Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 5th Nov 2009 21:49 UTC
Hardware, Embedded Systems We already had the news about Psystar's Rebel EFI possibly including open source code, but now we have another story which doesn't really seem to bode well for the small Florida clone maker. Gizmodo has a story on an interesting customer experience.
Thread beginning with comment 393301
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
RE[8]: lol
by wirespot on Fri 6th Nov 2009 22:55 UTC in reply to "RE[7]: lol"
wirespot
Member since:
2006-06-21

Can I take a rear-view mirror or a wheel from a Volvo and put it on a Ford? In all likeliness, I cannot. I can buy the wheel or the mirror separately, yet I can't use them with others cars than the Ford model they were meant for.

Does this mean Ford is a monopoly? Because that's what your line of reasoning sounds like to me.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[9]: lol
by looncraz on Sat 7th Nov 2009 02:27 in reply to "RE[8]: lol"
looncraz Member since:
2005-07-24

Can I take a rear-view mirror or a wheel from a Volvo and put it on a Ford? In all likeliness, I cannot. I can buy the wheel or the mirror separately, yet I can't use them with others cars than the Ford model they were meant for.

Does this mean Ford is a monopoly? Because that's what your line of reasoning sounds like to me.



Sure you can, legally speaking. Granted the Ford may need some modifications for correct fitment, but Volvo will not sue anyone for making a car compatible with their rims. That just means more rims sold!

The rear view mirror is a different matter, the Volvo uses a special mounting mechanism so that the mirror is not attached to the windshield. Volvo will not sue you for making a car capable of using their mirrors, either.

Indeed, if I started a company making a car that used any given number of Volvo parts and called the car something else, Volvo wouldn't sue me then either. It just means more parts that Volvo sales.

Indeed, such companies even exist!

However, if I bought a bunch of Volvo parts, mixed them with some cheap knock-offs, then called the car a Volvo - Volvo would sue the living bejesus out of me!

That is what Apple is trying to claim Psystar is doing, which is not the case. Psystar is very up front about what they are doing, and have learned to be even more so.

I just hope they didn't take Apple's bait ( Snow Leopard ). I will research that more when I get home.

--The loon

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2