Psystar Mac Clones To Feature Blu-Ray Drives

Steve Jobs' comments during the MacBook event earlier this month during which he called Blu-Ray technology "A bag of hurt"--referring to claimed difficulties in licensing--as part of the explanation for leaving this functionality out of the new MacBook line, sounded off base today as Mac clone manufacturer Psystar confirmed that it has OS X-compatible PCs available right now at $554 and $1,154 that feature upgrades including Blu-ray optical drives and the GeForce 9800GT GPU for $310 and $400 respectively.

What has really got to burn Apple in this announcement is that it has been locked in anti-trust litigation with the Florida-based manufacturer over its Open Computer product line, since July, citing eight counts of copyright infringement, breach of contract, trademark and trade infringement, and unfair competition. Since this initial action Psystar has filed its own counter suit claiming monopolistic actions in the market on the part of Apple. Currently both parties are engaged in a mediation agreement set to expire next February. In the meanwhile it looks as if anyone looking for Blu-Ray functionality with OS X have an option if you really want it. Personally, I can't say that I know too much about Psystar's Open Computer line aside from, as its name suggests, it is able to run on consumer's choice of Linux, Mac OS X or Vista. The hardware obviously is not made for any of these and frankly looks somehow very unmac like, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It is said to be plenty noisy though, which blows in pretty much anyone's book. Regardless, it is interesting to see this challenge to Apple continue and I'm sure that that Psystar hopes to sell as many units as it can before February when the legal action continues and its luck may run out in the form of a recall.

If interested in Psystar's Open Computers, take a look at Psystar's site and this engadget page for specs and a video review from a few months ago.

--Tom Milnes

Comments

[xxx on October 29, 2008 at 04:47 AM]

nice..

[on October 30, 2008 at 02:38 AM]

Nice Article