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Apr 16, 08 - 10:11 am Comment from: Predrag

Thanks for putting this up, MDN! One of the posters in the feedback part of the article dug a bit further and looked up the original address in the 'Intelius' database. It turned up to be a three-bedroom home, built in 1957.

Another looked up the current occupant at the new Psystar address: it's a T-Shirt company.

Yet another looked up Psystar's filing in Florida Dept. of State Division for Corporations. It is all there, for everyone to see.

Definitely worth checking out the entire article.

Apr 16, 08 - 10:20 am Comment from: Predrag

In other words, one Rodolfo Pedraza from Miami, FL, still living with his parents, decided to make some extra money (in addition to the pizza delivery day job) and decided to put together some cheap PCs, install OSX86 (Hacked Leopard) and sell them as Mac clones to the unsuspecting sheep. He registered his business with his home address, then when the things got hot (this past Monday), quickly changed the address to an office building not far away (perhaps his mom told him how stupid it was to put a home address on a public web-site).

What's amazing is that there was already a torrent of press coverage in the mainstream IT media about this company, with reputable commentators (journalists) discussing implications and legality of this. Meanwhile, a journalist from an English newspaper did the unthinkable - picked up the phone and did some most basic research on this company.

This is just the most amusing development in quite some time.

Apr 16, 08 - 10:37 am Comment from: iWill

Sounds like Psystar is a bit Psycho.

I checked out the site last night for sh!ts and giggles and found that he had a comparison of his base model and the Macmini. Problem is you can't configure their machine with OSX and that video card for $499 that they list in the comparison. I sent them an email to complain about false advertising.

Apr 16, 08 - 10:47 am Comment from: 84 Mac Guy

America's news media is so worthless. It takes a British newspaper to research whether this company really exists. Another sad commentary on our country.

Apr 16, 08 - 10:47 am Comment from: Predrag

Several people seem to be bringing up the same "two people starting a computer business in their parents' garage" argument. They keep forgetting, we are not in 1976. To say that things are not the same in the IT industry (or in the world) would be an ignorant understatement.

The "two guys who started a computer business" in 1976 had incredible vision when nobody knew what a personal computer was, could do or even that they were ever going to need one. CEO of Digital Equipment Corporation even stated authoritatively in 1977 that "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."

I don't think, judging by the turn of events ad the way things are evolving that Mr. Rodolfo Pedraza has a vision and is about to unveil an amazing product that would become the next thing. Comparing Mr. Pedraza with Apple's co-founders is somewhat irresponsible and pointless.

Obviously, we'll have to see where this goes, but to most people here, it is pretty much clear.

Apr 16, 08 - 10:50 am Comment from: Zune Tang®

Checked out the site and these computers look pretty nice. Do they run Vista?

Your potential. Our passion.™

I noticed the Mac Addict site is down. Are they bankrupt?

http://www.macaddict.com/

Apr 16, 08 - 10:55 am Comment from: Predrag

Mac Addict (the magazine) has changed its name almost two years ago to Mac Life (http://www.maclife.com). It looks like the domain registration for macaddict.com has expired and they just didn't bother renewing.

Apr 16, 08 - 10:56 am Comment from: ron

Zunewank, "Checked out the site and these computers look pretty nice. Do they run Vista?"

Your potential. Our poison.™

Yes, they look just as good as all Windows thingies.

BTW. Vista doesn't run - it crawls.

Apr 16, 08 - 11:00 am Comment from: Haiku

Have You Noticed This
Psystar Has A Ring To It
Sounds Much Like Shyster

Apr 16, 08 - 11:08 am Comment from: TowerTone

Sounds like this guys office is in a van, parked in front of these addresses. Won't be long until it is located "down by the river".

"hork?"

You know, this company could just be a scam.

They put these up for sale, draws attention to there other products, they make some money and bail out, leaving most people without products. In turn they get a bunch of CC numbers that they can then use to charge up other things with.

Are there any reader's of this site, who actually live in Miami? If they had said Colorado Springs, CO I would have driven by there the same day.

Apr 16, 08 - 11:19 am Comment from: Ampar

We now go live to the headquarters of Psystar for a press conference with the CEO already in progress . . .

Apr 16, 08 - 11:20 am Comment from: Ampar

To Mark:

"hork?"

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hork

It's PSYOP (look it up).

Learn about PSYOP, how it's used in commercial products/media. eBay feedback is PSYOP, that's why so many rogues have 100%.

Look up Edward Bernays (nephew of Sigmund Freud).

@ ron

"BTW. Vista doesn't run - it crawls."

Not on a Mac Pro.

Apr 16, 08 - 11:31 am Comment from: qka

The best of the comments on the article:

Curiously, when Woz and Jobs built the Apple I, they also sold it out of a garage. Their phone number, like Psystar, also ended in 66666 (the unit also sold for $666.66!).
My theory: Psystar is actually Wozniak having a laugh!

The hacker who wrote the EFI V8 emulator has also slammed Psystar:

"They forgot to mention author of emulator, so it’s looks like they made EFI V8. So, this is violation of my authorship rights on PC EFI V8."

http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/16/hacker_slams_mac_cloner/

Apr 16, 08 - 11:48 am Comment from: Woody

Predrag said: What's amazing is that there was already a torrent of press coverage in the mainstream IT media about this company, with reputable commentators (journalists) discussing implications and legality of this. Meanwhile, a journalist from an English newspaper did the unthinkable - picked up the phone and did some most basic research on this company.

This is just the most amusing development in quite some time.

So right! LMAO!!!

I think it's a ploy by Apple to see exactly how much interest there is on a headless iMac between the Macmini and the MacPro

Apr 16, 08 - 12:10 pm Comment from: Cubert

"This whole Psystar thing is just a big fat load of hork."

Interesting. I've only used hork as a verb and not a noun.

Example: Last weekend I horked up a shitload of blow.

Personally, I hope apple releases a consumer tower. Something around the same specs and price as this open mac. A sub 1000 dollar notebook would be nice too. I think we're gonna see more computer companies come out with efi support to run osx (everyone is supposed to be switching to efi anyway).

I personally think that apple would benefit from cheaper and more expandable machines. But everyone else seems to think that Apple should remain a premium product only. So I guess that means people who don't have a lot of cash don't get to use a Mac?
If you can't afford a macbook that makes you a bad person, and you have to get a vista laptop?

Say what you will about this Open Mac, but it's cheaper than even the macmini and more powerful as well. This is giving MS and Pc manufacturers a big advantage. If it's well established that Macs are superior then what seems to have always limited their adoption is price. It's the fact that you can buy a cheaper system even if it doesn't have uber powerful specs.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:33 pm Comment from: LordRobin

Interesting. I've only used hork as a verb and not a noun.

"What smells like freaking porpoise hork?!" -- Mom, Futurama

I said it in another thread and I'll say it again: If throwing together some PC components and making a Mac clone is so profitable and legally safe, why aren't Dell and HP doing it? Obviously either PsyStar is full of crap, or Dell and HP can afford better lawyers who inform them that it's a bad idea.

------RM

This is definitely a scam and anybody that orders one of these vaporware systems is nothing but a tool.

Psystar = EPIC FAIL

Apr 16, 08 - 01:15 pm Comment from: Predrag

Cap:

I would rather say a fool; they'd be a tool if they were buying that PsyStar to undermine Apple, as in a Microsoft tool (or someone else's tool).

Something's in the air here. If Apple can make a blank-box that'll run any and all OS's an end-user cares to load into it - and brag about the fact... why can't any other enterprising business do exactly the same?

This stalking-horse might be a green light for larger box-makers to bring similar products to market (and legally challenge Apple's OS X End User Licence)... Apple won't might find itself with no legal leg to stand on.

http://gizmodo.com/380488/psystar-exposed-looks-like-a-hoax

isnt the argument really not about psystar its about whether apple should continue pricing out the less affluent members of society

Apr 16, 08 - 02:39 pm Comment from: makemineamac

Ampar, you crack me up. That was great!

to hork (third-person singular simple present horks, present participle horking, simple past and past participle horked)

(slang) To foul up; to be broken.
I downloaded the program, but something is horked and it won't load.

(slang, regional) To steal.
Can I hork that code from you for my project?

(slang) To throw.
Let's go hork pickles at people from the back row of the movie theatre.

(slang, offensive) To snort from the sinuses. (Similar to hocking.)
I felt something plugging up sinuses, so I horked a big loogie.

(slang, rare, obscure) To vomit.
I just horked up my breakfast.

(slang) To gobble.
Don't just hork down your dinner. Savor the taste!

Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hork"

Im unsure as to what exactly steve twat means by fat load of hork, his usual journalistic prowess is at work

i wouldnt respect the guardian too much, its a predominantly middle class NIMBY type of paper, loves looking down its nose at people

Apr 16, 08 - 03:20 pm Comment from: Ampar

Thanks, makemineamac!

Hello for those of you who don't know me I am Dr Job-ells the Minister of Apple enlightenment and propaganda, Today I am able to report that Fuhrer Jobs is pleased with the tunnel vision unquestioning loyalty you all have to the Fourth "Apple" Reich, you will continue to purchase and laud anything that has the Fuhrer's Apple mark on it no matter how overpriced or underpowered it may be. There must be no disobedience particularly on MDN, you will do as the Fuhrer wishes. Looking down upon and mocking windows users is a minimum requirement of all, also smug arrogance towards the poor of pocket who are unable to afford Apple products is seen favourably in particular by our head of SS Steve "Himmler" Jack.

We are also announcing tonight shall be "Kristalnacht" night of the broken glass, whereby all SS troopers (MDN fan bois) shall march into all undesireable homes with copies of that poison, all windows must be broken. Anyone who dares castigate Apple, its products or business plan in any way will be sent to our blue screen of death camps and be ctrl alt deleted.

One state, One Apple

Heil Jobs

That is all

You fools! This was the greatest April's Fools joke EVER and you all fell for it!

BWA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

http://gizmodo.com/380488/psystar-exposed-looks-like-a-hoax

Apr 16, 08 - 04:52 pm Comment from: Ampar

The troll above who insists on reminding people of Godwin's Law has moved into the realm of disgusting and perverse.
It's not clever and you can shove your pathetic analogies.

Godwin's Law itself can be abused, as a distraction or diversion, that fallaciously miscasts an opponent's argument as hyperbole

Remember that Mac accessories crook, a few years back?

That would take other people's IP work, and relabel it as his own, and then sell it for more?

He was based out of Florida.

Apr 16, 08 - 08:16 pm Comment from: Ampar

O.K., how about STFU with the Nazi crap? Asshole.

lol@ anyone who thought this crap was real.

poorly executed vaporware scam that stunk from the get-go. have none of you fools learned anything from the past decade+ of internet scams and phony, self-aggrandizing companies?

jeebus, just give your money to me. at least i won't lie to you first. i'll even send you a nice thank you card, and a picture of my wife's milkwagons.