OpeniMac is now selling Mac clones
The thing about clones is, they keep regenerating. The latest manufacturer we've noticed, Argentina-based OpeniMac, has begun selling Mac clones.
As if using the word "iMac" wasn't adequate bait for Apple's lawyers, who are probably en route at this very moment, OpeniMac has begun selling two computers that run Mac OS X Leopard. The OpeniMac features a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo processor, support for 2GB of RAM, a 320GB SATA drive, SuperDrive and an ATI Radeon HD PRO video card for $990US.
The OpeniMac PRO sports a 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo processor, support for 4GB of memory, a 500GB SATAII drive, a SuperDrive, and a Nvidia GeForce GS video card for $1,710US. But wait, there's more! They both come with a built in 6-in-1 memory card reader.
As for their looks ... no one said clones had to be pretty.
While the Psystar case waits in legal limbo, it would seem that opportunists are jumping on the bandwagon. Begun, this clone war has.
[Via Engadget]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
(01) said 5:27PM on 12-08-2008
"no one said clones had to be pretty."
I think George Lucas presented that concept the best...
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Taylor said 6:00PM on 12-08-2008
Really, you do wonder why they keep trying, when they know they're gonna get their asses sued.
Especially when you go ahead and use the name that Apple uses for its product (iMac in this case). You're just giving them an extra count against you.
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Jon said 6:15PM on 12-08-2008
If you were serious about running OS X on a PC, why would you buy one of these?
All they're doing is assembling PCs from parts (what looks like rejects from other manufacturers) and installing OS X on them. Could you not just buy or build a better looking PC and install OS X on it yourself? Not only would you save money but the manufacturer would be around long enough to honor their 1-year warranty.
But of course, by means of disclaimer, the only true way to experience OS X is on Apple hardware.
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Grant said 7:43PM on 12-08-2008
Well, of course, but they're clearly not going after the consumers who are smart enough to know how to do that.
Andy said 6:46AM on 12-09-2008
"But of course, by means of disclaimer, the only true way to experience OS X is on Apple hardware".
What? I guarantee it's exactly the same experience of OSX. A friend of mine just built a PC from parts found on ebay or bought new, that out performs the top of the line Mac Pro - for under $1000.
This is exactly the reason this kind of activity will continue. Maybe this is the new revolution, just like Apple was way back when. Maybe the more this will continue, the more competitive Apple has to become. Maybe they can no longer competitively offer their hardware computing products. Well then so be it. It's supply and demand...
Pablo said 9:59PM on 2-28-2009
Indeed is different on a Mac. Everything is top line on a Mac, and you get extra hardware a PC does not have, plus they are beautiful =P
I'm a designer. I just can't picture myself now using photoshop without my Mighty Mouse's ball (instead of wheel, which moved the page only up and down =P now I can move all around! =D), or the two fingers on my trackpad, ambient light sensors, backlight keyboard, it doesnt makes noise, doesn't get too hot, it's light, it's beautiful (again), etc.. etc... ^^
profr said 6:59PM on 12-08-2008
Wow, not only do they rip off Apple twice with "iMac" and "OS X Leopard," but they also rip off Psystar with the "Open" label. This is a hacker's trifecta in my book.
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KosherSalt said 9:30PM on 12-08-2008
Sheesh... do what you want I guess, but the quality of the Apple hardware is a pretty major pull for me. Part of the beauty of MacOS is that it's designed with very specific hardware config's in mind - benefits ensue.
I hope folks buying these don't need any warranty support - because it'll be hard for the company to be helpful once they've been sued off the surface of the planet.
(yea - a fanboy... but come on - who else would read this blog anyway.)
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Andy said 6:47AM on 12-09-2008
Yes, and the hacked versions of OSX have to work with a specific set of hardware components also. It's exactly the same.
Hey I own an iMac, but I'm not too blinkered to understand that this is just as good a computer.
andrew said 10:51PM on 12-08-2008
now though I am a fanboy, I am wondering if there is any way for apple to tie Snow Leopard to their hardware with some sort of digital watermark on it? I mean that would make sense and it would be a way for the Steve to get rid of all this clone crap. Seriously why do these guys keep building these things? They look like crap, and like many others have said when this company gets shut down what will the customers do?
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dallasward007 said 10:45PM on 12-08-2008
Awesome. I can't wait until someone makes a steampunk one.
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Joey said 11:25PM on 12-08-2008
If Apple would just produce an entry level tower I think they'd go a long way towards quieting the cloning market without legal action. I'm not suggesting they offer up a reasonably priced expandable system (because let's face it, this is Apple) but at least offer a tower under $3,000.
As it stands users like myself, who'd been purchasing entry level towers for over a decade, currently have no product options whatsoever. My choices with Apple are a $1500 dead-end all-in-one or a ridiculously over-priced (or over powered depending on your point of view) $3,000 tower.
Is there any real mystery why clones are appealing? Right now I can build a quad-core system with a terabyte of storage, 6gb ram and a 512MB video card for about $700. And let me tell you, it's tempting. Truth be told, though, I'd buy the same system from Apple at double the price - if they only offered it.
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Andy said 6:53AM on 12-09-2008
Exactly. My friend just built his own tower to these kinds of specs. Why? After all, he's someone who's bought Apple hardware his entire computing life. He's a professional video editor that (shock!) has owned legitimate copies of Final Cut Pro through iteration after iteration.
But enough is enough. Why throw good money away? He doesn't care what the machine looks like, just what it can do. And his homebuilt 'mac' is THE SAME computer, but cost him a 3rd of the price.
I fail to see how anyone can't see the sense in this?
liquidmark said 11:15AM on 12-09-2008
"If Apple would just produce an entry level tower I think they'd go a long way towards quieting the cloning market without legal action."
No, that idea is horrible.
A entry-level tower would cannibalize their entire product lineup. That's one thing that put Apple in the doghouse during the 90's.
That's why they have the Mac Mini, the entry-level Mac.
"My choices with Apple are a $1500 dead-end all-in-one or a ridiculously over-priced (or over powered depending on your point of view) $3,000 tower."
First off, there is the Mac Mini, which is $600
Secondly, an iMac starts at $1,200, not 1,500 and a Mac Pro is NOT overpriced, no matter how you look at it. Hell, the processors ALONE run over $700 each on newegg and that's for the 2.8ghz version. 3.16 run $1,225 EACH!
"but at least offer a tower under $3,000."
A Mac Pro STARTS AT $2,300, not $3,000
"I fail to see how anyone can't see the sense in this?"
We see sense in it, but we also know how detrimental it is to Apple's future and the future development of OSX.
Remember the 90's?
I do and it wasn't pretty.
Apple had entry-level towers and clones then.
What happened?
They nearly went bankrupt, that's what.
I fail to see how anyone can't see the sense in this...
So, there you go, Apple ALREADY did it your way and nearly died. Now, They are doing it THEIR way and got 26 billion in the bank.
Joey said 12:15PM on 12-09-2008
"No, that idea is horrible. A entry-level tower would cannibalize their entire product lineup. That's one thing that put Apple in the doghouse during the 90's."
Apple's had an entry level tower/desktop in their lineup for years. I know this because it's the product I've consistently purchased in 3-year increments since the early nineties. The problem is this product vanished during the transition to Intel. It no longer exists.
So I'm not calling for the return of the clones where generic boxes eat away at Apple's huge margins. I'm asking for a product that's traditionally been in their lineup.
"That's why they have the Mac Mini, the entry-level Mac."
Which is an overpriced, under-powered novelty item. And this is coming from a guy who owned a G4 Cube.
"Secondly, an iMac starts at $1,200"
And it's a fine solution for people who want an all in one. I bought my wife one and she loves it. Of course she's not earning her living off the thing...
"A Mac Pro is NOT overpriced, no matter how you look at it. Hell, the processors ALONE run over $700 each on newegg and that's for the 2.8ghz version. 3.16 run $1,225 EACH!"
You're right, if I were purchasing a quad Xeon system I should expect to pay a huge premium. Of course I'm not silly enough to do that. I'd be quite happy with a Core 2 Quad which does more than enough for me at a fraction of the price.
"A Mac Pro STARTS AT $2,300, not $3,000"
And you do realize you can build a comparable system for about 1/3 the price, right? Take a look at some X-Bench results and you'll see that these "generic boxes" easily keep up with Apple's luxury liners.
Anyway, I'm not out to pick a fight here. I see your point and partially agree with you. The problem is I've been purchasing Apple's overpriced stuff for years. I've done this because I feel the platform is worth a *slight* premium. But slight is the key word. I just can't accept paying double or triple the price for a product just so Apple can keep adding to their 26 billion.
Philster said 2:38AM on 12-09-2008
NIce post. BEFORE Engadget... well written... funny... Welcome Back, TUAW.
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Lustigson said 2:57AM on 12-09-2008
"As for their looks ... no one said clones had to be pretty."
Well, if the original is pretty, and the clone isn't... it must not be a clone, but a cheap rip-off. ;-)
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Andy said 6:49AM on 12-09-2008
Cheap maybe, but they're no ripoff. How can it be, when it's exactly the same OS?
liquidmark said 11:15AM on 12-09-2008
"How can it be, when it's exactly the same OS?"
1) They pirated (STOLE) OSX.
2) They are selling their machines in clear violation of Apple's brand and copyright.
3) they made GROSS misrepresentations of Apple's products and prices on their site.
Jash Sayani said 3:37AM on 12-09-2008
Wow! Another accompanies to Pystar. I dont know why people like to spend time with Apple's lawyers.....
But I'd still go for the Mac mini as I can have 100% compatibility and Apple support.
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