Psystar Thumbs Nose At Apple, Unveils Mac Clone

Retailing for $599, the computer comes preinstalled with OS X and is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista, Ubuntu Linux, Fedora 9 and CentOS.

The Open(3) also has 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo E7400, 2 GB of DDR2 800 RAM, a 500-GB 7,200-RPM SATA hard drive, an Nvidia GeForce 8400GS 256-MB video card, integrated audio, dual-layer SATA DVD +/ RW drive , and four USB ports.

However, since the offering does not come with a monitor, mouse or keyboard, you're on your own.

Psystar said it has tested a variety of OS X software titles on its Open Computing product line, including Aperture 2, Final Cut, and the Adobe Creative Suite, as well as all the software bundled with the OS itself.

Although Psystar said it hasn't found any software incompatibilities, beware. Psystar said it cannot guarantee that any third-party software will work in Leopard and it "cannot be responsible for every piece of software its customers choose. Support for third-party applications may be done at the discretion of the Psystar support team."

Weighing in on the Web site Electronista , the Mac clone drew mixed reactions, although no one had tested it.

"As one who had to support Mac clones in the '90s, I say never again," said one commentator. "What a total pain! Having a single source for any support issues, which was pretty much zilch with real Macs versus the hassles with the clones, the cost of ownership is far better with a real Mac."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, some people said they were behind the clone.

"This is the type of machine that some people have been screaming for Apple to make for years," said another commentator. "A reasonably sized, headless, marginally expandable machine, with all the usual ports. A machine that I can choose a graphics card for. Something that starts at $899 or $999 for a base model."

Another Psystar booster said there's room for both companies' offerings.

"People claim that it will take sales away from Apple, but I don't believe that. Folks who love Apple are going to buy an Apple machine no matter what. Apple will simply get a larger base of buyers."

Last July, Psystar and Apple began rumbling in court over copyright infringement claims.

With Psystar's rollout of Mac clones, Apple filed suit against the company in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, and said that its licensing agreement prohibits the install of Mac OS X on machines other than Apple. It wanted the court to order Doral, Fla.-based Psystar to not only cease its Mac clone operations, but to recall every clone it sold.

Psystar was not cowed by Apple and in turn sued Apple, claiming that the company was a monopoly and that it violated antitrust laws.

Worried about exposing trade secrets, the companies agreed to stipulations to keep court documents from being made public until the case comes to trial in November.