PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY: New computer runs like a Mac -- at a discount

Macolytes around the world were buzzing recently with news that an online hardware vendor called Psystar.com is selling a $555 PC called the "Open Computer" that runs the Macintosh OS X Leopard operating ...

[Solitare]

For the record, since Macs have switched over to the Intel processor, they can run Windows too - and apparently they can run Vista faster than a comparably equipped "Real Windows Machine", according to reviews (most recently by Popular Mechanics). So the logic of buying a clone with a Windows back-up plan doesn't track.

I am holding off my views on the Open PC until I read a review from a reputable source that has the actual box in their office.

Until then, it's another urban legend.

[the Real]

I agree...has anyone actually received one of these machines? I think the whole thing is indeed an urban legend.

[the Real]

I agree...has anyone received one of these machines yet? urban legend indeed.

[Jim]

I wouldn't be proud of this and crow about it if I were you.

It's not a nnoble or wise thing.

Apple will break this company and tweak the OS so you'll be stuck with a white elephant.

And that will be a good thing.

[I disagree]

I think with windoze users having piles of PC's out there dealing with Vista bloat and disappointment, that Apple will likely allow the development and sale of OS X clones or hacintoshes. Sure I think it bothers the Apple faithful, but I think Steve will turn a blind eye and allow it to continue to happen.

After all, the more who switch to OS X, the more vibrant the operating system becomes.

In all honesty Apple doing it this way doesn't have to worry about driver support for all the combinations of clone PC's. By continuing to offer sleek and sexy Apple products priced quite well for what they offer "that just work", Apple can still make its profit.

OpenPC will have to write their own drivers and the Linux type movement will have to write drivers for the OSx86 project to support the OS X on the PC community. But there will always be more driver support headaches to deal with, so new users will often just buy an Apple unless they are on the windows fence and want a flexible box in which case the OpenPC or hacintosh is the best route.

That way everyone wins. You want a sexy and more compatible mac, then buy an Apple.

You have been burned by buying MS and dealing with Vista crapware, then switch to an open computer or wait for more drivers to be written in the OSx86 hacintosh community.

[John Ahrends]

I don't understand why people keep misrepresenting the reason for apple dropping the clones. Here is the answer right from the horses mouth.

http://video.google.com/videosearch...

"...We love to license our software.."

[Interloper]

Actually, real OS X cannot be installed on the Psystar device at all. It has a hacked version of OS X that can only be updated with another hacked version.

Furthermore, Psystar is not the end user, so the EULA issue is not relevant. The issues will be copyright infringement because Apple has not licensed any version of OS X to Psystar, and, fraud. I would also expect the matter of violating laws involving interstate commerce or bank fraud to arise. The people at Psystar seem clueless.

[Tom]

Apple's former patent attorney said he doesn't believe Apple has a case - the most they could possibly expect to get from any lawsuit is the cost of a copy of OS X.

[Naiiyak na ko sa Pinoy]

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