The popularity of Apple machine in recent years has unexpectedly invited more Mac clone makers resurface on the market. One thing for sure, Apple won’t sit down quietly looking to this ‘surprise” competition that violating their end user term of use. Apple forbid Mac OS X from being installed on non-Apple hardware.
First of all, I’ve never been using any Apple machine until recently. So this post is merely what I think, that based on what I read. Back to the clone, this development receive mixed respond from the general users as well as Apple fan.
One side strongly disagree with it, stating incompatibly & instability among other as the main reason behind it. The objection based on the sense that by allowing such thing to happen, it could put Mac in the same position as Windows now. Incompatibility issue between the operating system and the hardware often resulting instability on the whole system. Furthermore, by agreeing to open Mac OS to other hardware vendor, the future release/upgrade of Mac OS X upgrade could potentially dragged longer, in order to ensure the hardware compatibility issue fully taken care off.
On another side that support this Mac clone idea, citing the price as the main reason that could drive this clone to the market. High end Mac machine usually priced higher than its rival, Windows based machine that run on almost similar spec. Other than that, hard core gamers for instance, willing to go for Mac clone because of its ‘openness’ and ‘easiness’ to switch to the higher end graphic card.
First timer might tempted (and recommended) to go for real Mac, to avoid tangled into the hardware and software complex issue if any problem arise. And there are warranty that will cover it as well. Experienced user might wanna move to powerful machine, but not willing to fork more $$$. Hence this is where Mac Clone positioned itself into the market.
A quick look on Macworld found 3 Mac clones Psystar, PearC and Openimac (linked to respective news update) and Open Tech which already closed it operation. Don’t expect they’re as ‘beauty’ as the original one though. Interestingly, 2 of them are based outside of the US, which make the lawsuit is favor of them ( I think so) since Apple is based in the US.
A commentator in one of the post throws interesting ideas for those lack of fund but still want go for Mac. Buy used or refurbished unit, if you can’t afford to buy a new one, as long as it is from Apple. So for the time being, I think I’ll stick to that idea.
PsyStar
Pearc
