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 reporter Tom Krazit was how has Apple not caught on to the small, Florida-based company that's finding ways to get around the licensing agreements. And that's exactly why. They're small and they haven't sold enough machines to waken the sleeping giant. Not yet, at least!

[shycelticwitch]

Most likely Apple is busy loading up to hit them with both barrels, which I really can't wait to see. Psystar has taken silk purse and turned it into a sow's ear... I have seen these computers, and HEARD them run. they sound like a failing jet engine and are very slow. Not to mention the fact that they crash almost as often as a Windows PC... imagine that!

I hope Apple crushes them like the insignificant little pests that they are.

[Digital_Angel]

"Not to mention the fact that they crash almost as often as a Windows PC... imagine that!"

So they crash as often as a Mac?

[shycelticwitch]

Real Macs don't crash... what's your point?

[Seaspray0]

Perhaps because the two are not entirely identical when it comes to support or software updates? Because psystar is a new player and has not had time to develop a track record by which they can be judged? Because people may not be sure about the licensing agreement and how it applies to running on a psystar computer? And why is apple "ignoring" this? Perhaps Tom Krazit will be willing to investigate these questions and report on them.

[Kev Orng]

I don't think "most" Apple customers are mainly interested in how it looks. If that was the case we'd all be sporting awesome-looking three hundred dollar pieces of junk. We'd be driving around in the Pontiac Sunfire equivalent of computers. Cheap speed, as long as the road isn't wet or curvy. Replace after three years.

From what I know, most Apple buyers are interested in the internals and the OS, and that the casing happens to look really nice is a bonus. My priorities; OS, closely followed by internal hardware; Appearance is a distant fourth or fifth, after "Not-Windows".

The Psystar OpenPro might be good enough, but frankly I'd rather let somebody else test drive them for a year. For $999 I'd rather splurge the extra $100 and get an iMac, for now, and see what the market is like in a year. Or I could build my own box and load up an OSX86 build, it's probably just as stable as the Psystar.

[dragonbite]

Hey! What's wrong with a Pontiac Sunfire?! My convertible is going on 10 years old and is still driviing just fine. And it does fine in New England winters and in roads more narrow and twisty that it's fun when 2 SUVs come face-to-face and have to figure out which one of them is going to be eating the bushes to let the other pass!

[chuckjuhl]

Uh, actually a very significant number of users that pick Apple products do pick them for "look and feel" and that includes the external housing (and not just the OS). I deal with hundreds (actually thousands) of Mac and PC users every year. Mac users tends to be younger, more "Yuppie" and far, far more image conscious than PC users - to the point of narcism in many cases. A significant percentage of Mac purchasers buy precisely because Macs are more expensive - the same reason they buy Porsche, BMW and Mercedes instead of Pontiac, Ford or Chevy. A MacBook Pro out here in Southern California is a social statement - an indication of class and position, much like having a BMW 135 convertable and a Newport Beach Condo.

[LunaticSX]

It comes as no surprise that many people disparage Apple products for only being popular because of their design, when that's only the icing on the cake. Nor does it come as a surprise that reviewers like to play that up, since its such an easy shot to take.

No doubt there are similar numbers of people who buy high-end prestige "pretty" Windows boxes like those from Alienware, VoodooPC, Falcon, etc. based on their looks and/or the fact that they cost so much more than other brands.

What's more important are the vastly higher numbers of people who pick Apple products because they're getting actually fulfilled promises of hardware and software that work well together, with fewer hassles in setup, configuration, upgrade installation, malware, etc. AND the hardware and software looks pleasant, to boot. (And aside from their professional towers, doesn't sound like a mini-wind tunnel near your desk.)

P.S. Southern California culture is the epitome of consumerism as a social statement, so it can be hardly used for extrapolation.

[solitare_pax]

Oh - looks matter? That explains why I got the butt-ugly beige Mac Minitower years ago that looks like it has a notch cut from the top corner of it. Oh, wait, you mean the trendy current macs? I get them because they do what I need them to do - same reason I got a Honda Civic, to get from point A to point B with a good load of "junk" without it guzzling gas or requiring lots of maintenance. Same reason my company is loaded with Windows 98 PCs - they may be butt-ugly, but hey - they work. So if Psystar works, and you want to avoid Apple's trendy style / prices / whatever, go for it.