OpenMac Machine

[vjpixylight]

posting a new thread about this one...
OpenMac is a turnkey PC machine that runs 10.5.2 natively from a company called Psystar corp. The maxed out version:
1 x OpenMac
$1,044.99

Case Color: White
Intel Processor: Core2Duo/2.66GHz
Hard Drive: 400GB 7200RPM SATA
Graphics Processor: GeForce 8600GT 512MB
Firewire: 3 x IEEE 1394
OS X Leopard: Installed
Memory: 4GB DDR2 At this price it is well under 1/2 the price of comparative Mac store models.
There are DIY models as well, and since PC hardware is so much cheaper, one could build their openmac to be a powerhouse.
If I hadn't already bought 2 Dell precision 470's to make into hackintosh's, I would seriously consider one of these machines.
Any coments?

[thomase]

sure sounds interestung - question though: can these things run cards like the intensity? decklink says they don't work with "upgrade cards" whatever that may mean. and 2,66 isn't THAT fast tbh. No other cpus possible?

[vjpixylight]

From the OpenMac FAQ...
"If you're interested in something with a bit more hardware you should contact us to discuss the possibilities of an alternate hardware configuration. We are currently testing an upper-echelon system to provide high-end workstation and server performance."

These openmac boxes are configured so they work natively with leopard and no tweeking is needed, but I am sure you could hack this hackintosh a bit to get it more powerful. One of the main obsticals with making it into say a quadcore would be the power supply(only rated at 300w), so I don't know how much more powerful one could make it without talking to them and getting more facts...

[DrEskaton]

does Final Cut Studio run on it? Including video capture?

wow, I thought they must be a hong kong or chinese company shipping to the US, but they're based in florida.

They either have balls of steel or are very naive, if you want one, I'd buy it quick as I reckon Apple will shut them down within a few months.

[sleepytom]

looks rubbish to me...

PC hardware really is not a lot cheaper if you compare like with like. The mac pros do not use core2duo processors they use xeons - build me a machine with 2x quadcore xeons and 4x pci express slots for significantly less than the cost of a mac pro and i'll be impressed.

[DrEskaton]

yeah, but I'd love a shuttle config mac os x box with an upgradeable graphics card and a slot which could take a pci-e video input.

Apple's never going to provide that form factor, so a hackintosh is the only choice.

[vjpixylight]

Originally Posted by DrEskaton

does Final Cut Studio run on it? Including video capture?

wow, I thought they must be a hong kong or chinese company shipping to the US, but they're based in florida.

They either have balls of steel or are very naive, if you want one, I'd buy it quick as I reckon Apple will shut them down within a few months.

Roger, you'll have to contact them directly. I have no affiliation with the company, just came across this link.
Their toll free phone number is: 888.456.7801(US)
They are claiming it runs 10.5.2 native with no configuring required, and it looks like they are a full fledged IT company
that do more than just build whitebox macs...

As far as FCP running on hackintosh kalyway edition, I am waiting for couple of supported(according to the OSX86 HCL) video cards to plug into the hackintosh's I've got going, and will let you know if it does indeed work.
I have got a Aja Kona card installed on one of them

[DrEskaton]

nah I wouldn't touch these myself... I'd build it myself or just buy a real one.

[vjpixylight]

Originally Posted by sleepytom

looks rubbish to me...

PC hardware really is not a lot cheaper if you compare like with like. The mac pros do not use core2duo processors they use xeons - build me a machine with 2x quadcore xeons and 4x pci express slots for significantly less than the cost of a mac pro and i'll be impressed.

maybe not quite the specs your wanting, but you get the idea..
http://techthoughts.org/2007/12/07/break-free-of-apples-limitations-os-x-on-a-pc/

[theLAB]

Originally Posted by vjpixylight

maybe not quite the specs your wanting, but you get the idea..
http://techthoughts.org/2007/12/07/break-free-of-apples-limitations-os-x-on-a-pc/

Superb find there Pixy, thats almost my precise specs all bar 4gig ram and a higher gfx card. *

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