Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, Hardware
Member of Psystar's legal team quits
Earlier this week, David Welker (co-founder of lawfirm Welker and Rosario) left Psystar's legal team. He will be succeeded by Eugene Action, who is already listed as the council of record.If you're unfamiliar with this story (and who could blame you, it's so ridiculous), here's a primer. Psystar sells Mac clones with Leopard installed. Apple played the conspiracy theory card and then declared copyright infringement and sued. Psystar responded with a counter suit, filed Chapter 11, recovered, sued over Snow Leopard ... you know what? Just check the history here. It's an epic exercise in red tape manufacturing.
At this point, Psystar is like that cricket you hear but can't find. Ultimately harmless, hard to ignore and supremely annoying.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bingo said 11:50AM on 10-03-2009
Apple should just be putting a lot of bird seed around Pystar offices to attract more pigeons to the neighbourhood. Nothing I hate more than coming out to a big bird turd on my BMW.
Reply
Bingo said 11:51AM on 10-03-2009
I wanted to add: bird poop is far more annoying than lawyers, and cheaper.
Get it right said 12:15PM on 10-03-2009
It's "counsel," not "council."
Reply
Erik said 2:58PM on 10-03-2009
I wouldn't mind in the least if Psystar won. I'm actually sort of rooting for them. Sure, I love my mac and such, but I wouldn't mind at all. The tables have turned, and now Apple is acting more and more monolithic and IBM-ish than ever before.
Don't worry, I'm prepared for people to downvote this into oblivion, not because what I say is incorrect, but instead for the fact that they simply don't agree.
Reply
Dan Woods said 4:12PM on 10-03-2009
Apple are behaving consistently with how they have behaved since Steve came back.
The fact that the rest of the industry can't find direction shouldn't mean that Apple is penalised.
If Apple suddenly decided that they won't support iTunes on Windows (forcing iPod owners to a Mac), or started suing homebrew Hackintosh users, that would be cause for concern.
IvanP91 said 3:35PM on 10-03-2009
Why do they keep doing this?
If I want random uncompatable parts put together in a system that will crash because the Mobo doesnt like the video card, etc then why not just use a PC with PC operating systems.
What psystar is saying is: "fuck it, we want to use OS X on PC so its just as broken as a PC instead of 'built-for-each-other' like mac components are"
The whole reason of buying a mac and not using this shit, is so we get component that are built for each other.
Reply
Mr Lizard said 8:06AM on 10-04-2009
So just because you're not in the market for this product that means that no-one else should be allowed to buy one?
Alex said 12:52AM on 10-04-2009
I am 100% with Psystar... Why can't we install OSX on any possible hardware? Why Apple has the right to have a monopolistic attitude on this one? Back in the Old age there were PowerPC Clone for a Certain moment...
Actual Mac are just plain PCs with nothing more nothing else, and whether you like it or not we are paying a premium that it is sometimes difficult to justify on High Ends MacPros... Everyone is after Microsoft for its Monopolistic Attitude, why Apple should be treated different? After all, EVEN Windows XP, VISTA and 7 is running on actual Intel Mac, why the opposite could not be made possible?
Reply
joe said 10:03AM on 10-04-2009
That's total, unadulterated BS.
First, Apple does NOT use all generic parts. The case, power supply, and motherboards at the very least are proprietary. Even the 'generic' parts appear to be purchased to tighter specs than other PC vendors (for example, it is well documented that Apple's RAM works in Apple systems even when third party RAM can sometimes cause problems).
The proof is in the pudding - Apple's hardware quality is ALWAYS rated at the top of the list - by PC World, Consumer Reports, almost everyone who has ever done a survey. Apple's DOA rate is far smaller than anyone else out there (except possibly some very high end systems).
As for the rest, it comes down to intellectual property. Apple made it, they have the right to decide how to sell it. Heck, they have the right to not sell it at all, if they wish. You don't have any more right to demand it on your terms than you have the right to demand that Ferrarri sell you a car for $19.95.
jc said 3:03AM on 10-05-2009
Joe, I'm sorry you are way off base here. Apple can decide to either sell OSX, or to not sell it. What you can't do is say "we'll only sell to this person, but not to another person". I can go buy a copy of OSX. But Psystar can't... why?
The reason they won't sell OSX to Psystar is they want to shut them down as a competitor. Sorry, this is the definition of a monopolistic and anticompetitive behavior and it seems like only someone with the most extreme Apple induced mental disorder would think its ok.
mathias said 1:43AM on 10-04-2009
>> Ultimately harmless, hard to ignore and supremely annoying.
Every article about Psystar on this site is in the same style. I know this is a mac blog, but please, let's cut the fanboyism and have some proper objective reporting.
Reply
Justin said 3:07AM on 10-04-2009
I found it rather funny. Its not fanboyism because being a fanboy is choosing something as the best without reason and bashing all else. They are not choosing apple as the best in this situation but rather criticizing the company for being the real life equivalent to an internet troll. They are just asking for a fight. So although they are "ultimately harmless" you have to admit, they are "hard to ignore" because after they get the attention they so sorely desire, they keep coming back for more.. which is "hard to ignore."
/rant
:P
Justin said 3:08AM on 10-04-2009
Last quotes were supposed to contain "supremely annoying" haha oops.
Stace said 7:21PM on 10-04-2009
Man, Fanboys sure do hate Psystar.
I love OS X. And I run it on about 4 Apple machines and 2 non-Apple machines. One of those (the one I'm using right now), is a Psystar Open Pro quad core box that I bought when Apple was only willing to sell me an outdated mini or a vastly overpowered Mac Pro tower that was twice what I was willing to spend.
Now, if I were buying right now, I'd probably buy a mini (since they finally updated), but I'm still terribly glad someone like Psystar was there to fill the void.
So, Dave Caolo, if you're so annoyed by them, stop reporting on them and giving them press. Stop pretending they're as bad as SCO.
Reply
Seahound said 12:58AM on 10-05-2009
Has no resell value compared to a apple product.
Reply
jc said 2:55AM on 10-05-2009
Just remember who started suing whom. Psystar is just trying to make a living building computers with an os that people want (osx). They are paying apple the full retail price of OSX (no oem discounts) for every single piece of hardware. Yet Apple is using the legal system to shut them down.
In this case Apple is the annoying one. If they drop their charges and leave them along, Psystar will stay nice and quiet, and just continue building computers like they wanted to all along.
Reply
Kakcoo said 3:12PM on 10-05-2009
I don't mean to sound hars, but you, Dave Caolo, are a big cry baby. Most TUAW posts about Psystar is written by you, Dave. Why do you really care so much about Psystar? I can see you have made your decision about who's right and who's evil, but the court have not, so please let me make up my own mind.
If Apple wins, that is still just American law. Apple surtenly don't bend over for international laws (yeah, if they are gonna sell something in another country, they need to accept that countrys laws and regulations, and they don't always do that), so I'm free to have my own views anyway.
I really think there are more serious threats to your hard core Apple iLifestyle™. – Like this blog turning into crap. Why don't you write something about what I can do with Mac OS X, instead of what others can not?
Reply
Ryalab said 3:26PM on 11-12-2009
Wow, that's fair journalism. But regardless, you have many idiotic readers. The reason we like hackintoshing is b/c you can make a $500 computer that runs OSX and outperforms all but the highest tier of Macs that sell for $2000+. And they run perfectly and cleanly. If people want to buy that right from a company with systems that are guarenteed to work and not build themselves, how can you mock them? Sounds like a smart move for the non-well-to-do, lacking tech savvy consumers.
Reply