Psystar sells $50 software hack to run Snow Leopard on PCs

[AppleInsider]

Mac cloner and enduring litigant Psystar has rolled out a new $50 application that will allow certain Intel-powered PCs to run Mac OS X.

The Florida-based company announced Thursday that any PC with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, i7 or Xeon Nehalem processor installed can take advantage of its Rebel EFI software hack to run Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

The "Rebel" hack is likely to get the company in even more hot water as an ongoing legal battle with Apple continues over Psystar's unauthorized computers that ship with Mac OS X preinstalled. Psystar and Apple have been embroiled in a legal controversy over Mac OS X usage since July 2008.

Thursday's announcement signals another frontier for the bold company beyond selling Mac-booting hardware. Psystar's website includes 38 steps of instructions for installing Mac OS X with its new Rebel EFI tool, with one part of the process that takes 13 separate steps to complete.

"Featuring Psystar's newest technology for allowing for the smooth interfacing between operating systems and generic Intel hardware," the product description reads, "Rebel EFI allows for the easy installation of multiple operating systems on a single system."

The software is priced at $89.99 at The Psystar Store, but is currently listed with a "special" $40 discount. The company offers it free to try, but with limited hardware functionality and a two-hour runtime. Rebel EFI also runs a hardware scan (seen below).



"The authenticated version allows for the permanent installtion [sic] of these OS's on your system, as well as providing the [Darwin Universal Boot Loader], supported hardware profile features and related drivers, and support for the application," Psystar's site states.

Earlier this month, Apple and Psystar both requested summary judgment in an attempt to head off a January trial. That news came shortly after Psystar announced it will sell Snow Leopard virtualization technology to third-parties -- the same technology included in the consumer-targeted Rebel EFI.

Apple has yet to comment on the latest development in this ongoing saga.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[DCJ001]

The psystar online store is shut down already.

This should be interesting.

[justflybob]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Apple has yet to comment on the latest development in this ongoing saga.

Friggin' soap box opera is more like it.

[MJ Web]

[vandil]

I'm actually looking forward to seeing where this goes. If the courts can't stop Psystar and Apple doesn't do any cat & mouse with software updates, I might build a Hackintosh to play with.

[bigdaddyp]

I have a hunch that most of this was ripped off from the work done by the hackintosh crowd and given a gui. These folks steal from everyone. Imho.

[solipsism]

So does this actually alter any of the code of Mac OS X, or simply trick it into installing without actually altering the codebase? While there clones are illegal this software doesn’t seem to violate any copyrights or patents as far as I can tell at this point, much like the EFiX USB chip. And since you are installing it yourself Apple can’t easily come after you for the doing it.

Originally Posted by DCJ001

The psystar online store is shut down already.

This should be interesting.

There whole site was done 20 minutes ago.

Originally Posted by vandil

I'm actually looking forward to seeing where this goes. If the courts can't stop Psystar and Apple doesn't do any cat & mouse with software updates, I might build a Hackintosh to play with.

And Apple may rise prices, require an authentication code and/or a home phone to verify a legal install of OS X. These are things I don’t want to deal with with OS X.

[Nano_tube]

Originally Posted by vandil

I'm actually looking forward to seeing where this goes. If the courts can't stop Psystar and Apple doesn't do any cat & mouse with software updates, I might build a Hackintosh to play with.

You can already do this using Chameleon RC3. This bootloader has a beautiful UI and it runs great with SL. I am currently using Chameleon RC2 with my Hackintosh 10.5.
Using a retail version of SL, you will also be able to freely update the OS using the regular Apple Software Updater - no piracy and no hacking (buy the retail SL dvd please).

The funny stuff is that OS X recognizes my PC as a MacPro2,1 and the cool stuff is that Geekbench scores are a little higher than a MacPro2,1 generation.

HackSpec: Core 2 Duo Quad 6600 @ 2.4GHz, 8GB RAM DDR2, GeForce 9800GTX+ 512MB, Intel MB, Sound + Lan onboard, LG DVD-RW.

Go here for more detail:
http://www.insanelymac.com/

Originally Posted by bigdaddyp

I have a hunch that most of this was ripped off from the work done by the hackintosh crowd and given a gui. These folks steal from everyone. Imho.

True!

[doyourownthing]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Mac cloner and enduring litigant Psystar has rolled out a new $50 application that will allow certain Intel-powered PCs to run Mac OS X.

The Florida-based company announced Thursday that any PC with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, i7 or Xeon Nehalem processor installed can take advantage of its Rebel EFI software hack to run Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard.

The "Rebel" hack is likely to get the company in even more hot water as an ongoing legal battle with Apple continues over Psystar's unauthorized computers that ship with Mac OS X preinstalled. Psystar and Apple have been embroiled in a legal controversy over Mac OS X usage since July 2008.

Thursday's announcement signals another frontier for the bold company beyond selling Mac-booting hardware. Psystar's website includes 38 steps of instructions for installing Mac OS X with its new Rebel EFI tool, with one part of the process that takes 13 separate steps to complete.

"Featuring Psystar's newest technology for allowing for the smooth interfacing between operating systems and generic Intel hardware," the product description reads, "Rebel EFI allows for the easy installation of multiple operating systems on a single system."

The software is priced at $89.99 at The Psystar Store, but is currently listed with a "special" $40 discount. The company offers it free to try, but with limited hardware functionality and a two-hour runtime. Rebel EFI also runs a hardware scan (seen below).



"The authenticated version allows for the permanent installtion [sic] of these OS's on your system, as well as providing the [Darwin Universal Boot Loader], supported hardware profile features and related drivers, and support for the application," Psystar's site states.

Earlier this month, Apple and Psystar both requested summary judgment in an attempt to head off a January trial. That news came shortly after Psystar announced it will sell Snow Leopard virtualization technology to third-parties -- the same technology included in the consumer-targeted Rebel EFI.

Apple has yet to comment on the latest development in this ongoing saga.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

doesn't apple have a legal department? why does this even happen?

[irnchriz]

cool, get it on thepiratebay asap. Then see who is complaining.

[SergeSF]

I wonder why Apple don't do it itself - release Snow Leopard for PC.

Just publish hardware requirements on apple.com and sell it for $129. Windows 7 need real competitor!

[Fast Fred 1]

Originally Posted by SergeSF

I wonder why Apple don't do it itself - release Snow Leopard for PC.

Just publish hardware requirements on apple.com and sell it for $129. Windows 7 need real competitor!

Cause Apple isn't in the software business, their in the hardware business.
How old are you?

[Quadra 610]

Psystar's latest attempt to legitimize thievery.

Will not score points with this in court, that's for sure.

[gresh28]

Wow psystar you guys are masters of engineering, 30+ steps to get your fugly piece of software working. Maybe take some pointers from the people whose stuff your are ripping off next time.

[digitalclips]

Do these guys supply their own handcuffs?

[xwiredtva]

Originally Posted by bigdaddyp

I have a hunch that most of this was ripped off from the work done by the hackintosh crowd and given a gui. These folks steal from everyone. Imho.

IT WAS! In fact it was GPL'd if I'm not mistaken... Which violates that too.

If they can do this, and MacOffice can rip off NeoOffice and sell it... What's the point. Crack down, and do it now! Anything I can do to help, I'm in.

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by solipsism

So does this actually alter any of the code of Mac OS X, or simply trick it into installing without actually altering the codebase? While there clones are illegal this software doesn’t seem to violate any copyrights or patents as far as I can tell at this point, much like the EFiX USB chip.

no but it is a potential violation of the DMCA restriction against knowledge/technology which breaks access control functions. so thus still a no-no

[Quadra 610]

I wouldn't be surprised if Psystar's next act is to Rick Roll the judge.

[xwiredtva]

Originally Posted by SergeSF

I wonder why Apple don't do it itself - release Snow Leopard for PC.

Just publish hardware requirements on apple.com and sell it for $129. Windows 7 need real competitor!

They would have a Windows EXE you download to TEST the PC before... They only make drivers for their hardware. most of the drivers used to get Hackin's working is open source derived or straight from the manufacture (Hello, Realtek).

[xwiredtva]

Originally Posted by digitalclips

Do these guys supply their own handcuffs?

Yea, but they were stolen from another state's police dept.

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by doyourownthing

doesn't apple have a legal department? why does this even happen?

yes they do. and said department has already filed several suits and countersuits which is why we have any news to read about this issue.

Originally Posted by SergeSF

I wonder why Apple don't do it itself - release Snow Leopard for PC.

well the parts in a Mac are simply handselected by Apple from the vast assortment that goes into PCs,including Intel chips. so in effect Snow Leopard is already for PCs. the whole thing behind Psystar is that they don't like that Apple can legally pick which logic boards, which graphics cards, which hard drives and so on are in a Snow Leopard supported PC. they want to pick their own. and by not providing shops of tech support, training, a massive website etc they cut out the extra cost that drives up the final ticket price allowing them to attempt a claim at a cheaper Mac.

Originally Posted by gresh28

Wow psystar you guys are masters of engineering, 30+ steps to get your fugly piece of software working.

yep that was my double fail. if they have gone to all this trouble and want to charge for it, the software should have 4 steps. Open, Pick the harddrive to install on, Wait for it to do its thang, Quit.

Originally Posted by xwiredtva

Yea, but they were stolen from another state's police dept.

[eclypse]

Originally Posted by gresh28

Wow psystar you guys are masters of engineering, 30+ steps to get your fugly piece of software working. Maybe take some pointers from the people whose stuff your are ripping off next time.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't steps 24-38 already part of the standard OSX install?

[Tofino]

Originally Posted by solipsism

SNIP
And Apple may rise prices, require an authentication code and/or a home phone to verify a legal install of OS X. These are things I don’t want to deal with with OS X.

that's what i'm worried about... I think the lack of the authentication hassle is one of the least celebrated advantages of the mac. it would suck having to put up with that nonsense in the future as a result of this.

[eclypse]

Originally Posted by Tofino

that's what i'm worried about... I think the lack of the authentication hassle is one of the least celebrated advantages of the mac. it would suck having to put up with that nonsense in the future as a result of this.

"Hackintosh's" can be just as good for Apple as bad. I never gave OSX a fair shot until I was able to try it out without a huge investment on a new piece of hardware.

As a result of using a Hackintosh, I've already decided that my next computer will be a MacBook Pro. I'm just waiting for the next hardware refresh on the MBP.

[mdriftmeyer]

Originally Posted by bigdaddyp

I have a hunch that most of this was ripped off from the work done by the hackintosh crowd and given a gui. These folks steal from everyone. Imho.

A hunch? The entire business exists because of the Hackintosh efforts.

[kpluck]

Originally Posted by eclypse

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't steps 24-38 already part of the standard OSX install?

The article was written for the Apple Fanboys that frequent this site. In other words, they want the reader laugh at the incredibly complicated "38 step" process but not actually check the process out for themselves...and true to form, most don't.

If they did, they would see how most of the steps involved would be identical to installing OS X on a Mac with a new, unformatted hard drive. Pretty simple stuff really. Sure, there are some necessary extra steps, but it seems to be an incredibly simple process.

-kpluck

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by kpluck

The article was written for the Apple Fanboys that frequent this site. In other words, they want the reader laugh at the incredibly complicated "38 step" process but not actually check the process out for themselves...and true to form, most don't.

If they did, they would see how most of the steps involved would be identical to installing OS X on a Mac with a new, unformatted hard drive. Pretty simple stuff really. Sure, there are some necessary extra steps, but it seems to be an incredibly simple process.

-kpluck

What the hell are you guys talking about? What 24-38 steps??
edit: Ok never mind. But sheesh they left out steps like "xx) - Lay palm of hand on top of mouse." "xxx) - extend index finger and push down once."

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by eclypse

"Hackintosh's" can be just as good for Apple as bad. I never gave OSX a fair shot until I was able to try it out without a huge investment on a new piece of hardware.

As a result of using a Hackintosh, I've already decided that my next computer will be a MacBook Pro. I'm just waiting for the next hardware refresh on the MBP.

Cool. Have you used a proper Mac since trying the Hackintosh? I think you’ll notice a world of difference in ease of usability. i’ve built many OSx86 machines over the years while owning Macs and they just don’t compare. There are odd quirks even on the best of them, but the feel of the keyboard and multi-touch trackpad are just worlds apart from any of the non-Mac PCs I’ve had, with or without OS X on it.

[caljomac]

Maybe I should buil a custom pc...does this stuff really work???

[kasakka]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Cool. Have you used a proper Mac since trying the Hackintosh? I think you’ll notice a world of difference in ease of usability. i’ve built many OSx86 machines over the years while owning Macs and they just don’t compare. There are odd quirks even on the best of them, but the feel of the keyboard and multi-touch trackpad are just worlds apart from any of the non-Mac PCs I’ve had, with or without OS X on it.

You could always just use an Apple keyboard if you want. I do agree with you about the multitouch trackpad though.

I ended up buying a Macbook Pro because I was so satisfied with my Hackintosh build. Comparing the two machines the PC on Hackintosh obviously runs much better because it has a far superior graphics card and processor. The MBP did boot faster even with the stock 5400 RPM hard drive (and even faster with the SSD I have in it now) and sleep doesn't work on my Hackintosh because its motherboard is not quite compatible.

But apart from those few issues it is faster than most quad core Mac Pros and worked nicely. Nowadays I just use my MBP connected to an external display, keyboard and mouse and have the PC reserved for movies and games running Windows 7.

[freelander51]

Originally Posted by Fast Fred 1

Cause Apple isn't in the software business, their in the hardware business.
How old are you?

Hmmm so
iTunes
iPhoto
iMovie
iDVD
iWeb
Garageband
Pages
Numbers
Keynote
Aperture
FinalCut Express
FinalCut Studio
Logic Studio
Logic Express
xSAN

are pieces of Hardware - hey ?

how old are you ?

[freelander51]

Originally Posted by caljomac

Maybe I should buil a custom pc...does this stuff really work???

I have 10.5 installed on a Wind U123 Netbook. Works smooth enough AND does have nearly six hours of (replaceable) battery life.

Of course - it's slower then my MB but it's lighter too. You see most Laptops do NOT fit into Hotel safes. All Netbooks do - so if you travel a lot......

[ivan.rnn01]

Software thieves are gonna be happy. The whole thing will then crash because of that dirty system loader and thieves will be whining about "Mac, which is just as buggy, as any Intel clone is".
Well, that'll make them happy again.

[SergeSF]

Originally Posted by Fast Fred 1

Cause Apple isn't in the software business, their in the hardware business.
How old are you?

I'm 39 and I'm still remember my first experience with Paint on Macintosh Plus in 1987. Why you ask?

As for the software or hardware Apple is these days... Obviously, Apple creates the state-of-the art software. Windows Mobile users first laughing about iPhone (reading it's hardware features list) but later they cry in tears when actually use it. iPhone is the state-of-the-art piece of hardware thanks to its software, I insist!

Selling OSX to PC users will be just great addition to actual Apple sales, not anything more. And Apple can use some unique (and patent-protected) hardware devices like multitouch trackpad (you name it) to keep Mac hardware exceptional.

Computer business can't be succesful if it based solely on re-selling "made in China" hardware. I hope Apple is smart enough to push OSX on PC.

[akhomerun]

Originally Posted by SergeSF

I wonder why Apple don't do it itself - release Snow Leopard for PC.

Just publish hardware requirements on apple.com and sell it for $129. Windows 7 need real competitor!

no, if they sell it, sell it for like $300 or $400, so there's very little cost advantage to staying with PC hardware. If it was primarily targeted at businesses, so say, they could get Mac OS on their existing hardware, it may get them hooked on Macs (both experience-wise and financially)

[Quadra 610]

The last thing any OS X user in their right mind would want is for it to become a Windows clone. There goes nearly every reason to use OS X. Right out the window.

This "open up OS X" garbage seriously has to stop. It's bad business from every angle, and it would certainly be a colossal disservice to the average user. It's not going to happen.

Besides, No one, that is, NO ONE in their right mind selling computers or software in the current market is interested in seeing a legal precedent set that blows a hole in the principle of the EULA.

Apple succeeds spectacularly with Macs and OS X precisely because it's a closed, controlled ecosystem. Anything else (or anything less), and OS X becomes a Windows clone. And who the hell would want that?? The whole reason behind Apple's business model when it comes to Macs (and their resulting success) is that OS X is tied to Apple's hardware. This is the reason customer satisfaction rates are so high, year after year. This is the reason the also-rans of the industry aspire to render their products more "Mac-like" in every way possible.

This "freely use computing hardware the way they want" and "open up OS X" notion lives and dies in small corners of the internet, and in the even smaller corners in which Apple fan sites live, fuelled mainly by the geek/tech-enthusiast minority that (wrongly) thinks it knows whats best for everyone else. In fact, Apple knows best. Period. The proof is in the numbers. Hackintoshes and mucking around with the OS and wailing about "freeing" it is alright for that small segment of Apple's user base (a segment which in the grand scheme of things is inconsequential anyway), but it would be a monumental disservice to the average user.

Apple succeeds because of these specific differentiations. It's a coveted business model that others only wish they could emulate successfully. We're at the point now, where if the average user has $1000+ to spend (and apparently, plenty of them do!) a Mac will be near or at the very top of their list. That's quite an accomplishment. It's the reason Ballmer ends up looking stupid, flustered, and tongue-tied at press conferences, especially when he's in a room-full of Macs.And by the way, the last thing Apple's numbers, record Mac sales, and dominance of consumer mindshare and opinion would suggest is for Apple to open up its OS. What's the reason to use OS X then? As an alternative interface? All the real benefits of OS X would be gone. Windows clone.

There's simply no demand for that and no reason to do so, especially when Apple's making headlines, dominating mindshare, #1 in satisfaction surveys and reports year after year, the darling of the tech industry, and defying the recession with its current business model. Do you think Apple would be stupid enough to let go of all that??

Sorry folks. You want a Windows hardware experience but with an OS X interface? Not going to happen. You can't have it both ways. Stick with your hobby hackintoshes (because that's all they are), and be relieved that Apple is sticking up for the integrity of its product as well as the average user's interests.

[eclypse]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Cool. Have you used a proper Mac since trying the Hackintosh? I think you’ll notice a world of difference in ease of usability. i’ve built many OSx86 machines over the years while owning Macs and they just don’t compare. There are odd quirks even on the best of them, but the feel of the keyboard and multi-touch trackpad are just worlds apart from any of the non-Mac PCs I’ve had, with or without OS X on it.

Yup, I have a Mac Pro at work now. I'm a Linux admin, but am going to start dabbling in some Mac stuff to help out a colleague.

I'm not running a Mac keyboard or mouse just yet. What I found is that I find it hard to get used to the mouse acceleration in OSX, so I've installed the Microsoft driver (which lets you override the mouse acceleration provided by OSX) for my IntelliMouse on both my home Hackintosh and my Mac Pro at work. Now I can get the same experience in Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX over my KVM.

[LE Studios]

Originally Posted by solipsism

So does this actually alter any of the code of Mac OS X, or simply trick it into installing without actually altering the codebase? While there clones are illegal this software doesn’t seem to violate any copyrights or patents as far as I can tell at this point, much like the EFiX USB chip. And since you are installing it yourself Apple can’t easily come after you for the doing it.


There whole site was done 20 minutes ago.


And Apple may rise prices, require an authentication code and/or a home phone to verify a legal install of OS X. These are things I don’t want to deal with with OS X.

Yeah to prevent that Psychostar gots to go!

[Dr Millmoss]

I'm certainly no fan of Psystar or of what they are trying to do, but I think Apple is going to have a much harder time stopping them from selling this software than they will snuffing their Mac clone business. Apple may try a DMCA claim (which on the face of it, seems far-fetched), or they may choose to ignore it entirely and hope that suing Psystar out of existence makes their software business moot.

[piot]

Originally Posted by SergeSF

Computer business can't be succesful if it based solely on re-selling "made in China" hardware. I hope Apple is smart enough to push OSX on PC.

Apple received a revenue of 14.276 billion dollars from selling Macs (fiscal 2007)

How much do you think Microsoft earns by "pushing Windows on PC"?