While we can assume that money is all but absent, we can at least say that Pystar has some fight in them. An extremely quick recap for those out in the cold: Since 2008, Pystar has been selling Mac clones for far cheaper than Apple ever could and, with the recent release of Snow Leopard began installing OS X from their factory. Apple sued. A ruling was levied that at first looked to seal the deal and flood Pystars coffin full of nails. With that out of the way, we can continue.
I myself have come to the conclusion that the inevitable was going to happen — Pystar was going to be obliterated by Apple’s highly poised team of legal bengals, ready to shred any foe to pieces. And for the most part, Apple has succeeded. If the countless lawsuits and lack of cash don’t ruin Pystar, I’m sure the few investors will. You know, after finding out that goals of nearly 100,000 units were short by, oh, say 99,250. Those two revelations don’t exactly bode well for the Mac Cloner. Yet still they press on. The latest news surrounding the issue however is quite a surprise to say the least, with the possibility fact that the two dueling computer makers have reached a settlement netting Apple some cash, rendering OS X pre-installed on Pystar computers a thing of the past, and simultaneously allow the Mac clone maker to continue making computers. 180 degree turn? Sure seems like it. So what happened?
If Computer World’s claims are accurate, According to Computer World, Apple and Pystar have in deed reached or will soon reach a deal that will still allow Pystar to function, selling computers. The only difference from these new post-lawsuit computers is that they will have to be sold without any OS X installed. The idea here is that end users will take over installing the OS which would obviously be for individual/personal use — something Pystar can’t claim because they sell the machines with OS X for a profit. Making the end users install the OS means Pystar isn’t liable (theoretically) and that the end users are within their rights to install said software on the cloned Macs. Also a mystery is how the judge will rule on the $50 Rebel EFi dongle that allows the computers to install OS X. It’s not a piece of software per say. Without the EFi add-on, the whole party gets ruined which is why Pystar is moving to block any injunctions against the attachment.
After all is said and done, Pystar will supposedly walk away, still a selling machine (/sarcasm) and able to continue their cheap OS X computers after paying a presumably large sum of settlement money. But if that’s all it takes to get the Mac clone maker back on their feet then so be it. As highlighted earlier, even if they escape this legal firestorm with a few attached-by-strings limbs, the dark days aren’t over. Over the course of 16 months — 16 months — Pystar sold only 768 computers. While a startup company selling that many products in a little over a years time wouldn’t be too bad, considering the fact that they promised investors numbers in the 5, 6, and 7 digit range means the wallets providing the monetary means to keep the lights on and coffee machine hot aren’t too happy.
After sitting back and watching the whole legal tussle unfold, if Pystar does in fact emerge and isn’t abandoned by their investors, would you consider a purchase? Anyone kind of taken off guard — even a little?
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