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Psystar has brought into the public light an issue that has long plagued the tech industry. Why does Apple keep their software closed to only Apple’s hardware? Several projects have sprouted, some even growing wings, that are efforts to bring OS X, and all its updates, to custom built X86 machines, including OSX86, and most recently Psystar. So, now you are likely wondering, why I think Apple should work as hard as they do to keep the supply of OS X-base computers to just Apple hardware.
The answer is simple, the User Experience, level of security, and quality that goes with the Apple/Mac/OS X name has only built up to what it is today due to the care Apple has given to choosing its computer’s hardware components and controlling how they work together, how they’re built, basically controlling everything. Changing that would be a detriment to Apple’s reputation and would drop OS X’s reputation as what is quite possibly the easiest operating system there is to use.
Sure, I’d love to own a Mac, and sure, the reason why I don’t is because they cost so much, but I’d much rather not have one that not have the experience the way Apple built and designed it. When I get a Mac, and I will, it will be, at the time, the pinnacle of today’s hardware and software efforts bringing me the best of both worlds, the reason is because Apple won’t allow it to be anything less.
All of that hard work on Apple’s part will quickly go down the drain if any yahoo is able to throw OS X on any old machine he throws together of what is likely to be subpar hardware. Then the OS starts throwing errors due to incompatible hardware, things become as glitch and as sketchy as Microsoft Windows, and it’s not because Apple created a weak OS, it will be because the system builder made a crap computer, but much like Windows, Apple will get the blame, not the guy who built the crappy computer.
So although I do like the idea of Apple’s OS running on some cheaper hardware, I also really hope that Apple wins all future cases to keep their software off of subpar hardware. So, what are your thoughts on this matter? Are you and Apple purist or are you browsing this site using your custom built hacked OS X system right now? Hit me up in the comments, I love to hear what you all have to say.
I think that apple software should only be run on apple computers. I agree with everything you said in you article.
I was a former Windows user and unfortunately, I still have to support it since I still have users/clients that still use Windows (although I have been quickly converting many). I joined the Mac bandwagon the second Apple announced that there computers would now host a genuine Intel processor. While it was not clear that I could run Windows on a Mac at that time, I had faith that ultimately someone would do it. I needed a Windows life jacket to make the leap to the Mac and it was the best move I ever made. I no longer wear my “Windows life jacket”. I have tossed it and I think I have burned it, because after using a Mac for 2 years now, and after having started up in a CP/M, then DOS, and then ultimately into a Windows platform, I could never go back. Sure, Windows had its days, where it was a viable operating system, but frankly, I am so disappointed in the lack of creativity and innovation on Microsoft’s part. It was a regular process to reinstall Windows every 3 to 4 months…but no longer.
I’m getting side tracked here so let me get to my point. The initial enticement and the eventual solid trust that I have for the Mac OS platform is based mostly on reliability and innovation. What is better than having hardware designed by the same people who make an operating system for it? It’s a complete solution. Better yet, what’s better than knowing you can walk into a store and be completely taken care of rather than sitting on the phone with someone in a foreign country who can’t being to understand your problems? My days of assembling clones and struggling to get drivers working in Windows are long gone, and anyone who thinks that they’re saving anything by buying some cheap Mac clone will be sorry in the long run. They are missing the big picture. When you buy a computer, do you want to use and enjoy it or would you rather just fight with it and spend your precious time trying to get it to work right?
Buying into the whole Mac hardware with OS solution gives you the piece of mind in knowing that some hardware manufacturer isn’t going to point fingers at the OS creator and visa versa and leave you caught in the middle. I remember those days and I hated them. Look, $400 is cheap for a mac clone, but if you’re going to spend $400 and then spend time thereafter trying to get things right and then repairing problems and reinstalling and then reinstalling again, what are you gaining? You’re losing time and losing the great experience that the whole Mac solution gives you. If you think your time has no value and if you want to screw around with your computer instead actually use it, find a clone. Otherwise, spend your money wisely and buy yourself the peace of mind and pleasure that only Apple offers with their hardware and software solution… a real Mac.
Dear Max m I tend to disagree with you when you say Apple designs hardware. They actaully buy the same parts from the same vendors as all the PC makers. They dont make any components themselves, they just design an outer shell. It’s nothing you or I couldn’t do. The OS is another story, it’s the only thing they dont buy.
Had an Apple laptop - they are good but disappointed by apple’s protectionist attitude : Still NO SD or other card reader? In this day and age? No standard monitor output plug.
Isync would not recognize my new mobile phone - no isync upgrade available - the only option was to upgrade the whole operating system at a cost of 180 bucks!
Also many more applications available for windows.
Dear Nate,
Apple does design its own hardware. Can you put together an iMac yourself? So there, you should leave the hardware design to Apple. To the people are trying to clone Macs, please stick with PC. Don’t ruin the piece of Art Apple has created.
I was a PC owner for years. I built my own PCs from the best parts available, as well as purchasing pre-made computers from reputable companies. The result was always the same… endless restarts, programs that operated like they were trudging through molasses.
Then I bought a Mac running OS X… it was effortless. I leave my computer running for days without the slightest problem.
Recently my boyfriend bought a PC running Vista. It ran so slow that it was literally useless. We nearly returned it to the shop. Then we had the idea of installing OS X on it. It works like a dream… it runs faster and smoother than it does on my Mac with the same specs. HOWEVER, there are a few hardware incompatibility issues. For the number of hours spent fruitlessly trying to fix these issues, I would not bother buying a PC and trying to install OS X on it… The Mac works perfectly out of the box, and to me it is worth paying double the price to have a computer that I know I can count on and requires no troubleshooting.
Anyone who says that Apple doesn’t design it’s own hardware is misguided or misinformed. Apple very much does design just about every aspect of their hardware. Do they manufacture all of the parts? No. But they do design how they are made and engineer how they work and fit together. Ever looked at the inside of a MacPro? The inside is just as gorgeous as the outside because of Apple’s strict attention to detail and quality in it’s design. Now compare it to the innards of any Windows PC maker. Dog ugly.
Actually, Nate, that’s not the whole story.
Yes, Apple buys the same memory and hard drives as everyone else (and has done so since long before they went to Intel). However, Apple designs their own motherboards and machines in order to make certain that they fit Apple’s form factors.
Why people say apple computers are expensive? My Gateway notebook cost me more than a MacBook and a mini costs merely $599.00 (with an Intel Core 2 Duo and the latest MacOSx [costs $129.00 alone!]) Same with the iPhone. A lot of people complain that it’s expensive but $399.00 for an iPod, Phone, palm computer and 8GB of space is a steal! I paid almost $400 for my Cingular 8125 (an HTC PDA phone) and $150 for a refurbished 8525 which failed in 4 months, both with merely 64MB of space.
As for the high cost of the Mac computer. What about buying used? Graphite G4 Macs are selling for around 45 dollars for a 400 mghz computer and can go up from there. With a bit of software geeking you can get leopard to run on it and it works fine but a bit slow. Or even better get a used g4 running a bit faster for 300 dollars second hand. And there you have it. I know that PC people constantly say how expensive the Macs are but most people just want email and to use a browser. It works.
Why should I buy a Dump Truck, sand rail, dragster, or a formula one race car when all I really do with a car is drive to the corner grocery store for a quart of milk?
The question is HOW MANY PEOPLE are really dedicated gamers or programers or IT Professionals? Let us all just buy what full fills our needs. And yes my little car is an automatic.
I am one of those people that asks.. how much gas milage you get and not what the top speed of your car is. For me the prime considerations are dependability and and ease of use.
Jan.
Well.. Here’s the thing~
I am consider myself as a OS Researcher.. N I like MAC OS X even it works on different Component, The OS itself Lightweight than ever Operating SYstem in My Life.. I;ve been looking to a very Lite OS.. Mac really Works On Compaq M2000 -Pentium M
Its Unix-Kernel made it Faster boot than ever.. I’m much prefer Mac OS =D
Well.. everyone deserve thier Hardwork n needs to Compliment,
The only challenge for me is.. to get into their deep surface of development, knowing the process n hows its work! Doesnt matter what OS u’re using.. The things is Learning the Terminal first would get u into the deepest experience u’ll see..
BTW,
I agrees with all ur Ideas!.. Cheers to Mac OS
And for your “sins” you were modded down. What is really sad is that you did not say anything remotely negative. This is why I decided against Apple and stuck with Linux.
I’ve read a lot of banter over the years about whether or not Apple really “makes” their computers. The truth is, Apple may use the same type of components as most other companies, but they pick and choose them very carefully. Besides all that, the manner in which they assemble (or rather, get someone else to assemble) these parts is really nothing short of extraordinary. I realized this yesterday. I decided that I wanted a bigger hard drive in my 20″ Intel Core 2 Duo iMac. Searching the web, I found a take-apart guide for a Core Duo iMac (not Core 2 Duo). Deciding to use this as a guideline, I purchased a 500GB SATA drive from Fry’s and set about to open up the computer. The guide I was following was not exactly the same, but it was fairly close.
Upon opening the machine, I was struck by how much design and engineering went into fitting all those parts in such a compact manner. The parts were fairly standard, but all the brackets and linings and fasteners were all custom. Everything seemed to be designed for that one computer. It was a bit of pain to get it taken apart and put back together again, but after seeing the innards in person, I’d have to say that anyone who states that Apple doesn’t really design their computers is sorely mistaken.
Just my two cents.
Apple may eventually contract out with other manufacturers, because they can’t continue to supply all the Macs for the market. Dell and HP are BEGGING them to allow it already, but Apple is waiting for a tipping point in regards to Microsoft’s abject failures.
Once Xbox division tanks, MSFT shoots their wad on Yahoo! (what an idiotic move, BTW) and Mac gets to about 25-30% of desktops, then you will see Apple contracting out for lesser models.
The hardware business is very lucrative for Apple. But the ‘clone’ shifters are getting very desperate, and will be looking to pay Apple a higher margin for the privilege eventually.
Finally, I get tired of reading all the whining about how Microsoft couldn’t possibly do a better job of managing all the ‘diverse’ windoze hardware. That is a joke. Microsoft determines what goes into their own hardware spec. Get real. Apple could very easily come out with their own boxed OS X lite AKA, the WINDOZE KILLER.
Then the stock doubles overnight…
Good article and i agree 100 % with your arguments, i too want a mac but because of the price im sticking to PCs
I am writing this using OS X Panther running on a PowerMac 9500 that I got on eBay a few years ago for $35. I’ve added a gig of RAM, a G4 processor, bigger hard drive, and a faster graphics card, all purchased on eBay. Maybe I have $200 into it. The machine works fine, and it is one less piece of junk in a landfill somewhere. Best of all worlds.
I don’t see how Apple can be legally pushed into allowing OS X to be used in computers other than Apple computers. It doesn’t make sense. I’m thinking an analogy like this: if a car company develops and manufactures a braking system that knows how to sense slippage in a particular way so that it is the most effective braking system available, does it have to allow the software that controls the mechanics to be widely available to other car manufacturers? No, I don’t think so.
Macintosh OS’es are part and parcel of Mac computers. That’s what makes them Macs. I think Psystar is truly misguided here. Now, if Apple decides it wants to license Mac clones, that’s up to them to decide it. Right now, they’re not deciding to go down that road again.
And from my personal opinion, I certainly hope they are not going to go down that road again. It was horrid when the licensed Apple clones. That was in the days of Performas…
P.S On the other hand, if there are home hobbyists who are able to find ways to run OS X on non-Apple hardware, go for it. But I don’t think a third-party company should be legally able to sell those products nor should Apple be made legally to comply.
Lets face it they both have there advantages and disadvantages. I’ve been using macs for over 10 years, at work and at home. They’re beautiful and well designed but becoming in my opinion overpriced for such a mass produced product. Compared to where the company was before the original imac.
A year ago i purchased a cheap off the shelf PC (a third of the price of the equivalent mac), paid out some extra cash for a nice HTPC case. Its perfect doing its job as a media centre, which seems to be the use for most home computers. I was careful with the spec and chose one which i could install OSX. but in the end it did its job, and left it well alone.
As far as work. I couldn’t do it without OSX. It’s simply solid, tidy and easy to use, and would never go for a clone.
Your article has reminded me of what’s so great about Apple. At first, I thought that what Pystar was great because it’s cheap and thrifty (and so am I!), but the fact that Apple would no longer have that same reliability and trust would be horrible.
If the position of this article is : Apple shouldn’t support OSX on other hardware than apple hardware (and therefore not “license” it), i agree.
If the position of this article is : Apple should have the right to forbid the use of OSX on other harware than it’s own, i disagree (actually it seems it’s an “illegal tying arangement”)
Apple’s position until now is pretty clear :
If you want the apple experience you will only have it with OSX + apple hardware.
If you use OSX with other hardware, or apple hardware with another OS (to a lesser extent), then you’re on your own and you will NOT enjoy the apple experience, you will have the same driver and compatibility issues you may have with any other PC system…
I don’t see in what way the fact a PC assembler (other than apple) is shipping it’s systems with OSX changes that ? How can it “damage” apple’s image ? You’re warned that you will not have the apple experience and that you’ll have no apple support whatsoever, period.
For me it’s not an issue anyways, I have to use macs (running osx) at work from time to time, and I don’t like the “finder” logic at all, confusing as to which app is active sometimes when you have multiple apps open to start with (and in what i do, we use multiple apps simultaneously), I much prefer windows and the taskbar logic.
Oh, and yes, it’s true windows needs to be setup properly to match your hardware, and among the so many apps available for windows you have to be weary of some “misbehaving” apps.
Not a problem if you buy a “complete” system and install only mainstream apps.
But if you build your own system and experiment with beta or “experimental” apps then you should know what you’re doing (or be willing to learn how things work), if not you can hardly complain if the system becomes unstable.
A lot of people who complain of unstable PC systems don’t have them configured properly or install any app they stumble upon without thinking twice : recipe for disaster.
It’s one of microsofts primary objectives I beleive : making the automatic delivery of the right drivers to your computer effective without you having to go out and look for them. It’s no easy task as Microsoft doesn’t code the drivers for most of the hardware out there, it’s up to the manufacturers to do it. Microsoft only sells an OS, not hardware (concerning windows os anyways). They will never be able to test, or even reference, all the hardware drivers out there, there’s simply to much of it, so if you have some exotic hardware you’ll still have to get the driver yourself, and to a certain extent, you’ll be testing it’s compatibility with your current setup.
OSX doesn’t have this issue because Apple codes (or closely monitors) ALL mac hardware drivers, which it can do because they only offer a very limited amount of hardware. On the other hand, there isn’t a lot of hardware to choose from.
And, apart from the driver issue, there is some just bad PC hardware out there (not a lot nowdays, but still..), that is poorly designed and not reliable. Nothing windows can do about that, and OSX neither. Again the difference is apple selects the hardware for you if you buy their computers, and microsoft doesn’t, it’s up to you to choose the hardware.
As many things in life it’s a question of choice, you can either have the choices made for you (in buying a complete system like Apple’s offerings), or make them for yourself (by choosing and picking your hardware/software), in the latter case you obviously have to do your research beforehand.
Both ways have their merits, and the most important thing in my opinion is that we have a choice as to which way we want to go.
Apart from that, they all do the same things (as long as you find the app you need), they’re only computers :-)
Have you ever noticed that mac users are snobs and usually technically illiterate?
Same kind of folk that can’t change the oil in their cars…
Bill Murray, what a PC bigot… and a stupid *** as well.
Well, as an IT guy I can tell you that apart from the external visual design of the case/monitor/etc, any good integrator can do as good pickings regarding internal HW components as Apple does. I DO have used these “clones” and they do work like a charm, and the apple-only guys of our design dept. are AMAZED how well these things run. A clone half the price of a MacPro is a very nice computer that runs the same.
but clons was,in late last milenium
Yup. Seeing this site using Camino 1.6 on my Dual Core E2140 @ 1.6 Hz HACKINTOSH PC. Looks great, just like in my MacBook. I’m using Mac OS X 10.4.11 on both the Hackintosh and the MacBook, btw.