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"RussianMac" to Enter Dubiously-Lucrative Mac Ripoff Market

Posted 05/27/09 at 05:00:34 PM  by Andy Salisbury

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RussianMac is the latest company ballsy enough to tempt fate, and enter the fake Mac market.

On their site, they state that all of their machines come with a full version of Mac OS X Leopard pre-installed. They also state that the operating system will be able to receive automatic updates from Apple once everything has been installed. However, Apple has been able to dominate the Mac market because the OS X End User License Agreement (EULA), which clearly states that no one may install their software on hardware that hasn’t been sold by Apple. This clause has successfully shut down the entire Mac clone market.

But, in a twist, RussianMac claims that since they have bought the OS directly from Apple, they’re not in violation of the EULA (though, they are yet to explain how they’ve installed it on Apple’s hardware). It should be noted that the German company PearC was able to use that defense in order to sell machines in Germany, so perhaps this defense could work in Russia as well?

 

Image Credit: RussianMac

COMMENTS:6
TAGS: apple, OS X, hardware, Mac, clone, RussianMac
COMMENTS
avatarBig EULA Fan, scratching my head

Submitted by tkid124 on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 5:39am

While most of my comments are defending company’s rights, maybe it’s my anti-Apple bias, but if Microsoft said that you could only install its software on their hardware, I hope I’d be a little ticked off. Apple has decided, that they are a PC maker, OS creator, and software designer, yet they have in their EULA that you can’t use their software on anyone else’s hardware but theirs, something is fishy in the legal department.

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avatarHistory repeats itself...sorta

Submitted by DogPatch1149 on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 7:02am

It's kinda reminescent of the IBM v. Compaq fracas in the '80s, with Apple in the role of IBM...how ironic for a company which tries so hard to be the PC alternative.

I am curious, though...PearC says in its FAQs (https://www.pearc.de/faq.html#Faq7) that the Apple EULA is void in Europe because it can't be read without buying and opening the product, and yet you can view the Leopard EULA online (http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macosx105.pdf).  Am I missing something really obvious here?

Windows and Linux may not be as user-friendly or polished as Mac OS X, but at least I can install them on reasonably priced or even (GASP) home-built equipment, saving some dough...and no amount of usability or sparkle can beat saving dough.

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avatarWhy isn't there a lawsuit

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 12:55am

Why isn't there a lawsuit against Apple helping Microsoft build an OS monopoly? Apple has refused to release it's os to the open market to compete more directly with Windows and it just doesn't make any sense. Apple could really become a powerhouse and a legitimate OS to be discussed and reported on here at MaximumPC.com now it's just a joke but it has potential. I just don't understand why nobody hates Apple for it's license and refusal to compete with Windows.

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avatarIt's because Apple is more a

Submitted by sammyd253 on Thu, 05/28/2009 - 6:37am

It's because Apple is more a hardware company than a software company.  It's much easier for them to release a strong, stable OS with a limited set of hardware drivers.  If they control the hardware that their OS runs on, it doesn't allow for too much to go wrong.  Sure, Microsoft has a ton of hardware to attempt to support, but that's their choice.  Apple's model is Apple's model.  Regardless, they are still a successful company.

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avatarWhile you're at it...

Submitted by sammyd253 on Wed, 05/27/2009 - 2:59pm

While you're at it... You might as well just get your very own mail-order Russian bride.  Mmmm...

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avatarI have a CoWorker that did

Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Fri, 05/29/2009 - 1:09am

I have a CoWorker that did that. He had to visit Russia and meet the family and the bride. He seems to be happy and his wife is devoted to him so he seems to have a better marriage than what most guys have with American wives. Go figure.

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