We were writing just last week that Apple’s lawsuit against Psystar could be the final stake in the heart of Mac clone computer makers. Some ideas are just too irresistible to die, we guess, because here comes a guy named Elijia Samaroo and his company, Open Tech, Inc waving a new red flag in the face of Apple’s legal department with the promise of an “open” computer that runs OS X.
Open Tech claims to be aware of the legal problems incurred by Psystar and intends to avoid them by not pre-loading its machines with OS X, the blatant violation of Apple’s licensing terms that should prove Psystar’s undoing. Open Tech says it plans to simply configure a system for the intended OS — Windows, OS X , Linux, Ubuntu — and provide a “do-it-yourself” kit that will help with whatever OS a customer buys separately.
Grab the popcorn and soda, and recall the ending of Basic Instinct.
Lonnie Lazar is a writer-musician-web designer-attorney. He writes about Apple for Cult of Mac and Mac|Life, and about VoIP and telecommunications for Voxilla. Follow Lonnie on Twitter @LonnieLazar, join the Cult of Mac on Facebook, and find Lonnie’s photos on Flickr.
8 responses to “Open Tech Jumps into the Mac Clone Pool”
Nice analogy at the end there. :) Also, that movie was HORRIBLE.
Let’s see how well this turns out. This particular case might be on the winning side of things; they don’t actually do it for you, they just aid you in doing it yourself – so do they get to slide out from being held responsible for what you might or might not do? Hmm….
I have a great idea, put your money it into a shoe box — saving it while your bank goes under — and put a big sign on the side stating “Just Like an iMac” – right…
Yeah, I agree with the guy above. They might very well make it. They’re not modifying the code, reselling the OS, or anything, really. Just letting you have the freedom to install whatever OS you legally own (or pirated, I suppose) on your computer.
/me gets popcorn
But they are encouraging users to violate the EULA agreement. This is one of the legal filings against Psystar.
I seriously doubt that the Apple lawyers will overlook this 2nd attempt to clone the Mac. It seems that if individual users do it, then Apple is overlooking the hackers (too many small fish). But when a company attempts this, then beware.