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Seth Weintraub

Apple versus Google

Some Windows 7 upgrades could be derailed by...Psystar?

12 comments

TAGS:Apple, Macintosh, Psystar, Windows 7
IT TOPICS:Macintosh & Apple, Windows & Microsoft

This may sound strange but I believe there exists a certain subset of users out there who may be tempted to upgrade their PCs to Mac OS X rather than Windows 7. Here's why.

Let's say you're a fairly savvy Windows user who just bought a relatively high-end PC laptop or desktop in the past two years. It likely came with Vista but they might have downgraded it to XP. This machine probably contains something like an Intel Dual Core processor and at least 2 GB of RAM.

Now they're faced with the prospect of "upgrading" to Windows 7.

I use quotes because upgrading usually means you don't have to erase your drive and start over. On most Windows 7 installations you're going to have to do a "Fresh Install". A lot of Windows users will be very familiar with this, however.

I ususally do a fresh install after I get a new Windows machine because it is quicker than uninstalling all of the "crapware" that the manufacturer has conveniently installed on my pristine PC. I've also taken to downgrading to XP because Vista didn't offer me a reason to put up with the hassles.

Now, Windows 7 is out and isn't a bad release. But, besides the time to totally rebuild your machine, it will cost you from $120 to over $300 to go buy the modern OS.

However, timed perfectly with the Windows 7 launch was a bombshell of an announcement from Psystar. The company that makes OS X clones and is always in the news because of the ongoing lawsuit between it and Apple, is now selling, for $49.99, an 8MB program that will allow your to install Snow Leopard on many high-end PCs.

If PC upgraders decide to try this route, they'll also need to pick up Snow Leopard. That is $25 for just the DVD - which will work in this case though Apple says you should use a $145 Mac Box Set if you aren't upgrading from Leopard. That also includes iLife and iWork, a full range of home and work applications that are very useful.

Keep in mind that Apple's EULA says that Snow Leopard is only to be installed on an Apple-branded machine - but if you are going the Psystar route, you are probably the type that considers this "a gray area".

Another thing to keep in mind is that Psystar's solution is a serious hack. Apple could come along and disable it with an update (though Psystar offers a "Safe Update" detecter which will keep your machine "safe"). There could also be some unforseen issues with the installation and Apple might not support all devices and chipsets on your PC. Apple's techncal support won't be available to you nor will your hardware provider be versed on the issues with Hackintoshes. And don't even think of stepping foot in an Apple store with that thing!

Psystar's tool, which is free to download and try, will tell you which of your PC's componenets are compatible or won't work with OSX.

Still, all of that notwithstanding, Psystar does offer a compelling $75 alternative to a (twice as expensive) Windows 7 upgrade to those who:

Have a fast, Mac OS X-compatible PC
Are savvy enough to install Psystar's bootloader
Aren't worried about the legal issues surrounding Psystar and OSX
Aren't going to miss the games that are available to the PC which aren't available on the Mac OS

I don't think this group is big enough to offset any significant amount of Windows 7 adoptions, but to the very important, tech savvy, high end PC users, Psystar has a compelling counter-offer to Windows 7.

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I dont have to upgrade

Submitted by Prem YPI on October 26, 2009 - 5:48 A.M.

I was planning to buy dell inspiron and waited until they shifted from sucking vista to window7.. so that I dont ve to indulge in problem of migration! smart delayed move, ain't it? ;)

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Well, you don't upgrade to

Submitted by Anonymous on October 26, 2009 - 5:44 A.M.

Well, you don't upgrade to Windows 7 from the XP. You simply move across.

The 7 is a functional release of Windows. So is the XP. 7 adds more bells and whistles but is there really so much more in terms of security, funcionality and speed? No. It's essentially a Vista service pack that returns Windows to the comfort of XP.

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Hackintosh community

Submitted by Anonymous on October 25, 2009 - 8:32 P.M.

Most people who want to run OS X on their systems are sophisticated enough to run the simple open source utilities to prepare a retail Snow Leopard disk that Psystar is repackaging.

I'm not sure who PsyStar is selling this to, it's not as easy to install as Linux or Windows even with it, and without it it's not much harder - PsyStar doesn't really bring anything to the table that makes your hardware any more compatible with OS X than it already is. You can read articles on various popular techie blogs like lifehacker on how to do it, and the people who are aware of PsyStar are aware of these blogs. I guess it's more publicity for PsyStar who is trying to make a quick buck / gain publicity on other's hard work that they give away to the community of OS X hackers.

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This article sounds more

Submitted by Bob on October 25, 2009 - 7:22 P.M.

This article sounds more like an Apple fanboy tantrum hoping that Windows 7 fails and people embrace their beloved OS X. Seriously, why the hell would I even consider moving to OS X which has messed up hardware support, useless search function, dumbed down interface lacks the software I need, lacks customisation and will probably run like a dog even on a powerful PC because it's not optimised for it.
And, yeah, Windows 7 IS and upgrade, works far better than Vista and XP and is far more robust than both of them put together... even during the beta Stage.

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Uhm...

Submitted by Anonymous on October 27, 2009 - 12:24 P.M.

Really? Have you used Spotlight? It's faster and more comprehensive than Vista's search...

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Downgrading to WinXP was a mistake

Submitted by Anonymous on October 25, 2009 - 4:01 P.M.

"I've also taken to downgrading to XP because Vista didn't offer me a reason to put up with the hassles."

My computer came with Vista SP1 (now SP2) preinstalled, and it works just fine. I would never, ever, downgrade to WinXP. Vista SP2 works so well, that I have no immediate plans to upgrade to Windows 7. (Yes, everyone says that Win7 is better than Vista. I don't deny that.)

BTW, computer OEMs don't just install crapware. Some of them install genuinely useful utilities, from driver update utilities to hardware testing software.

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Downgrading to XP a mistake?

Submitted by Sam on October 26, 2009 - 7:01 A.M.

I would say it depends on your hardware. Had an opportunity to see two netbooks side by side, one slightly more expensive, but with the same processor speed, memory and disk space, determined by looking at the system in the control panel. Just to get to the control panel took significantly more time on the Vista box, even simply opening the folder. Not only that, the Vista machine helpfully informed me that I already had one of the three permitted programs running.

Which is why I bought the XP version, then loaded with Ubuntu 9.04, which is a really nice OS. One of these days, after I download the antivirus, antispyware and firewall software I need for XP and back up the XP partition because it does not come with install disks, I will boot the XP partition.

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I don't think so. So what

Submitted by Emre on October 25, 2009 - 3:45 P.M.

I don't think so. So what the author is saying people will upgrade to an illegal, officially not supported version of OSX buy buying a software for 50$ plus 150$ OSX and without even knowing whether or not their hardware will support OSX or not!!??!? Thats just crazy!...Windows 7 is a fantastic OS. Ive been using it for the last 6 months or so (beta version) and it absolutely rocks! and its MUCH MUCHHHHHH MUCHHHHHHHHHHHHHH more compatible than OSX in terms of hardware it could work on, so I don't really see any points whatsoever for a PC user base to install OSX of more than 1-2%...and they would just do it to try it out, thats all..

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Interesting but why would you?

Submitted by Chris on October 25, 2009 - 4:36 P.M.

Nothing about this is illegal!
Apple just don't approve of it and so you are on your own if you want support.

The benefit of OSX is that the Hardware and Software is tightly integrated and controlled so there are a lot fewer compatibility and driver hassles so by moving it to true PC's you are losing that benefit.

But it's nice to have options and it was an interesting article. I don't think it will trouble Apple or Microsofts Windows 7 launch one iota though and the author was obviously being sarcastic in his headline.

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Windows 7

Submitted by Firehawk1555 on October 25, 2009 - 3:35 P.M.

This would be accurate, but people have the false idea that if everyone could use Mac OSX they would.. but that's just not true. Usually alot of people use windows because they want too. My whole family actually is windows fan boys, except for me. I am Linux fan. But windows 7 is impressive.

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