Mac cloner Psystar moves, still trading

DESPITE GROWING CONCERNS amongst Mac watchers worldwide, Florida-based consulting company Psystar is still offering cheapo Mac clone to US customers.

The amount of net noise regarding the company is still at fierce howl levels with accusations of phishing scams, faked addresses and even some conspiracy theorists claiming that the whole thing is just an Apple publicity stunt.

So, we're going to stick our necks out a wee bit here and take a look at the other side of the coin. We may well be proved wrong, gawd knows it won't be the first time, but where would we be if no-one ever took a punt on a slightly dodgy-looking outsider?

Much has been made of the fact that the company's trading address has been changed a couple of times (the first of which was attributed to an error) since the story broke early last week, with people making a huge hoohah out of the fact that the original address appeared to be a three-bedroomed house on residential street.

Well let's not forget where Apple and Microsoft both started. That's right... in someone's garage, on residential streets in Seattle and California respectively.

Psystar's latest change of address can also be explained quite easliy. They've taken so many orders that they had to move to bigger premises as the website explains: "We're in the process of moving to a new location which is now listed on our contact page. The first new address posted (10481) was in error and our correct address is 10475 NW 28th Street.

"Psystar was, prior to this past week, not ready to handle the enormous production capacity demanded by the online community. Due to the incredible response we have now expanded to a larger commercial unit to handle the supplies and assembly of Open Computers."

The next misfortune to beset the company was the withdrawal of credit card payment processing company Powerpay. Computerworld has reported that Powerpay's CEO, Stephen Goodrich, said that Psystar had misrepresented the products and services it would be selling, and had processed more than twice its anticipated annual sales volume in just a few days.

Or, playing devil's advocate for a second, Psystar forgot to tell its payment processors that it was launching a new line of computers and didn't realise how popular they might be.

Goodrich also pointed out, however, that the company had failed to follow proper procedures to verify the addresses of credit card transactions.

In another twist, the intruigingly named 'Clonesister' posted a personal rebuttal to the less-than-complimantary postings about Psystar on Charles Arthur's Grauniad bog:

"I personally know both of the owners of the company. They have been working on computers for many years [and] both of them have independent companies aside from Psystar. The clients range from well-known companies to normal house calls. They do everything and anything that has to do with computers. To say the least, the last thing they are out to do is ruin the reputation they have built over many years by scamming people for a $399 desktop.

"The company is legit and the owners are very professional. The idea of selling better computers with a Mac operating system at much better prices is genius. If you think otherwise your (sic) an idiot. Unless [Apple] decides to do something about the product they are selling I don't see why it would be a big deal. This could be a possibility of opening doors to other companies and helping, who else, but YOU the consumer. I would think twice before gossiping."

As far as Psystar itself is concerned, all seems to be well. Its newly-updated website even throws down a challenge to the online community to try to "max out" its new "high volume payment processor".

As for those trusting souls who have already placed an order, the web site contains the following reassurance: "Orders placed the week of April 7th are currently being shipped. We will be shipping units out of our new facility starting Monday, April 21st, including those orders placed the week of April 14th. Orders are being shipped in the order that they were received, don't worry, you'll get yours soon. Upon shipment an email notification including tracking information will be sent to you automatically."

So for now it seems that Psystar is taking orders (using Paypal), building computers (from their new premises) and shipping to customers (albeit at a rather exuberantly-priced 100 bucks P&P).

And before you ask, no, we won't be putting the entire INQ budget for the year where our mouth is. The company won't ship outside the mainland United States (phew!).

For now, we're just happy to see whether these machines will turn up, and if they will be any good. And whether Apple will bring the might of its grey-suited Goliaths to bare on the poor little Psystar David.

In the meantime, the INQUIRER is putting out it's not insubstantial feelers to the rest of the industry to find out if Psystar is, indeed, buying the components it is promising in the quantities it will need to fulfil its order book.

Rest assured, when we know, so will you. µ