Is this legal? I was under the impression that all licenses for Leopard (the store bought version) are upgrade licenses only (ie. you need to own a previous version).
No, the license for OSX only allows it to be installed on Apple hardware. The consensus on reddit (and here) is that these guys will be shut down on Monday.
I buy Apple hardware. You've been able to install OS X onto other machines, with compatible internals, for some time. The reason I buy Apple hardware is partly because of the design - it really is much more thought out - but also because this is where Apple makes its money (I know, I know - ipods make the most!) and therefore the hardware sales allow Apple to create the great software. They're really a software company and their OS is lovely.
So basically: If you buy the hardware Apple used in the iMac's from last year and combine it with the GMA's that were used in the original Macbook's Apple released with the switch to Intel, you can get a cheap computer that works? Is this really surprising?
/edit: Not to mention it's not really unmodified/vanilla. There's some modifications going on. So you're stuck with the version of Leopard shipped unless you're involved in osx86 hacking.
I think they're using the EFI V8 emulator, which runs stock Apple kernels with zero modifications, and allows you to use Software Update without any mucking about before or afterwards.
You still need kernel extensions for hardware OS X won't recognize (often just modified Apple drivers to recognize different device IDs for sound/ethernet/graphics), but those can be maintained between OS updates, and so aren't affected by OS X updates.
It's not for Grandma, but there are a lot more technically-inclined Mac users than there were 10 years ago. If Apple manages to shut them down legally, these will have been a poor purchase, but if not, there are going to be a LOT more unlicensed clone manufacturers soon.
I find it funny how Apple is quick to prevent stuff like this when it occurs yet promotes Bootcamp and uses the point that we can run Windows on our Mac if we want to. If OS X is so great, why not let anyone run OS X on any computer they wish to?
This isn't a jab at Apple, by the way -- I've been using a MBP for about two years now as my only machine and love it.
that's like saying "if OSX is so great, why doesn't apple give it away for free?" in other words, "does not compute."
part of the reason the apple experience is better than windows is because the hardware involved is much less diverse. windows users and programmers get killed trying to keep up with drivers for every hardware device under the sun. much of that hardware is complete crap, produced by fly-by-night companies that couldn't care less whether it works or not. an environment like that is not amenable to a good user experience.
also, apple is primarily a hardware company, not a software company. they are very possibly losing money on every sale of OSX. they are willing to do that because they know every copy will be run on a piece of hardware they sold.
apple's margins on their own hardware is ncredible, usually cited as around 40 percent. meanwhile, pc manufacturers have been competing on nothing but price for years, so they've driven their own margins into the ground. one main reason dell is in so much trouble right now.
I'm very interested in something like this because I create interactive artwork for events (just got back from yuri's night) and would like to be able to customize the form factor of my hardware. Cutting apart a mac pro just seems so wrong...
Do any HN people know of a good resource for figuring out how to install leopard on alternate hardware?
If you max out the machine on their store, the result is $1045 plus shipping. Add in a 24" LCD with the same resolution as Apple's 24" for ~$360 with free shipping (found on pricewatch.com) for a total of ~$1450.
If you price out the equivalent iMac (except slightly worse (320 GB instead of 400GB; 256MB graphics instead of the max of 512MB graphics at Psystar) the result is $2299. That's about $800 extra for slightly less. Of course, Apple's will be nicer in design, fit, and finish, and you'll get Apple support (and I don't know whether Psystar will provide equivalent support). Is that worth $800? I dunno.
...Apple's will be nicer in design, fit, and finish...
I'm a little mystified when I read this stuff. On my new iMac, both the keyboard and mouse are very unimpressive. Although I'll admit that the keyboard looks nice and the little mouse scroll ball is clever, neither the keyboard nor the mouse is comfortable to use.
The pretty aluminum monitor/box stand only allows up/down pivoting - where's my height and side-to-side swivel adjustment?
Based on my experience with the hardware (i.e., mouse and keyboard need to be immediately replaced due to bad design and monitor would be if it were practical), I conclude that the premium is almost entirely based on the software.
And I also was very disappointed that it is basically impossible to use iPhoto to conveniently access photos on a NAS drive.
Hm. In some ways, I agree. I use an iMac from 2005 as my main computer, and I don't use the Mighty Mouse that came with it. I, too, would like height adjustment on the iMac panel, but side to side seems inherent in how light it is: even my cat can spin the whole iMac around by brushing against it.
I haven't had any problems with the keyboard, and I've grown very used to its idiosyncrasies, like the always-on numpad, etc.
