October 23rd, 2009
Psystar releases 'build your own Hackintosh' kit
Psystar, the company that’s been making headlines for selling Mac-clone systems, has now released a ‘build your own Hackintosh’ kit.
The kit, called Rebel EFI, allows PC users to transform their system into a Hackintosh or Mac-clone.
Psystar has decided to take Open Computing to its next level. Psystar’s next step in helping to provide open computing for all will be to begin distributing our Rebel EFI software that will allow users to operating systems of their choosing, including OS X, on their computers.
The software is available for download on the here. After downloading, users simply insert a retail copy of the Snow Leopard DVD, follow the installation procedures and then install the application. The application automatically detects connected devices and downloads the appropriate drivers.
The software is available as a free download but is limited to two hours of run-time. If you want the full, unlimited version that will cost you $50. The purpose of the trial is to allow you to see if your system is compatible with the Rebel EFI setup.
This is bound to stir up trouble. Not only is Apple bound to see this negatively, but the open source community might also be annoyed too. There are some who claim that the Rebel EFI kit is nothing more than a repackaged and uncredited derivative of other open source projects, such as the Chameleon bootloader.
One thing that has to be said of Psystar is that it’s a little company that doesn’t give up.
Adrian is a technology journalist and author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology. He also runs a popular blog called The PC Doctor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations
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