If you want to run Mac OS X on a standard, non-Apple-labelled x86 box, you have various options. You can go all creative and build and install one yourself, and then be weary when installing updates from Apple. You can also buy a Mac clone from PsyStar, and then be weary of Apple's crack team of lawyers. A third option has just become available: EFI-X.
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Member since:2006-05-09
Member since:2006-05-19
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2005-08-18
I'd say they can dictate what I can do with OSX after purchase about as much as Ford can dictate what roads I can drive on if I drive one of their cars. Again, just because it's in an EULA does not mean it's valid contract clause (Sorry, shouldn't have said legal previously). We (well, most countries) have such things as contract law and consumer law.
Member since:2006-02-15
Apple can indeed dictate - within the constraints of the law. And their EULA is not illegal.
Actually, the legality of their EULA is a lot a matter of where you live. I've said it dozens of times already but I'll say it here too so people don't live in the false belief: here in Finland they (Apple) can't dictate how many computers I install OSX on or what I can or cannot do with it as long as I don't break any copyright laws. That means I cannot install it on any hardware that I don't own, nor am I allowed to make copies of it, modified or not.
After you have purchased a copy of software kit it is indeed your OWN personal copy. It is not leased, borrowed or otherwise the property of the original owner.
However, if you break the EULA they can forbid you from using their services ie. any service they own and you have no control over can be made inaccessible to you if they deem you haven't followed their EULA. This includes customer support, software updates and such.
Member since:2005-11-06
But you are NOT purchasing *the product*, you are purchasing a license to use it. If you could actually purchase "it" (instead of license it) then not only wouldn't they be able to tell you what you can and can not do, but they couldn't prevent you from selling copies or reverse engineering it.
That is the reason software is not "sold" - software is licensed. A license is a contract, if you don't agree to the terms of the contract you can refuse it and ask for your money back.
Member since:2006-02-15
But you are NOT purchasing *the product*, you are purchasing a license to use it. If you could actually purchase "it" (instead of license it) then not only wouldn't they be able to tell you what you can and can not do, but they couldn't prevent you from selling copies or reverse engineering it.
Wow how badly you are mixing things here! You buy a product but you don't own the copyright to it so it is still illegal to make unlicensed copies of it without the permission of the copyright holder. But your copy is yours and you can use it anyway you wish as long as you don't break the copyright law. Go learn about contract and copyright laws before you mix things up even worse than you already do.
Member since:
2005-08-18
You make the assumption that Apple can dictate what you can do with the product after you have purchased it. That's not necessarily true, just because something is in an EULA it's not automatically legal.