Beige Box Apple Clone? 533
steve.m writes "Finally it looks like I'll be able to get a cheap box to run MacOSX on, but not from Apple! John Fraser is (sort of) getting into the clone business 5 years after Apple shut down their 3 year long 'experiment' in licensing the hardware. Based on off the shelf apple components in a custom pizza box style case with no bolted on display, a barebones 'iBox' will be around 300 USD and require a processor, disk and memory (and the OS). Complete systems (again, without the OS) should start at around 650 USD."
attack of the clones (Score:3, Interesting)
hopefully steve jobs won't try to shut him down out of fear that this will siphon sales away from 'proper' macs...
What an understatement! (Score:4, Interesting)
Apple isn't exactly known for their kindness to "clone" makers..
Uh huh... (Score:5, Interesting)
How is creating a low cost box that will cut into Apple's hardware sales (where they make the MAJORITY of their revenue) "supporting" Apple?
Sure sounds like "clashing" to me.
At this very moment (Score:3, Interesting)
I guess in a couple of days we'll be reading about how this guy is no longer making these.
Good-Luck John Fraser, you're going to need it!
Apple's business model (Score:2, Interesting)
Nice hardware (Score:2, Interesting)
Perhaps the legal issue could be avoided by not including the Apple ROM. There are several non-Macintosh operating systems that run happily on that hardware, and I would probably be running one of those in any case (Not because I don't like OSX, but because I can't afford it). Those who want to run MacOS could obtain the ROMs from certified Apple dealers.
Re:What will you run on it? (Score:5, Interesting)
Ryan has worked to make sure that XPostFacto can help you install Mac OS X with each release... currently you can install Mac OS X 10.2 pretty easily.
Re:What about Terrasoft? Can't their machines run (Score:5, Interesting)
I've always wondered why they don't use the same technique that the original BIOS cloners used to make a working IBM clone BIOS that was 100% legal.
I don't remember the specifics on the technique, but it involved two completely seperate groups of engineers within the same company who had strictly limited contact with eachother governing how one group reverse-engineered the BIOS, and how the other group created a new BIOS based solely on descriptions of how it operated, without having any specific copyright information that the first group had access to.
I remember being somewhat fascinated when I originally heard about it. Of course now, it's probably illegal due to the DMCA (which probably would've killed the PC revolution had it been on the books 20 years ago).
Linux Of Course ... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Linux use? (Score:3, Interesting)
No. It really wouldn't be very sensible. The PPC is a nice chip, but it's not sufficiently better than x86 to justify using it to run Linux. Linux runs just fine on x86 hardware. If you need a really fast box, run a Power4, or a Sun SuperDuperSparcXII (or whatever), although you should probably run a 'real' UN*X on that kind of kit, rather than Linux. If you don't need that kind of power then stick with x86. I suspect most of your software will ship as binaries for x86. Sure, you can compile from source, but as anyone who's installed Gentoo will tell you, this may take a while...
The advantage of the iPizza is that it will run OS X, which doesn't run on x86. If OS X ran on x86, then this would be a bit of a silly thing to do, since none of the software out there for OS X runs on x86, and so it would have to be compiled, and if all you're doing is running Open Source apps that run under X11 on OS X, then you may as well just run FreeBSD.
Assuming I have to pay $770 for this... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:clones are bad (Score:5, Interesting)
Clones will kill that ability. And, make no mistake, it IS that ability that is keeping Apple in business after all these years. Those who don't understand this don't understand Apple's business.
Aha, but clones will also introduce the possibility of some of us running Linux on a PowerPC affordably. I don't want to pay Apple's prices, but I'd like to run a PPC. So, this dude would get my money, and Apple would get their cut, and on top of it all, I wouldn't even be running OS X! Imagine that! Now, as long as Apple doesn't force the vendors of this stuff to sell OS X preinstalled and nothing else, it'll be a great thing. Apple will actually be able to get a foothold in the LInux market without having to actually make Linux themselves. :)
You can do this yourself! (Score:5, Interesting)
The segment was inspired by an aricle on MacOpz [macopz.com] Web Site. I urge all to check it out.
Though this might end up costing a little more, there are benefits: You get to choose your own case (which must be slightly modified), and get the pleasure of building a computer that normally isn't built by anyone except Apple and the pizza box guy.
Re:What will you run on it? (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:What about Terrasoft? Can't their machines run (Score:4, Interesting)
It wasn't done with Apple because it would cost too much: Apple's BIOS was much larger than IBM's was. It contained basic code for keyboard, mouse, and windowing systems (including code to draw basic windows and icons, which were copyrighted). An original Mac with no disk could still boot to a graphical error mesage and working cursor, and there was cost/speed savings for Apple as well.
Newer Macs don't have as extensive a BIOS (and I'm not sure what is in it), but Apple now protects itself in other ways.
Re:Spare Parts (Score:2, Interesting)
Other PPC alternatives? (Score:2, Interesting)
I, for one, run basically free software only, and hate x86. I'd love to run Linux on a better-thought-out architecture, but alternatives are usually _so_ much more expensive.
If this guy can make a PPC machine costing US$ 650,00 using Apple motherboards (which I assume are more expensive than no-name PPC motherboards), does that mean I could put together a generic PPC machine for less? Is there some company out there that does that? Are there any other alternatives, ARM perhaps?
So many questions...
best bet.. (Score:2, Interesting)
The only issue I see is apple requiring "Cores" on all repair parts like auto parts-to keep them in the family. That said, IBM tried that with AS400 parts but the courts have ruled that used/spare parts can't be completely controlled. [anti-competitive and all] It's still really hard to find IBM parts because they tie all upgrade sales to "cores" of your previous equipment for a big discount. But if you buy your system outright they can't stop you from reselling it--just try to make it worth your while not too.
If he sold just the case and bits with some "instructions" to build a system he wouldn't get in trouble and dodge the bullet. That would leave apple cracking down on their own channel which I can't see them doing--and getting some cheap marketing out of the deal too. He does need to ditch the name or change the product--way too close to an apple product names. perhaps ibox-computer case would fly though as an after market apple-related part. The courts haven't given them ieverthing yet!
Just sell the case! (Score:2, Interesting)