psystar

Psystar's Open Computer the alterna-Mac

After about a month with Psystar's Open Computer, as long as I ignore the big ugly box underneath my desk it's easy to forget that this isn't a Mac.

For about a week or so in April, Psystar dominated the tech headlines with the launch of its Open Computer, a relatively cheap desktop computer with one notable feature: Apple's Mac OS X Leopard preinstalled. That's technically a violation of Apple's end-user licensing agreement for its operating system, and requires Psystar to circumvent Apple's restrictions on Leopard's use by adding low-level software that … Read more

Daily Debrief: Psystar makes convincing Apple clone

It comes as no surprise that a healthy percentage of Apple consumers buy the products for the way they look. But for those of you less interested in the sleek white boxes and black rectangles, and more interested in the software, then perhaps the Psystar Open Computer is the way to go.

The Psystar computer (which looks like a pretty generic tower) comes installed with Apple's Mac OS X Leopard and functions exactly how you'd expect an Apple to function, but for hundreds of dollars less. In Monday's Daily Debrief, my first question for CNET News.com … Read more

Psystar launches Open Computer software updates

In our review of the Psystar Open Computer, a non-Apple-sanctioned desktop that ships with Apple's OS X pre-installed, we reported that Psystar planned to issue an ongoing series of software updates to address any incompatibilities that might arise. As reported by Information Week, those updates are now live, and available from Psystar for download.

Among the updates, you'll find fixes for iLife stability, an iTunes update, and a patch that lets you share the Open Computer's CD or DVD drive with a MacBook Air. Each comes as a straightforward download, hosted directly by Psystar, which also says … Read more

The Open Computing experiment begins

I'm writing this post on Psystar's Open Computer running Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.2.

The Open Computer arrived Wednesday, and I spent some time this morning setting it up. The plan for now is to use it as my main work system (at least while I'm in the office) for about a week and see how it goes. For a full review, check out what my CNET Reviews colleague Rich Brown had to say, but I've noticed a few tidbits in the early going.

For one, the fan is much, much quieter than I … Read more

Another Mac clone maker spotted on eBay

Another entrepreneur is trying their hand at selling unsanctioned Mac OS X desktops.

AppleInsider spotted an eBay listing on Tuesday for a generic desktop tower running Mac OS X Leopard, weeks after Psystar made a very public show of defying Apple's licensing agreement for Leopard with its Open Computer. "Chris555" is selling the unbranded desktop for a fixed price of $549.99, plus $50 shipping and handling.

Is this the latest in a wave of Mac clone makers emboldened by Psystar? Apple has remained silent on the issue to this point, but lawyers think the company would have a good chance … Read more

Apple OS X: You say OS Ten, I say OS Eks

I long ago resigned myself to the fact that I will never write about an Apple product without receiving at least one critical reader e-mail. That said, I was surprised at the consistency with which people were irritated by our video of Psystar's Open Computer, wherein I refer to its illicitly-installed Apple operating system as "OS Eks."

In the video of the un-boxing there was one glaring annoyance. OS X is pronounced OS TEN, not X. If you need proof of this, use a Mac system, turn on Text to Speech and type OS X. The system … Read more

Lawyers, money needed for Psystar's legal battle

How much longer can Psystar get away with selling Open Computers?

Now that Psystar has satisfied any doubts that it's a real company making real products, the propriety of those products seems bound to be tested. In case you missed it, Psystar is currently selling Open Computers with Apple's Mac OS X Leopard preinstalled, in what appears to be a clear violation of Apple's software license agreement for that product.

There's a running joke about the number of consumers that actually read the licensing agreements that come along with new software. But these types of agreements … Read more

Psystar's Open Computer arrives at CNET

The Open Computer has landed at CNET Networks.

My colleagues over at CNET Reviews in New York have managed to get their hands on a review unit of Psystar's Open Computer, and they've got all sorts of pictures to share. For those of you who just woke up, Psystar is selling computers with Mac OS X Leopard as a preinstallation option, which is not part of an official program run by Apple and involves the use of some trickeration in order to get things up and running.

Click here for an unboxing video, or here for a slideshow. … Read more

The largest and smallest Mac clones around

Mac clones large and small are popping up all over the place these days.

Psystar has managed to get past a tumultuous week earlier this month to get Open Computers into the hands of its customers. The Open Computer is being sold with Mac OS X Leopard as a preinstalled option for Psystar's customers, in what is expected to at some point draw some legal attention from Apple.

Check out this video on Gizmodo of the Open Computer, which sounds like an airplane taking off, in all its glory. I ordered a unit two weeks ago that was supposed … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 713: Chore Wars--The Cleanening

There can be only one (see Highlander II, you n00bs) MMORPG that makes you clean your room. And we have found it. Chore Wars. Also, iPhone comes to Canada and we go green: new Prius talk, disappearing ink to save on energy and people, and how to stop buying CDs (uh, once the labels get on board). Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 713

XP SP3 is out today! (oh wait… never mind)

iPhone coming to Canada http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9931208-7.html

Psystar in the wild http://gizmodo.com/384526/exclusive-video-psystar-in-the-wild

OQO hacked to run Leopard, now world’… Read more