Psystar store is back up, orders on the way

Psystar's newest location near Miami International Airport.

(Credit: Anonymous ZDNet.com reader)

Psystar finally managed to get its Internet store back up and running Saturday, and promised that all Mac clones ordered to date will soon be on the way.

if you haven't been following the saga of Psystar, check out our coverage this week. In short, Psystar is selling home-built Open Computers with Mac OS X Leopard preinstalled, which is a violation of Apple's licensing policy for Mac OS X.

The company has been besieged with orders, attention, and skepticism this week after news of its existence spread far and wide. Most of the attention focused on the fact that Psystar changed its address no less than four times over the week, and that its payment processor pulled its services from the company after learning it was selling products, not just IT services.

But Psystar is back once again, with a new payment processor, according to the company's Web site. And it's promising that all Open Computers or OpenPro Computers ordered this month will soon be shipping.

"To all, we challenge you: let's see if we can max this one out. Regarding shipping, orders placed the week of April 7 are currently being shipped. We will be shipping units out of our new facility starting Monday, April 21, including those orders placed the week of April 14," Psystar said on its site. "Orders are being shipped in the order that they were received--don't worry; you'll get yours soon. Upon shipment, an e-mail notification, including tracking information, will be sent to you automatically."

So we'll see if those orders start to come through. I ordered a Leopard Open Computer on Wednesday, and my credit card was charged on Saturday. I still haven't received a shipping notice yet.

While we're waiting, check out more photos of what is supposedly Psystar's new building, obtained by my colleague Larry Dignan over at ZDNet. It would be nice if we can finally put the speculation about Psystar's existence to rest next week, and get into the most interesting part of this saga: how does the company plan to fend off an expected legal challenge from Apple?

[AySz88]

Not necessarily Psystar's place

Just a reminder - the person who took the photos wasn't able to get in and confirm it's really Psystar in the building. They were only able to see that the address exists and the place doesn't look shady. There wasn't a sign saying "Psystar" there.

[AySz88]

(Source: the referenced ZDNet blog. nt)

nt

[mackenzie2881]

Hilarious

Every time I turn on my notebook one of the first things I do is check for Psystar updates. Forget sports results, world affairs or financial markets. This is the number one story at the moment.

[Titanium_Skull]

questionable address

I work at 10900 nw 25 st, and the address listed by psystar doesnt match the photo, not to mention I still see that address is assigned to another company with a different product. I cant say they are or are not legit, but the questionable image and address is more than enough for me to stay away from this.

[TheArkhamAngel]

Uhmm who cares?

Why is this a story? Just let Apple deal with it..

[dtrots]

Who Really Cares

This Psystar thing is absolutely ridiculous. This is news? Some <br />guy puts up a website and works out of his house with a photo <br />shopped picture of a computer and claims to put OSX on it. <br />That's it?! <br /><br />There is no demo nor any proof that this actually works or that it <br />exists! I am just in awe over the publicity this is getting. <br /><br />The guy is loving the attention he is getting and the tech media <br />industry obviously has nothing else to talk about or is too busy <br />to do any research of a story whatsoever. <br /><br />I am going to register a website claiming to have fixed Vista. <br />Let's see how many orders I get without any proof.

[Get_Bent]

Obviously, not you....

"I am going to register a website claiming to have fixed Vista. Let's see how many orders I get without any proof."<br /><br />And let's see how quickly you get arrested and/or sued for fraud after taking peoples' money and not delivering what you promised. Whether or not this happens to Psystar remains to be seen. The product that they're selling is feasible (do a search for "hackintosh"). I'm waiting to see a report from someone who receives one of their computers.

[chuckjuhl]

Plenty of crow to go around

Hmm? looks like some bloggers may eat some crow. These guys appear to be a legit, if somewhat inept, startup.<br /><br /><a class="jive-link-external" href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=8538" target="_newWindow">http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=8538</a><br /><br />Of course, I recall a little company called PCs Limited back in 1984 that had the audacity to sell IBM clones ? from an off-campus dorm room. Credit card processing? didn?t have it. Physical address? Didn?t have one. You mailed your money to a PO Box and crossed your fingers. Turned out to be just a college drop-out and some slacker friends assembling off-the-shelf parts and taking orders over the phone and by mail ? cash or check only. Delivery often took several weeks. And, of all things, they were charging people for doing what anyone with a copy of Popular Electronics could do ? build a IBM-PC clone.<br /><br />That company evolved into what is now Dell Computers, the number one PC builder in the US.<br /><br />And way back in 1977, if you wanted an Apple II, you would have found no Apple corporate address or Apple retail store. Instead you would have found two former high-school social outcasts toiling away in a two-car garage selling their home-brew computers by mail order. You sent your check or money order to a P.O. Box and crossed your fingers. We all know where those two pioneers of high-school Geek-Goth are now. One is still a daydreamer. The other is still trying to get even with everybody that picked on him in high school. But together they built a computer dynasty. <br /><br />Just goes to show that it doesn?t take a winning personality to find a market and supply it. Or to be successful. Sometimes It just takes a vision and some moxy &#61514;

[Maclover1]

That is all good

but this venture is nothing but a copy. Apple will do something to make it so those boxes will break, or not be able to update. So they will be down or unable to update.<br /><br />Then they will of course come up with a work around, and back and forth it will go.<br /><br />If a users wants to deal with that crap....hey its not my money.

[ewelch]

dell did not invent clones!

You are out of your mind to keep spreading this story about Dell <br />inventing clones. It's utterly ridiculous.<br /><br />And to repeat the nonsense they are the #1 PC maker. That would <br />be HP.

[clowdy4]

Yes

Very well stated

[smvans7]

I HOPE THEY WIN

I'm tired of mac. I hope they beat the suit. Good luck to Pystar.

[sigzero]

Who cares what you think...?

It is illegal and Apple has every right to sue their pants off and I <br />hope they do.

[sciontcya]

Tired of Mac?

The only tiring thing is you WinTel fanboys who can't afford a <br />good computer slamming Apple and "mac"<br />Enjoy your Hyundai, or emachines or peoplePC.<br />Leave us alone.<br />Please.

[Lee in San Diego]

Not all of them are in Bumtown

My skepticism of Psystar is well known, but I would like to point out <br />that Enron was not located in a shady part of Houston.<br /><br />I would bet that Apple's investigators were among the first to place <br />orders.

[BillFromPittsburgh]

What if they sell a lot ?

It does seem like this breaks Apple's EULA.<br /><br />But - what a conundrum for Apple if these guys sell a lot. It is <br />obviously a good thing for Apple to have all these people <br />running Leopard at home. Brick the sold systems and you have <br />probably lost future customers - even if they are breaking the <br />EULA.<br /><br />Let it go and you basically sanction everyone else to do the <br />same thing.<br /><br />Also - if the OS isn't loaded until it gets to the purchasers house <br />- Apple is even in a worse position. They would have to go after <br />the purchasers (since they are the ones breaking the EULA). <br />Going after them would drop the favorable rating of Apple below <br />that of RIAA.

[Lee in San Diego]

Apple could just lower the price of the Mini

If Apple lowered the price of the Mini that could take the wind out <br />of Psyster's sails.

[chonnom]

Apple and the EULA

Apple could take somebody to court over the EULA but they could just have some kid, under 18, install the software. In most states a minor is incapable of entering into a contract and there is nothing in the EULA that prohibits minors (some states 16 and others 18 and under) from using/ installing the software (if if there were, it would not and has not to date been held-up in a court of law). Sounds petty but it's true and all a matter of criminal vs. civil law. There is precedence wherein minors agreeing to a contract without their parents' consent were held innocent under the law and the contract cosidered null and void. The strongest argument that EULAs have is that they are legally binding contracts which would fall under contract law. <br /><br />The thing that I always found interesting about EULAs, and the reason the courts are having such a hard time with them, is that noone can prove who pushed the "accept" button or even if it was presented (software by nature is sometimes buggy and it is possible that the EULA may not have appeared). Keep in mind that trial by juries are won by something as small as "reasonable doubt" being sown into the jurors' minds. <br /><br />The cases you don't hear about are the ones that the big companies lose because someone asked them to prove they accepted a EULA. See: <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.internetlibrary.com/cases/lib_case209.cfm" target="_newWindow">http://www.internetlibrary.com/cases/lib_case209.cfm</a><br /><br />For the most part state law will supercede any company written EULA and some states seem to be anti-EULA whereas cases that make it to the supreme court could go either way (professional fence-sitters).<br /><br />In any event it will interesting to see what action, if any, apple takes.

[JadedGamer]

Use the stickers!

Conveniently, Leopard ships with two Apple stickers (so that fans can show their appreciation I guess). Just stick one of those babies on the computer, and presto, you will have covered the "apple logo" requirement!

[MTGrizzly]

No it's not reasonable doubt..

Beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard for criminal trials. <br /><br />The standard for civil trials is "preponderance of evidence," (i.e.; <br />51% of the evidence. This standard of evidence is much easier to <br />prove.<br /><br />I am not sure letting minors install the OS would work, either. At <br />the very least, the person/company that hired them to install <br />OSX would be guilty of conspiracy and, probably, could be held <br />responsible for what their employees due. Regardless of their <br />age..

[LeanAvenue]

Why it's Still A Scam!

there has never been one posted on eBay. Someone would have put one up for <br />bid by now if any had shipped, don't you think? I don;t know - I would love <br />someone to post a picture of a received unit if one ever ships.

[MTGrizzly]

You would think...

...they would show up on eBay pretty quick if they were actually <br />shipping. Probably would sell for more than they paid, just for a <br />collectible...<br /><br />Weird how eBay has become a thermometer of pop culture, (It's not <br />on eBay, therefore it can't exist.)

[John Sawyer]

Still too early for eBay

It's still too early for one to appear on eBay. Give it time.

[Starfires]

The End of a Monopoly

This isn't the beginning of the end of Apple's monopoly- it's the beginning of the end of Microsoft's. It shows that people can now get a viable alternative to Windoze that works right out of the box, doesn't get viruses and looks better, without having to splash out Apple's specialised hardware. <br /><br />Some may use Linux, but the majority of us can't be bothered, whereas OSX is actually more user-friendly than that Redmond virus-magnet that people actually pay to have installed. Finally, an antidote has arrived!<br /><br />Of course, Apple may have something to say about this, but ever since they switched to PC-style Intel hardware, they must have known they were creating a universal OS. Anyone switching to it this way, though should be very careful about their configuration and be sure they can handle it if something strange happens with auto-update. Apple surely will not try supporting unusual hardware. In fact, if they don't play ball with all this and in fact make auto-update difficult, Windows 7 (or whatever) could well erase a lot of their recent gains.

[Ilgaz]

Put Vista to that Pystar PC, you will be happier

It can't be "end" of generic PC/Windows since PCs run Windows <br />best, Linux to some extent (except commercial stuff) and OS X <br />WORST.<br />After those people figure they can't install latest software from <br />Apple, security updates, that archaic BIOS failing, they will HATE <br />OS X and install Windows XP SP2 or Vista.

[John Sawyer]

Apple may pseudo-approve?

Since Apple knew all this would happen at some point, after the move to Intel, maybe they actually "want" OS X running on non-Macs (or at least realize that, in the end, they may not be able to prevent it), but can't make the move themselves, and have to act like they don't like it, or act like they can do something about it, due to legal or personal agreements with Microsoft, or for some other reason? Maybe letting the market, and hackers, take the decision out of Apple's hands, is the only way Apple can let it happen?<br /><br />I remember the odd statement from Apple, when OS X was introduced (or was it when the Intel Macs were introduced?), to the effect that they wouldn't (or couldn't) try to prevent anyone from figuring out legal ways to get around OS X's built-in blocks for running it on non-Macs. Apple actually has tried, but there's still a thriving (though still small) Hackintosh community. Were all of Apple's prior attempts limited to actions against methods that violated their intellectual property (posting entire OS X installers on bittorrent sites, reverse-engineering non-Open Source Apple code, etc)? Maybe Apple's few attempts thus far, to stop OS X on non-Macs, have been a smokescreen, or a "guiding hand", as they waited for someone to "properly" figure out how to get around OS X's blocks to this, in a way that Apple couldn't legally win against.

[jalongoria]

Regarding their storefront...

If they're even legit, this actually isn't that uncommon in the <br />greater Miami, FL area.<br /><br />A large percentage of businesses in Miami do not openly <br />advertise their existence in office structures like this - many <br />times the only way to find out where a business resides is the <br />phone book or Internet. This is mainly due to most of these <br />firms being startups and leasing 'cheap' and efficient space from <br />property management firms in the local area - evident when <br />driving down US-1 alone, especially in the Coral Gables area.<br /><br />I have an PI associate who said he will try and drop by the <br />address tomorrow if his schedule allows.

[The_happy_switcher]

I bet this is more of a stock scam than anything

This is just a front to make money on shorting Apple stock. They know that can't succeed but all the attention in the press will cause headline risk for the stock.

[Ilgaz]

Someone get the name of "new payment processor"

I am one of the guys who thinks the Clones should stay but in <br />a legit way , not like this way putting a cheap white box PC and <br />hack a OS to run on it.<br />I really want to know who the payment processor is since I got <br />serious doubts about a company who gets involved in a clear <br />illegal activity money transfers.<br />In fact, this thing is also a trickery since you never get a true <br />Apple Mac experience on a white box PC regardless of how well <br />you hacked it. Consumers running PCs all their life can't know <br />this so they will be tricked thinking they are buying a "Apple" <br />for cheap price.<br />Just one example: Intel Macs run EFI for firmware, PCs run BIOS, <br />that archaic thing from 1980s.

[_dietrich]

Privacy

Dither out those license plate numbers!

[Lee in San Diego]

Too late

The photo is out there

[solitare_pax]

Send in the clones already

I'm looking forward to reading a review on this mystery Mac machine so it can be settled once and for all.<br /><br />Either it will do great/okay or it is all a scam.<br /><br />Then if it does show - will it last as long as a real Apple Mac computer?<br /><br />The world (or at least a bunch of techies) is waiting.

[Karl Viklund]

Apple will crush them

Apple will crush them very soon. And with all the right. Why don't psystar go and make some Lenovo clones instead...

[chuckjuhl]

Not likely

Apple?s EULA in general is very weak legally, and the provision in question is most likely controlled by a 1984 case which held that "refusal to license [the company's] copyrighted computer software to those who did not purchase [the company's] hardware was an unlawful tying arrangement? A ZDnet blogger has also recently brought that up. <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/Murphy/?p=1121" target="_newWindow">http://blogs.zdnet.com/Murphy/?p=1121</a>. The short of it is, that if Apple does attempt to go to Court over the issue, they will most likely lose and not only that, they will likely be required to support OSX on non-Apple hardware.

[snatchmo]

Apple is crying all the way to the bank

Just like piracy and all the "unofficial" channels for DOS, <br />Windows and Office have helped build Microsoft's business over <br />the years, Apple doesn't lose sleep over this. Look at the media <br />buzz and the feeding frenzy. And it gets the geeks playing <br />around with OSX. Now they tell all their friends "I have OS-X <br />running on my Clone box!!" <br /><br /> 'Uh-huh. and why do you want to go through all that to run <br />OSX? I guess what they say about windoz being crap is right. All <br />the geeks want to run OS X.'<br /><br />And you can do a mac clone on the cheap. Just rip out the <br />device drivers and recompile the kernel and make sure you buy <br />the right MOBO with the proper SATA drive and....<br /><br />Or buy a Psystar and make sure you don't update your software <br />when the critical vulnerability patches are released or you'll hose <br />your clone. Make sure you wait until Psystar releases a patch in <br />about a week and a half. In the mean time just unplug your <br />internet connection. (who really needs internet anyway).<br /><br />Or for real people with real lives, it's easier to just buy a mac. <br />(And so the market share grows).

[ralfthedog]

I don't think Apple has much concern about individuals playing with clones.

Apple was started by geeks (Geek in a good way). I have been thinking about building an Apple clone for the fun of it. <br /><br />When someone infringes Apple IP for money, that is war. Apple will take their time. They will line up all ducks in a very precise row and get the biggest gun they can find. I would not want to be Psystar.

[Andy kaufman]

Long live the Hackintosh!

<a href="http://www.osx86project.org/">People should be free to choose that PC OSX runs on</a> without Apple suing them over it.<br /><br />If Joe Sixpack wants to buy a $399 Dell and install Mac OSX on it, that is his business. Why pay more for a $599 Mac Mini that lacks a keyboard, mouse, and monitor?

[MTGrizzly]

And Apple has the right...

...to tell Joe he can't install their OS on a no-name Windoze box...<br /><br />I wouldn't count on the fact Apple won't address this, sooner, <br />rather than later.

[John Sawyer]

Also missing

Psystar's Open Computer also lacks a keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

[shycelticwitch]

Perhaps because...

That $399 Dell will last about half as long as the Mac Mini... and <br />will be obsolete in 2 years...<br /><br />Whereas I still have a Mac Classic that runs superbly... albeit with <br />older OS.