to brick systems not made by them is that they're afraid that if they let one company make computers that run on OS X, then everyone will try to make one, and eventually that will lead to compatibility problems and ruin Apple's good name.
I'm not an Apple fanboy at all: I own a Dell Vostro 1500, never owned an iPod in my life, I have an LG Dare as my phone. what I'm saying is what I believe is the truth.
" lameduck@ Oct 29th 2008 4:04PM
Their line of credit SUCKS. S U C K S! It is so freaking horrible. I have enough credit to by a freaking condo on a beach, but I can't get a Mac?"
If your credit is that good why can't you get credit from Apple? Why do you need credit from Apple? Your rant is incoherent. At least you got the "lame" part right. :)
I didn't know they made Firefox for Paris Hilton's virginia. I don't really like Paris Hilton the person, but I certainly wouldn't mind "surfing" her "web" all day if given the opportunity.
I didn't know that Paris Hilton is from Virginia.
Zak, didn't I tell you stop being a jackass and spreading Legal FUD. You just proved you don't even know what Tying is, so STFU.
@happy_penguin: My original post was quiet coherent, just that no one seems to want to resist the urge to defend their beloved OS aganst the unwashed masses. The reason is, I currently have no credit cards. I would like to have one and for it to be an Apple card since, if I got a Mac, I would be a big customer for them. I would end up not only getting things for my self, but using it for business purchases. Why they won't give me one, I don't know. I've been told a number of things and I have proven them all wrong. I believe there is some dead beat out there with my name and a SSN close to mine and the idiots in India can't tell the difference between me and that guy.
I didn't make these comments to start a fight, only to show my disdain for Apple's asshattery.
@rp: Actually, I hear that her virgina runs a old version of UNIX and the lynx web browser.
I didn't make these comments to start a fight, only to show how skanky I think this woman is. Oh,and she's as dumb as a bucket of coal-dirt.
@lameduck
first off, you said you could afford to buy 5 macs. if you have that kind of cash, then why would you need a line of credit? secondly, apple doesn't provide a line of credit. The bank they have a partnership does and the APR sucks just like any other store-offered credit card. Why not go through a bank of your choice and obtain a line of credit that's more friendly to your wallet? If you can't get the type of credit you want because you're deemed a credit risk, then you'll have to take that up with the credit agencies that have documented your credit worthiness.
"LameDuck @ Oct 29th 2008 7:36PM
@happy_penguin: My original post was quiet coherent, just that no one seems to want to resist the urge to defend their beloved OS aganst the unwashed masses."
I wasn't talking about your initial comment, I was talking about your rant about not being able to get credit to buy a Mac.
"The reason is, I currently have no credit cards. I would like to have one and for it to be an Apple card since, if I got a Mac, I would be a big customer for them."
Apple doesn't grant credit. The card is secured through Juniper. Why can't you get a different credit card and buy with that?
"I would end up not only getting things for my self, but using it for business purchases. Why they won't give me one, I don't know. I've been told a number of things and I have proven them all wrong. I believe there is some dead beat out there with my name and a SSN close to mine and the idiots in India can't tell the difference between me and that guy."
Perhaps you need to run a credit check. Obviously the securing bank didn't like something on your record.
"I didn't make these comments to start a fight, only to show my disdain for Apple's asshattery."
If you think Apple's closed system policy is asshattish, that's one thing but it has nothing to do with not giving you credit.
well Lame, the product is that good, which is why the stores make like $50k a day selling them. as for the whole 'controlling the hardware' issue, it's part of why they can fix issue, repair the machines without huge costs etc. it's because they know the whole system. not to mention that using a zillion different combinations of parts would muck up the prices even more. massive bulk discounts make things bite a lot less.
I love these guys and their determination, they're like the little engine that could. I'd definitely get a pystar laptop with a decent gpu, 9800 and priced within $500 of the gateway 7811 and I'm sold. Chug on psytar chug on.
Technically they arent really clones as they arent stealing the designs of the computers themselves, just using the OS.
Id rock a Hurtbook Pro myself :)
Good point. They're Mac Compatibles in the way that what we now call a PC (AKA Windows PC) used to be an "IBM Compatible". Then again, they were also called "IBM Clones" despite the open nature of the architecture so I guess there is a precedent for this...
I take it that this is part of their settlement with Apple?
I see what you did there...
if it doesnt brick upon updates...or brick at all...im selling my macbook...cant stand this x3100 crap when im playing halo...
unless of course, its as pricey as the real deal...
You know you dont have to update any time Apple release new gadgets... im still happy with 10.3.9 on my old ibook.
It is time for Apple to start selling the OSX on flash drives WITH the Mac, therfore if anyone offers to sell a Mac clone, they can sue 'em
If you want to upgrade your OS you ahve to exchange the drive.
your supper secret business plan or something?
Is anyone else as curious as I am as to where and how Psystar is getting its funding? Sure it has sold some of its Open Computers, but nowhere near enough to fund their development and the lawsuit with Apple. And I find it hard to believe that a venture capital firm would provide much capital to a firm with a business model that guaranteed a lawsuit from one of America's richest companies. No matter how meritorious Psystar's antitrust counterclaim is (and I believe it is strong enough to get to trial and possibly win), it still takes money to keep the lights on.
Microsoft secretly want to destroy the Apple model. They know that when Steve Jobs leaves and the Clone Wars return, it will be the end of Apple...
nooooooooooo!
hehe The last thing Microsoft want is people having the choice to buy OS X on non-apple computers. Its probably that Silver Case Maker From Hell who is behind it...
Remember the days of the few System 7 Mac clones out there? Those were baaad.
well, they could have funding from all those windows fanbois out there. i know several people who would give psystar a great deal of money (like at least 10 dollars lol) just for keeping at it with apple
Probably apple. Might be using them as a guinea pig to see how well a Mac netbook would sell.
Boards of Canada is right - Psystar is just as a big that to Microsoft as it is to Apple (perhaps even bigger as it targets the lower market).
I expect Apple is pulling out of those negotiations right now and walking up to a California judge right about now.
Will PsyPhones and PsyPods be next?
lol this is so funny. they are just getting under apples skin every step of the way. microsoft probably paid them to do this
love it.
LOL +1
@ Mikey.
"Is anyone else as curious as I am as to where and how Psystar is getting its funding? Sure it has sold some of its Open Computers, but nowhere near enough to fund their development and the lawsuit with Apple."
I'm not challenging that statement per se, but I am curious what you base it on.
Have you read anywhere that reveals how many Open Computers or whatever they're called the company has sold?
If well speced and priced right I would be very interested in checking out a laptop from them.
as a lawyer myself, I would pick up their case pro-bono publico. It would open up my career and the loop holes in the License agreement are gaping.
That being said, I am not a lawyer, but a 50 year old man in my mother's basement. just goes to show that anyone on the internet can say anything and make it sound good.
SHAWWEEEEET!!!
Lame duck gripes "There is my point. Their line of credit SUCKS. S U C K S! It is so freaking horrible."
get your story straight dude. Apple has NOTHING to do with the whole credit issue. that is Juniper Bank 100%. they are the ones that are turning you down. so don't take that out on Jobs and company.
lets get real folks. Psystar went out and bought retail boxes with an End User License granting the buyer the right to put the software on a machine for personal use. NOT to redistribute it or resell it. which they did by putting it on their machines. They tweaked the software so that Software Update would call to their servers to get both Apple updates and their tweaks to make the OS work with their equipment which is illegal. They used Apple trademarks to sell their machines. Illegal. They got called on it. So they whined that the EULA rule is stupid and they shouldn't get in trouble for breaking a stupid rule.
They should NOT be allowed to use that defense to get out of the suit against them. They knew the rule and broke it without shame (and bragged about it). They should be slapped down for it. And after that, they can deal with the 'stupid rule' issue and if they win, at that point they can go back to the cloning business.
Only Psystar can make an MBA killer. It'll have 2 USB ports, matte 12" screen, and actually run OS X without issue.
You know, if they make a MacBook equivalent that includes a FIREWIRE 400 PORT then I might actually consider one. I don't like the idea of Mac clones but I am very annoyed that Firewire 400 was dropped from the consumer line with no replacement or compensation.
I really like the idea of having a cheaper alternative for using Mac OS X. The superior Apple hardware is spiel kinda dead now since for the most part they use the same chips and components as PCs. I don't care what the box that runs Mac OS X looks like! As long as it's fast and runs well I'll cover the ugly thing up and use the nice new dell monitor I have.
The good news for people that feel the way I do is that Apple probably figures it can not win against Psystar or they would not be playing so nicey, nice and trying to negotiate while Psystar not only continues to sell open PCs but also offers Blue Ray and is now talking about selling laptops.
YEAH! :>)
I think it's funny that everyone is saying "If it's cheaper, I'll buy it!"
You know you get what you pay for, don't you?
The keyboard on a MacBook is superior to any I've used on any other laptop, and that was an Apple innovation. The Psystar clone will probably have the cheap standard keyboard you see on every HP or Dell.
The display on a MacBook is a high-quality LED/glass thing of beauty. The Psystar clone will have a dim Taiwanese LCD with dead pixels.
The glass trackpad on the MacBook allows gestures, functions as a button itself, and is ultra-responsive. The Psystar will probably have one of those Thinkpad eraser-nub things, and two mechanical buttons that get gunked up in a few weeks.
The MagSafe AC adapter has saved many a MacBook from destruction. The Psystar clone will have a clunky, standard power supply.
The MacBook has the easiest upgrade for hard drive or RAM of almost any laptop on the market. The Psystar clone won't let you upgrade at all, most likely.
The MacBook is made of a solid piece of aluminum, and it's extremely lightweight, sturdy and damage-resistant. The Psystar clone will be made of cheap plastic with a metal casing inside, causing it to be heavy, clunky, and easily damaged.
The MacBook warranty is an all-inclusive one-year from purchase that can be extended to three years. The Psystar will be 90 days, at best, and you'll have to mail it in to their shop in Florida to get any service.
You think Psystar is going to use quality components? Think again. They're in this for the short-term, easy buck. They'll crank out a piece of crap laptop, and then ignore it once they've sold out and users are complaining about it being noisy, slow, easily damaged, or just plain junk. It's not even going to be Dell or HP level of quality. This is frakking *Psystar* we're talking about. Their current Mac Clone is a cheap piece of junk that sounds like a jet taking off!
Go ahead and buy it. In two years, when I sell my MacBook for 10% less than I paid for it (resale value remains high with Apple products), and you're on your third Psystar clone, we'll see who got the better deal.
"You know you get what you pay for, don't you?"
I paid for a 1st Gen Mac Mini and it was a sack of shit.