Psystar Rebel EFI runs Snow Leopard on any PC
updated 05:45 pm EDT, Thu October 22, 2009
Software assists DIY Mac clones
Psystar has begun offering its Mac virtualization technology in a software package, Rebel EFI, that allows users to install Snow Leopard on their own PC systems. The utility supports generic Intel hardware based on Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, i7 or Xeon Nehalem CPUs. The Darwin boot loader can also be used to load Linux and Windows XP, Vista or 7.
It remains unclear what effect the latest offering will have on the clone maker's ongoing legal battle with Apple. The dispute has branched into multiple lawsuits, with Apple accusing Psystar of violating the Mac OS X EULA. Psystar's legal team argues that Apple has abused the copyright protection in an attempt to inflate hardware prices.
Rebel EFI is currently available for an introductory price of $50, while a trial version can also be downloaded. Customers must purchase each operating system separately.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2005
What they should have done
They should have done this from the off - I can't see a legal defense against this, as a product, provided they didn't violate the DMCA to do it i.e. the software can't modify the Apple kext, as that would be circumventing a copy protection measure, but provided it works by appearing to be a compatible system I can't see a legal argument against it.
(The question is whether, like earlier, they have used any GPL code from the OSx86 project and close source it).
I remember Mac compatibility boards for the Atari ST were perfectly legal - provided they didn't ship them with Apple ROMs, and you sourced the Apple ROM yourself, Apple couldn't stop the sale of the product.
The consequence, however, was that they clamped down on ROM sales to repair shops / froze out people caught reselling.
And we're seeing the start of that here (the only way to buy a legal full install of Snow Leopard is as part of the expensive Box Set - although we know the upgrade disk is a full install, and a lot of people buying this will not be concerned about running a legal copy of the OS).