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Apple Sues Psystar

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Filing suit is going to cost them much more money than they'll get out of it. I'm sure the Psystar people have been wisely spending all the money they make or laundering it so Apple won't have much to take. I'm pretty sure this suit is more to dissuade others from doing the same thing.
 
Anyone know if there's any precedent for a case like this - i.e. a company saying, "You can only use software 'X' on official harware 'Y' (made by us)"?

In any case, I'm pretty sure they'll have to ditch that policy somewhere along the way anyway, if they actually want to become a significant competitor to Windows, since I doubt competition authorities are going to let such arbitrary rules pass which clearly hurt customers.
 
Doesn't SGI require their hardware to run their OS?

Apple doesn't have to license their OS if they don't want to. Could Apple increase their marketshare if they licensed the OS to other manufacturers? Sure, but they have made their choice. We can complain about it all we want, but we really don't have much legal say in the matter. Psystar chose to skirt licensing agreements on several fronts, and they should not be surprised when a lawsuit.
 
I think Apple should have let it be and let their userbase grow... They're going to get a rotten user-unfriendly image out of this. Yes, we know Apple disclaims it having to be on an Apple label computer, but customers always think they should be able to do anything they want with something _they_ purchased.

If they really wanted to stay different and keep a platform and OS unto themselves, they should have stayed away from x86 hardware.
 
[citation][nom]knickle[/nom]Here's an interesting thought. Since Psystar isn't the "end user" (they are the manufacturer), can they even be held liable? Hmmm.[/citation]

I've wondered that too. I seem to remember something about OSX not shipping on the Psystar systems but having to be user installed. In the end I think the question would be how much 'enabling' Psystar is doing. Judging from past statements though I think Psystar's claim is that Apple's EULA is not enforceable and possibly not legal.
 
Hum...I'm not surprised at all.
Apple doesn't need more OS userbase, they only need to sell those expensive machines (IMO) and that's about it.
I really don't care much about Macs these days, got tired of the spoiled brats and stupid Apple fanboys.
Only a few pro users actually know what a Mac can or can't do, everybody else only wants to show their machine style and play WoW.
Psystar does it for the money like every company that goes in the Apple Bandwagon.
 
Psystar should have just sold the boxes as "osx-capable" and left it at that, maybe with linux on it. then just offer instructions on how to install it. Legal liability is then on the end user who apple will likely leave alone.
 
[citation][nom]sublifer[/nom]I think Apple should have let it be and let their userbase grow... They're going to get a rotten user-unfriendly image out of this. Yes, we know Apple disclaims it having to be on an Apple label computer, but customers always think they should be able to do anything they want with something _they_ purchased.If they really wanted to stay different and keep a platform and OS unto themselves, they should have stayed away from x86 hardware.[/citation]

Apple probably didn't have a choice but go with x86, especially in the notebook space. PPC development had effectively stalled, especially on Motorola's front. There was no way that Apple could have crammed a G5 into a laptop. There were other PPC developers, but I doubt Apple was going to trust them after many years of getting screwed. (Although, Apple just bought one.) I would imagine that Apple also got to see Intel's offerings and realized that was the way to go. Intel had been courting Apple since the 1980's. The most significant part in the Intel transition was Apple starting OSX-x86 development from the very beginning. That foresight is what made the transition relatively seamless since they didn't have to go an port OSX after several updates.

The basic fact is that OSX is Apple's property, and they can do what they want with it. If they want to license it, then they will. If they don't want to, then they don't have to.

As much as I'd like to see mac clones again, I just didn't think the Psystar approach was a good one. If they went belly-up, all of their customers would be screwed since they would never get updates. It was always more for the hobbiest crowd than the general public. I certainly hope that Apple got the message that there's a bigger audience. We'll just have to see, I suppose.
 
Don't forget that MS doesn't just give Windows away. MS licenses the OS to PC manufacturers. When you buy a copy, you are licensing it from them. In theory, HP or Dell could become an exclusive licensee of MS Windows so that you could only by a Windows machine from HP or Dell.

It's also no different than the console makers. It's not like MS is letting people install the xbox OS onto any old x86 or PPC computer.
 
I'm not holding my breathe on a Phystar win, but I'm interested to see if their claims have any validity at all or if it really is just the big scam that most of us think it is.
 
Apple is stupid. they have so much money and still try and find a way to make more . Just like Rambus , These companies are rolling in so much money that they should have hit squads that go around sniping people that start these suing fads.
 
[citation][nom]LoboBrancoTimido[/nom]Hum...I'm not surprised at all. Apple doesn't need more OS userbase, they only need to sell those expensive machines (IMO) and that's about it.I really don't care much about Macs these days, got tired of the spoiled brats and stupid Apple fanboys.Only a few pro users actually know what a Mac can or can't do, everybody else only wants to show their machine style and play WoW. Psystar does it for the money like every company that goes in the Apple Bandwagon. [/citation]
I prefer my computer to have style and play alot of shooters..

But you're right,apple sucks,and so does their fanboys.
 
Kinda took em' long enough. Psystar was pretty much asking to be sued... I hope for the best for them though, I always thought it was complete BS for a company to try to tell a customer what hardware they are allowed to install software they purchased on.
 
This is becoming stupid. Mac clones are great for trying out OSX for those who either won't buy a Mac due to pride or finacial issues, but overall, when it comes down to it, what matters is what gets the job done most efficiently and for the cheapest cost. Wether it be a Mac, a clone, or a normal computer with Windows or Linux, the job at hand that need to be done will get done with the right computer the user is familiar with. If Steve wants to be a kid about this and screw a possible new generation of users out of a OS, then let him. The users will be screwed, yes. I personally bought OSX and put it on a computer from parts left over from previous builds due to boredom, but still use Vista, XP, and Linux (Fedora 8 x64). Each have their own purpose, wether it be gaming, DJ'n, administration, etc. And yes, Psystar did their approach unusually agressively and untactfully. But to drag it out this long is uncalled for, sue them, get it over with, and let us concentrate on things that matter, things that should be brought to our attention, not squabling over things such as this.
 
I agree that it Apple's IP and they have a right to do with it what they will. What I'm saying though is that people like choices, sometimes just the illusion of having the choice. They'd love the idea of building their own custom rig at home with the best parts and most expensive graphics card then have the option of putting OSX on it instead of Vista. And if that were to happen, OSX might get better software development support, better business apps and video games.... Who knows, Apple could be the next Microsoft. I hope not, but there does need to be some serious competition in the x86 OS market. Linux is trying and its getting better, but its not yet a household name. Apples is.
 
I guess I shouldn't be surprised about the amount of vitriol people reserve for companies that make products that don't necessarily appeal to them as a consumer, but may appeal to others (as is proven by Apple and their performance in the market). Get over it. If you don't feel the product appeals to you, don't buy it. Don't go on the offensive and lead some holy crusade to stamp out the heathens who would dare offer to sell you a computer you don't like.

As for the other side, the Apple fanatics who buy up everything that has an Apple label, get over yourselves. Steve Jobs is not the Second Coming (though he is a very impressive businessman). Nor is OS X the end-all, be-all of operating systems. It does a lot of things very well, and in a lot of situations, better than other operating systems. But Windows and Linux are just as capable, if not more so in areas where Apple is weak.

As to how this will play out in the courts, who is to say? One could hope that Apple finally wakes up to realize that the real cash cow is in software, not hardware. Any integrator can put a computer together. In fact, while Apple still designs their systems, they job out all the assembly to factories all over Asia. The real genius is in the operating system that brings all those random components together. Apple has a real opportunity here, while MS is still fumbling around with Vista and figuring out how they are going to force users to "downgrade" to the latest version. If they make a deal with even one major integrator (like Dell, Compaq or Lenovo), they could very well open the market and compete directly against MS, rather than indirectly on different hardware platforms.
 
Houndsteeth: How do you know Steve isn't the second coming? If God is omnipotent, he can certainly come as Steve Jobs, n'est pas? Or are you putting limits on God's powers. Lead has been poured down throats for lesser blasphemies than that my friend...

Articles of faith rather than reason aside, it's clear Apple is trying to put an experience in front of the user. That means that unlike M$, the hardware is not commoditized. Think of it this way: if the Waldorf Hotel's salad could be made out of ANY mayo, different folks would taste a different salad, but call it 'Waldorf Salad'. Yet in fact, most of these folks would not be experiencing what the chef intended. If the mayo were bad (or inappropriate, let's say - too much mustard), the salad might get an inappropriate reputation. Apple just wants to make sure that users experiencing the software really experience it the way it is intended to work. I suspect that isn't going to be the case on slapdash commodity hardware.
 
Actually I'm really curious to see how this falls out in court. The bottom of the post is silly IMO. Regardless of what Psystar has said in public there are more than one legit legal issues at stake in this case and it will be interesting to see what the law decides.
 
I have no doubt that Psystar will loose in court but Apple won't see a dime - mainly because I think the owner/founder will choose to disappear with the money rather then enter into a legal battle that looks unwinnable.

As to Apple, they have every right to lock down their systems. By strictly controlling the software and hardware, and rigorously testing those components, Apple is attempting to ensure their customers will get the most stable product they can produce.

I like the Waldorf Salad analogy - or perhaps we could use chocolate ice cream? Anybody can buy a half gallon of cheap chocolate ice cream, but some people prefer to buy Haagen Dazs. People pay a premium not only for the quality of the ice cream but also for the illusion of "old world craftsmanship" (if you don't know yet, the name is marketing fiction - check out wikipedia or try to catch a special about real/fake food branding).

Also, Apple does provide an illusion of choice. They are letting their customers choose their image over other competitors - simple, sleek, hip, sexy, and trendy is the choice. Who wants to be the geeky PC guy in the Mac versus PC commercials?

Apple fills a niche market - and if the trend towards cloud computing continues, they may grow. I, however, will stick to building my own PCs and spending many nights cursing while resolving hardware and software conflicts... something that Apple consumers don't want to do.
 
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