Psystar releases Rebel EFI installer, further enrages Apple
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted October 23rd 2009 1:49PM
posted October 23rd 2009 1:49PM
When not flying the Hackintosh banner, filing lawsuits, or generally positioning themselves as the gadfly on the ass of Apple, the kids at Psystar have been hard at work developing the software meant to free us all from the iron grip of Cupertino-approved hardware. And now, a mere two weeks since the company announced that it will be licensing its Darwin Universal Boot Loader to third parties, we submit for your approval a little something called Rebel EFI. Available to you -- the consumer -- right this very moment, the app will function as a universal installer for any modern OS -- provided your machine sports an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, i7 or Xeon Nehalem processor. And of course, "any modern OS" includes Snow Leopard. What are you waiting for? Download the trial version for free (limited functionality, runtime of two hours) or download the full deal for the introductory price of $50 (full retail is $90).
[Via iHackintosh]
[Via iHackintosh]
I'm down to try the demo. Hackintoshing is always fun, and the OS is pretty spiffy!
If Apple can offer Bootcamp, Psystar should be left alone.
All they're doing is breaking the anti-competitive Apple hardware lock-in that should be illegal to begin with.
i just foresee Pystar getting mad and threatening legal action once people hack this and it starts hitting the torrents.
oh the irony.
Except for the fact that OSX, while it is an operating system, can essentially be called an embedded OS due to the fact that it is only available on Apple hardware. Would you call it anti competitive if TiVO sued another company for putting its software into a no name DVR? The TiVO software is generally better than the software that comes on the boxes you get from cable or sattellite, the only difference in the boxes is the hardware, so why not just use the better software? It's not anti competitive to not sell the software running on your hardware device to other hardware manufacturers that make similar products. It is also inviting competition, since again the only difference is software, as the hardware essentially the same between Apple and non-Apple computers, that they have made drivers for those that wish to run Windows. That's all Bootcamp is, a bootloader, and a driver package.
The OS X isn't an embedded OS, as it's available as a retail product and is purchasable without proving you own Apple hardware--hardware which is fundamentally identical to PC hardware. It's just Apple attempting to use questionably legal EULA terms to tell you what you can and can't do with software you purchase.
@ lbwmoo - Your argument doesn't make sense. I can't go to the store and buy Tivo software, but I can go to the store and buy OSX.
You're buying an upgrade not the full version according to Apple and it's EULA.
You can buy an upgrade for OSX, which in the EULA requires that you have purchased the prior version, either as an upgrade itself, or that it came with a previous piece of hardware you purchased. In keeping with my analogy, it would be if TiVO offered new functionality on one of their existing boxes, and offered a paid only firmware upgrade that could be either downloaded, or purchased in store.
Hold - how are those two things the same? Microsoft doesn't make hardware, nor do they have a EULA expressly forbidding the use of Windows on hardware other than their own. Apple does. See the difference? Running Windows in Boot Camp is 100% legal and Microsoft even encourages it, because it's just more sales for them.
That's not even remotely the same thing as breaking Apple's license agreements to run OS X on hacked hardware. Apple has that EULA because they're a hardware company, selling hardware is what they do. Part of that is making it so that you have to buy a Mac to use OS X. That's how they make money, by selling Macs.
Apple is perfectly free to make money however they want, and that includes restricting their own OS to work on their own hardware. Psystar has a badly misplaced sense of entitlement, because Apple is in no way obligated to let anybody run OS X on any hardware they want.
I'm going to start selling keys and the alarm code to the front door of Psystars office and storage unit. You see, owning their keys and alarm codes are 'illegal', its just a key with a 'software pattern' carved onto the hardware... now is that so bad? You should be able to freely open any door you want and take whatever you want w/out these damn 'doors' getting in our way.
Sounds fair, don't it?
Imma try out the demo; I'm curious to see if it'll help any with SnoKitty on my 780i SLI and 9800GX2 :P
It is always amazing to see people commonly equating breaking a EULA = breaking the law.
EULA isn't a law, it is an agreement. And there really isn't a clearly defined law to enforce the EULA. It seems to be widely debated in legal circles whether or not a EULA can even be enforced, or that it is even legal to begin with.
Eventually this question will be decided in the courts, probably in a Apple vs Psystar case (or maybe even Psystar vs. Apple).
"Embedded" is a very fuzzy term. MS sells something called "Embedded XP", which allows developers of crippled or slow pc's to install a subset of XP on the device. Is that really embedded?
Or do you mean embedded as permanently installed in ROM when you buy the computer? That is what I think of when I hear "embedded". Like a gameboy. Or maybe an Iphone. That is definitely not true of either OS-X or XP.
I think eventually Apple will loose this battle.
Want to hurt Apple?
Take away Bootcamp and Office. Make installing windows on a Mac computer against the EULA. Sure Microsoft loses some sales but honestly the licensing they receive is nothing compared to the hurt they would inflict on Apple. People would be stuck having to buy a second, Windows only computer, or give up their Mac (particularly for those that game or work in an office environment).
BJ - You haven't been around for very long, have you? You think Boot Camp has existed forever? What do you think people did before Boot Camp was around? It didn't hurt Apple then and it wouldn't hurt Apple now. As far as Office, iWork is compatible with Office docs. I think it would have much less impact than you think it would.
Jack - Totally understand that Bootcamp has only been around for 2-3 years. However, in that time numbers have jumped for Apple sales. Is it all attributable to Bootcamp - absolutely not. Are there plenty of people out there who buy Macs because they have a safety net in Bootcamp - absolutely.
And while iWork is providing an alternative to Office it certainly isn't close to being accepted as a corporate substitute. Being compatible is a long ways away from being accepted. When you consider all of the integration options that are available in Office and compare that with iWork there really is no comparison. iWork will continue to make inroads in small business but I can't see it being rolled out as an option for most large companies.
woot for Psystar
How dare Apple force me to buy an overpriced piece of hardware to use software they developed. If I want it and not have to support the revenue streams that allow them to offer it for the price they do, that's my right.
I don't care that iTards can't run off-the-shelf industry standard apps like 3DS Max or AutoCAD under iTard OS because AutoDesk has created vendor lock-in with Windows. Similarly I don't care about PS3 owners who can't play Splinter Cell Conviction because the off-the-shelf software is tied to Microsoft hardware.
All vendors should be forced to support Microsoft Windows, the XBox and generic PC hardware because that's all I'm prepared to buy. That'll show all those elitist snobs who can afford more expensive equipment than me.
CHECK OUT THESES TERMS OF SERVICE FOR PSYSTAR THAT IM SURE NO ONE HAS EVER READ
copy and pasted from their website
" " Psystar is not responsible for any legal repercussions brought upon you due to your use or involvement with the Open Computer and/or OpenPro.""
Legal repercussions brought upon them will be passed along to you. Have fun till you get sued
I wanna see a Psystar fanboy argue with an apple fanboy.
AF: "Hey, you can't do that...Steve didn't approve it!"
PF: "Yeah well..." *pushes AF out open door of moving vehicle*
golf clap for unnecessary carnage.
@all things considered:
More accurately:
PF: "lulz. We are sticking it to the man."
AF:...Doesn't respond because they don't really care.
I'd prefer an airplane.
Virgin Galactic.
I am an Apple "fanboy" (I guess you would call me that as I use Macs). I personally understand Apple's legal position based on their EULA and other legal notices, but I don't understand why they don't open the OS up to more hardware. Personally, if they make the hardware compatibility risks known, they could have an "on your head be it" approach to support for wackier setups.
Dale: To put it simply, because they would start losing money and go out of business. Apple is a hardware company, they make money by selling hardware. The reason OS X (and all prior versions of Mac OS) exists is to sell Mac hardware.
PsyStar fanboys are just Apple fanboys who can both do math and use a screwdriver.
I'm a MAC.
No, you're just a confused PC running OSX...
hax
THAT'S. AWESOME. (and probably illegal in one way or another) Rebel Yell FTW!
I LOVE these guys.
I shouldn't but God love em I do.
Trying to load it on an i7 as we speak...
let us know how it goes
Yeah, I just saw that Intel thing... :(
I'm mostly AMD loyal, so only my work pc is intel.
Did it work out for you?
So far so good.. Changed the BIOS settings and Snow Leopard is installing... You put in the cd, boot, it asks for the OSX disc, restarts and now its installing like a regular OSX install... 15 minutes to go...
Want pics =)
What hardware are you using? Spec. what motherboard and cpu?
This is pretty impressive. The nice thing is that this would allow me to at least try the Mac OS without dishing out thousands of dollars to see if I like it.
Apple should just one up these guys and release it for free. Granted, Many will be disappointed in that Apple only works FANTASTIC on APPLE hardware.
Otherwise you end up with hackintosh drivers that are barely on par with Windows OEM drivers.
I'd have to say that is how I started out. First seeing OSX on a VM. Playing with Spaces, Expose, I realized that OSX is just another *nix based OS but with a really really intuitive UI. Very nice.
It was incredibly stable, even with crappy non-supportive drivers (in some cases better then MS native drivers -isn't that sad?)
All the security of *nix without the complications.
No registry.
No complications.
But the "no complications" is limited to Apple hardware. So I made the jump to a *supported* hardware (a mac mini) and it is amazingly smooth. I still use the 4 "top of the line" Windows PC, just via Remote Desktop as OSX's "bitches". But OSX remains my window manager of choice for checking mail, web, and transitioning between Windows/Ubuntu desktops with clipboard support across all three. Its very smooth to transition using spaces and a 5 finger mouse in OSX (again, more then 1 button mouse is natively supported in OSX for the noobs out there).
@Steve
I've installed Vista (and some Win7...shh don't tell MS they will void my EA) on a variety of hardware (~25-30 systems, 5 or so different hardware configs), and the nice thing is so many drivers are included without me having to slipstream them. 2 of the configs require audio drivers on Vista, and one requires a video driver. That's it. They're all quite stable, I have had zero hardware bluescreens on them (and only one or two bluescreens at all that I can remember), some with installs as old as two years. Maybe you have just had bad luck with Windows drivers.
And the funny thing is hardware is the only reason I don't consider OSX. I refuse proprietary hardware solutions in almost everything, including my servers (Supermicro chassis ftw). Especially when they are overpriced *cough*IBM*cough. The only exception is for specialized tasks, like faxing, PBX, etc
I'd really like for Apple to open up the OS to 3rd party hardware, but I don't think we will ever see that day while Jobs is around.
No. You cant -I agree. Best to stick with Linux or Windows. I've developed software and written drivers for Windows for 13 years. Its just that with Windows comes less restrictive guidelines and cheaper prices. But as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
There are terrible drivers out there. Because software developers generally have to eat for a living (i.e. get paid), I just find that OSX on Apple hardware 'just works'. And thats what you pay for. The caveat of that is price. My mac mini is old, substandard hardware. No 3D acceleration, not nVidia, not ATI, yet who else could milk OpenGL effects in the window manager that rival 'Aero' on hefty hardware? Hell even HD video on Windows Media Player in a VMware (fusion) virtual machine on a lowly, crappy intel GMA chip? Its about the software (as in optimized, well written).
And that is why even a non-Intel PPC mac mini still has resale value (check used mac listings anywhere) whereas I couldn't pay someone to take my Windows PC of the same era.
Yes Jordan because the cheapest Mac is 'thousands of dollars'.
Always a good source of entertainment.
*munches popcorn*
"nom nom nom"
Rebel EFI sounds like a new Canon dSLR...
I thought of that too, and expected to see Andrei Agassi.
sounds like the efix usb dongle, (which has been rendered obsolete by some of the new hackintosh bootloaders).
Chameleon boots my Hackintosh fine thanks.
I second that chameleon works and without the price tag of rebel EFI
@Chris
No joke, I saw $50-$90 for an "Installer" and though damn I thought the idea was to get away from Apple's overcharging asses