Two new companies: our computers are Mac friendly, not Mac clones
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Jul 26, 2008 at 12:34pm
Two new companies, Open Tech and RSOL PC Services, are preparing to sell Intel-based computers that can run Mac OS X. However, they’ll play it safe and won’t sell pre-installed Mac OS X on its machines, calling their machines Mac friendly rather than Mac clones, reports the Palluxo web site.
See our July 21 report for detail on the Open Tech announcement. And, on Saturday RSOL PC announced their low-cost Jive Series Multi-Platform desktop computer that’s purportedly capable of running all major operating systems, including Mac OS X, Windows Vista and Linux distributions of Ubunti and Fedora . However, the company acknowledges that, “Apple’s software EULA for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard specifically prohibits the installation of their operating system onto any computer that is not manufactured by Apple, Inc.”
According to RSOL, the Jive Series Multi-Platform Desktop (shown) is available for purchase through the company’s web site, and the first units are expected to ship on or around August 8, 2008. Inside the Jive Series computers are an Intel E4600 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo CPU with 2MB L2 cache, a 500GB SATA II hard drive, a 20X DVD+/-RW SATA drive with Lightscribe, 2GB DDR2 memory (expandable to 8GB), an nVidia GeForce 7300GS 256MB PCIe video card, Gigabit ethernet, 8-channel digital audio, a USB keyboard and mouse, six USB and two Firewire ports. The only thing that needs to be added by the end-user is a monitor and an operating system if that option was declined at the time of purchase. The base model will be retailing for US$628 plus shipping and applicable sales taxes. RSOL PC will offer the pre-installation of Windows XP, Windows Vista, Fedora or Ubuntu from the factory.
A senior spokesperson from RSOL had this to say in a press release: “We’ve made it clear that our company and Apple, Inc are not affiliated in any manner, and anyone wishing to run Mac OS X is best advised to buy an authentic Mac computer from an Apple authorized retailer. Our computers are not ‘Mac clones’, and RSOL PC does not market them as such. We offer and recommend Microsoft Windows as the preferred operating system for our Jive Series because that’s the only operating system we will be supporting through the product’s limited warranty. We recognize the growing user interest in Linux distributions like Fedora or Ubuntu, so we offer to pre-install them also, but the end-user is responsible for obtaining their own software support. We are also not blind to the small group of folks that like to run OSx86, but if they want to go out and run OSx86 on our machine – which it’s more than capable of doing – then that’s their own choice. They just need to be aware and take full responsibility for essentially running a reverse-engineered version of a copyrighted operating system. They won’t receive any software support from us, and it’s unlikely they will receive any support from Apple. To be absolutely clear, the illegal distribution and use of Apple’s operating system is not something we encourage or endorse at RSOL PC.”
RSOL anticipates that even though there’s a low cost base model (that does not include any pre-installed operating system), most models sold will actually be upgraded units that are pre-installed with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium.
Then, of course, there’s Psystar, which is being sued by Apple for violating intellectual copy rights on its “Mac clones.” Attorneys for the two companies are slated to meet in court in October.
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bayouman Says:
Wasn’t Napster shut down simply because their system enabled users to steal? If you enable someone specifically to do something that is in violation of regulation, and it can be proven that it is your intent to do so, it’s still likely to be considered a crime. The fact that they even make mention that OS X can be installed on their hardware is an immediate signal that it is one of the main selling points of the hardware. If it wasn’t their intent, they need not have said anything and no one would have been the wiser.
I think they will be hoisted by their own petard.
Posted on July 26, 2008
R Says:
They will still be making machines that could be rendered useless with a software update, ultimately hurting Apple’s reputation, business, etc.
They won’t last.
More importantly, where’s their integrity-- they are trying to sell something that they ultimately didn’t make without the consent of the maker? Under the guise of opening up possibilities to the consumer, they’re stealing.
Posted on July 27, 2008
J. Scott Anderson Says:
My take is that the whole thing is just a PR stunt. Anyone geeky enough to have an interesting in running a reverse-engineered OS knows enough about what they are doing to find hardware that is cheaper and better than what this company is selling. Rather, by mentioning Apple and OS X, they are guaranteeing interest and web hits (i.e. free publicity).
It would be like the city of Boise, Idaho releasing a press statement that while they have the ability to make a nuclear bomb, they are most certainly not doing so. That kind of statement would certainly be picked up by the associate press and appear all over the world. And the closest Boise would come to a nuclear bomb would be the ink spilled on pages and the electrons passing around the net all saying that they wouldn’t be doing so.
Pretty smart if you ask me. Pretty lame at the same time. But, an interesting attempt to bring a company out of obscurity.
Posted on July 28, 2008
Frank Petrie Says:
Yes, a good publicity stunt. But I believe that Apple will brand other computers, as they brand for anointed iPod accessories.
I for one would like to see a podcast that is a “ultimate gaming machine” that would be Apple approved.
Posted on July 28, 2008
Ryan Arjoon Says:
To Bayouman:
The computer is marketed as a “Multi-Platform” computer first and foremost, and will be sold with Windows and various Linux distributions. It is also capable of running OSx86 but the end-user is advised there are potentially legal consequences for doing so, and RSOL does not support its installation. With that being said, why do you single out “Mac OS X” as being the main selling point? Believe it or not, most people buy Windows computers, not Macs, so doesn’t it make more sense to appeal to that market instead of a small group that probably already knows how to build themselves a computer that can run OSx86??
Why do we even mention Mac OS X? Because the system is marketed as a “Multi-Platform” computer, and we feel it is relevant to make that capability known. Are we willfully encouraging people to break Apple’s EULA? Absolutely not, because you’ll find many warnings throughout our web site advising end-users not to violate any company’s EULA. If you feel we are encouraging people to go out and break contracts, laws and regulations then in your mind we are just as guilty as all the computer manufacturers (Apple included!) that advertise their computers come with “20x DVD burners”. Believe it or not, in the real world most people use a DVD burner for duplicating copyrighted material without permission, not for backing up their family home videos or data. Maybe you feel a DVD burner has the same selling point value as a CDROM when you glance through the spec list of a machine? I hope not, because I think it’s safe to say if people were given the choice between two identical computers where one came with a CDROM and the other came with a DVDRW, I’m sure most would opt for the one with the burner.
Thanks for the interest, and I look forward to addressing any other comments.
Ryan A.
http://www.rsolpc.com
Posted on August 09, 2008
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Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
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dave Says:
Just a nit, but is it actually “illegal” to possibly be in violation of a software license agreement.
Posted on July 26, 2008