EFi-X shuts down EFi-X USA, says it doesn't support Mac clones

The Mac cloning soap opera just keeps taking crazy twists and turns -- Art Studios Entertainment, makers of the EFi-X dongle, have shut down EFi-X USA's plans to sell "Millennium" machines capable of running OS X just hours after they were announced. ASE CEO Davide Rutigliano sent us a statement saying that EFi-X USA was misinterpreting ASE's EFi-X certification program, that ASE will "NEVER sell machines or condone the sale of machines that compete with any brand," and that he personally ordered the project abandoned. Indeed, a visit to EFi-X USA's page confirms that the machines have been killed, although we're unsure what the terse statement "EFi-X USA LLC fights the clones and the clonemakers" is supposed to mean. All part of another strange chapter in the Hackintosh saga, we suppose. Check ASE's full statement after the break.

[Via Tom's Hardware]

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As you know, EFI-X uses a list of compatible to EFI and UEFI hardware. As strange as it seems, people have found difficulties to put together machines compliant with our standards, and we decided to create a Certification Program. This way not only we can make sure that people get the right hardware, (as non compatible hardware will even void their EFI-X warranty) but this opens the way to a much broader support, to new and exciting hardware, based on the user's requests.

This, today, created a monstrous misunderstanding. Our USA distributor, following (I have to say erroneously) the certification program built up a quite nice PC, but it was presented to the press in a totally erroneous way to which we at Art Studios Entertainment Media are absolutely unrelated to!

To be honest it wasn't intentional of them, but of course when I said that we at ASEM do not condone the merchandising of clones, I meant it. The press saw the "Millennium" project as a clone project, and I immediately ordered it to be scrapped and abandoned. Because we at ASEM do not sell or condone the sale of clones that compete with ANY brand. We have our own clientele and our own small and nice market share, and we are really happy that way.

Therefore if there is any brand that would like to have their hardware certified and decides to market it the proper way, we at Art Studios are extremely happy to evaluate their proposal. But we will NEVER sell machines or condone the sale of machines that compete with any brand.

The main point of EFI-X was innovation and integration, we are very proud of it and we like to keep it that way. We are the only one on the planet to offer such a device with such technology, and we are happy about it and very happy about our heterogeneous fans coming from all possible IT worlds, that understood and appreciated us and our unique philosophy.

And I can also proudly say that part of this philosophy was to respect all the brands that we admire, and follow their example to change the IT world into something better and friendlier for all of us.

Therefore, even though we are absolutely unrelated with last night's "stunt", I do reaffirm ASEM's spirit and philosophy of total respect and gratitude towards our existing affectionate customers. We may eventually in the future enforce our Certification Program, to deliver a more complete and better thought-after product to our clientele, but that will be made in total respect and fairness.

Davide Rutigliano, CEO, Art Studios Entertainment

[Lowest Ranked @ Dec 12th 2008 4:27PM]

Again, what was the problem here?

[Samboini @ Dec 12th 2008 4:28PM]

Apple.

[loocas @ Dec 12th 2008 4:42PM]

:D:D

[AlekZander @ Dec 12th 2008 6:10PM]

Steve Jobs Death Glare

[Tuckers @ Dec 12th 2008 10:00PM]

It's not confusing. Efi-x has stated clearly and frequently that they don't suppport any company selling a clone or hackintosh. They sell their product to enthusiasts who assemble their own computers. They do not wish their product to be associated with pre-built systems. They believe selling pre-built OSx systems is illegal and they don't want to be associated with it. What their chip does is not illegal. Assembling your own system at home and using the EFI-x chip is not illegal. If their chip is placed in a pre-built system and sold as a clone, then it would be illegal.

I have an EFI-x chip, but I have not gotten around to assembling a system with it yet.

[Lucas @ Dec 13th 2008 5:29PM]

the problem was that this company was about to market a machine in violation of Apple's current legal rights, thus setting themselves up for a slew of lawsuits that they would likely lose. So the big bosses shut it down before trouble could start. A much wiser move than Psystar who got busted for breaking the rules and tried to pull a lame and unsupportable "it is a stupid rule" defense

[lowdef @ Dec 12th 2008 4:33PM]

so fucking confused

[B @ Dec 12th 2008 6:29PM]

They made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

[scooterbaga @ Dec 13th 2008 6:31AM]

Or simply a publicity ruse?

[bob @ Dec 14th 2008 4:40PM]

I'd have to agree with all of yous...
Seems like a ploy to drum up news...

Light apple's fuse then take a cruise...
Their clever ruse does not amuse.
I hope they lose and get blown out of their shoes.
Then pay their dues when apple sues.

[Zinger314 @ Dec 12th 2008 4:39PM]

His right hand didn't know what his left hand was doing.

[Sime @ Dec 12th 2008 4:40PM]

sounds like someone got an angry e-mail from apple

[CraigJ @ Dec 12th 2008 4:45PM]

More likely a phone call from Apple corporate counsel

[balls @ Dec 12th 2008 5:08PM]

Fear the all-caps apple email.

[Mike @ Dec 12th 2008 4:42PM]

tl;dr summary is missing, for the confused (aka everyone)

[Zinger314 @ Dec 12th 2008 4:44PM]

Someone set EFi-X up the bomb.

[Jimmy Jones @ Dec 12th 2008 4:53PM]

eh, I beg ya pardon? Did I smell your fear ? What? Me fear? fear of the Apple Fruit attacking you?

[3Dman @ Dec 12th 2008 4:59PM]

How you can buy a product from a company like this ?
from 4 hours EFiX USA plans to release mac clones and now EFiX want to shut down EFiX USA.
How you'll buy this product ?
Don't waste your money, get a real mac or use hackintosh.

[Lowest Ranked @ Dec 12th 2008 5:05PM]

Never.

[tuaamin13 @ Dec 12th 2008 5:08PM]

Except EFI-X is for hackintoshes.

They say on their supported OS page: OS X, along with Linux and Windows. Since you can pretty much install some version of Windows or Linux on any PC, this is for making OS X machines.

[3Dman @ Dec 12th 2008 5:09PM]

OK then buy a product from this company and waste your money.

[Aaron @ Dec 12th 2008 8:05PM]

The product works fine. Co-worker of mine has a system up and running with it. See his blog post here: www.a-g.com/site/index.php?MGTPMC

[3Dman @ Dec 12th 2008 5:12PM]

@tuaamin13:
I mean by hackintosh to install it by yourself the same features of EFiX you can do it with normal PC and without spending any money like me.

[sean dailey @ Dec 12th 2008 5:59PM]

the benefit of the efi-z product is that it allows you to use osx out of the box and doesn't break your machine every time there's an update. some less 1337 people (myself included) find that as a very appealing option.

[DirtyVegas @ Dec 12th 2008 5:23PM]

They got a roundhouse kick in the nuts from Jobbo.

[YpoCaramel @ Dec 12th 2008 5:29PM]

Good. Saved themselves from legal hell that could kill the company and now the rest of us can use hackintoshs in peace.

[John @ Dec 12th 2008 5:54PM]

Apple 10.5: The Clone Wars

[TheStupidOne @ Dec 12th 2008 6:08PM]

I got an explanation for the sudden change of mind on releasing EFI-X in the US, Engadget has a red iPhone hotline straight from Apple HQ!

**Commence the codes for countdown towards OSX clone obliteration!**

[Ed @ Dec 12th 2008 6:16PM]

I'm so confused. Doesn't the EfiX allow you to install OSX on non-mac machines? How's that different?

[Major4Play @ Dec 13th 2008 10:59AM]

Because E-Fix's dongle is not against the law. EFI is not Apple's property.

[kyrie81 @ Dec 12th 2008 6:49PM]

Actually, EFix USA will not be closed, only their computer clone
idea. Efix does not break Apple Law because it does not affect the
operation or installation of OSX. There is no hacks involved or
hacking of the operating system. Unlike Pystar or a hackintosh where
you have to hack the OSX CD or after you install OSX. The only way
for Efix to work is if you install OSX from an original Retail CD. I
have the EfiX chip in my pc and it works great!

[lucas @ Dec 13th 2008 5:29PM]

you would be incorrect. by law, you can not create and market a device designed to violate the rights of another party. this device was designed to circumvent the hardware restrictions Apple, within their current legal rights, places on the use of the Mac OS X software.

[Shadyman @ Dec 12th 2008 7:07PM]

...ASE will "NEVER sell machines or condone the sale of machines that compete with any brand"

There's a problem with that statement. Can anyone see what it is?

[holto @ Dec 12th 2008 11:39PM]

I have built a machine with the EFiX chip and it's amazing. I have all the power of my quad core MacPro (it actually xBenches a bit higher) and it literally cost less than a third of what I spent on my MacPro.

The point here is that EFiX is not breaking any law with the chip alone. All the chip does is alter the board bios senquences to be compatible with the EFI that OS X uses. It also functions as a multi-OS interface at boot-up, letting you have a GUI for choosing your startup drive.

It's pretty slick and rather impressive so far for me. I'm decently nerdy, but I'm not quite nerdy enough to do all the hacking required for a typical hackintosh. This was perfect for me since they have an HCL and I already had over half of that in my gaming rig... I just ordered a SATA Bluray/HD DVD burner and a Gigabyte MB and put all my other stuff onto it. Plugged in the chip, inserted my retail OS X disc and boom. It goes to the GUI boot screen, I select boot from the DVD drive and BAM it installs OS X 10.5 like any of my other macs...

Now, don't mistake this for me not being an Apple lover. Their industrial design is next to none and I love my MacPro and MacBook Pro. I will always purchase apple hardware. That said, as someone who wanted a powerful second machine and media center but didn't think the mini was robust enough this was perfect. I spent less than the cost of the mini and got more computing power than my MacPro. Slap it in a nice HTPC case and booyow I got a slick as hell and mighty powerful OS X media center.

850 bucks minus the extra I spent on the bluray option. I mean, that's just sick. Oh, and I already had a retail copy of OS X that was sitting around since I replace my Powerbook with my macbook pro.

So total it would have been around 1100 bucks.

The guys at EFiX USA are NOT EFiX they are a resale set-up for the states... So the real guys were mostly unaware of what these guys were planning. They have stated all along that the beauty of their set-up was that this chip doesn't have anything to do with altering OS X or building clone machines and then selling them. You can CHOOSE to build a machine with it yourself, but the cool thing is that even then you are forced to by a copy of OS X. It's a pretty good way to keep from getting shut down and now these douchebag american counterparts have gone and brought attention to themselves via this dumbass move. I just hope this doesn't ruin it for everyone else.

[matt merritt @ Dec 13th 2008 4:27AM]

You are being too logical. This is a post about Apple. You're supposed to rant and rave about how their machines suck and how they are unfair for locking OS X into their hardware, etc.


I admire you.

[Brandon L @ Dec 13th 2008 12:17AM]

Well that was quick.

[EFIX USA @ Dec 13th 2008 10:11AM]

Just so we are clear on exactly what transpired yesterday.

EFIX is manufactured by Arts Studio Entertainment Media of Taiwan.
EFIX USA is the USA distributor of the EFIX device and is based in Los Angeles, CA.

We at EFIX USA have had numerous inquiries over the past 4 months about whether or not we would be willing to pre assemble a functioning PC using parts from the official EFIX Hardware Compatibility List. We are still willing to do that on a one off basis, but the parent company of EFIX has reversed course on us doing that as a commercial product so we pulled it from our website.

Any inquiries should be directed to [e-mail]

Thank you and sorry for the confusion.

[Major4Play @ Dec 13th 2008 11:02AM]

Yeh thats what she said......

[Lucas @ Dec 13th 2008 5:26PM]

why don't you get honest.

what happened is that someone in your company posted information that you had a device which allows for violation of Apple's legal rights to control the hardware used with their software and you got dinged on it. so now you are pulling a CYA move and trying to spin that you never said what was said and wouldn't do what at least one party in the company claimed you could and would do.

and you are trying to continue the game in this thread.

[work and travel @ Jan 19th 2009 11:41AM]

These are not surprising my anymore, but thanks..

[work and travel @ Jan 19th 2009 12:09PM]

These are not surprising my anymore, but thanks..