Psystar tests
As expected, Psystar’s Open Computer is not functioning as seamlessly as an original Apple computer. Macworld reports on several anomalies:
The system asked if I wanted to use the external drive as a Time Machine backup drive, and I clicked Yes. And though the icon of the drive changed to reflect its new status as Time Machine volume, the backup would immediately fail each time it attempted to run.The Psystar site features a page with lots of available software update downloads, including one for fixing Time Machine errors. Psystar turns off the Mac OS’s automatic System Update feature, so you need to download and install updates manually. One might think that the company would send you a machine that’s as up-to-date as possible, but that’s not the case. I called Psystar tech support and learned that the company will offer a download in the next couple weeks that will enable Psystar users to take advantage of Apple’s Software Update utility.
Macworld Lab uses Migration Assistant to transfer our Speedmark user files and folders to our test system from a clean system booted into FireWire Target Disk Mode, and that process worked just fine with the Open Computer. We found, however, that we were unable to boot the Open Computer into FireWire Target disk mode. The tech support person didn’t think that Psystar offered that feature. Other startup options, like SafeBoot, zapping of PRAM, and startup drive selection via the Option key are also not available.
I tried cloning the internal drive to an external FireWire drive using Carbon Copy Cloner. It cloned successfully, but I was unable to boot from it, even though a message said the volume would be bootable. It sounds like a couple of folks in the Psystar forums were able to find a way to do it, but they weren’t giving out specific instructions. We’ll continue to look into that.
I guess it’s good that the Software Update is disabled. I would strongly suggest to Psystar not to enable it, unless they are comfortable that Apple won’t issue an update that would render your Open Computer inoperable.
And the problems mentioned in Macworld’s report may just be the tip of the iceberg. What features are also unavailable? Well, I guess you get what you pay for. Will this harm Apple’s brand? I don’t think so. At best, it shows how much effort goes into ensuring that the operating system works well with the hardware.
May 07 2008 07:01 am | Hardware and OS
