Why Yes Apple, You Can Restrict OS X to Your Own Hardware

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/09/appeals-court-apple-can-continue-to-restrict-os-x-to-mac-hardware.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss' target='_blank'>http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2...tm_campaign=rss</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Apple has the right to continue restricting its operating systems to its own hardware thanks to a decision handed down by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday. Circuit Judge Mary Schroeder wrote in her opinion that Apple's Mac OS X licensing agreement was indeed enforceable against Psystar, which had sold non-Mac computers with Mac OS X installed."</em></p><p><img height="400" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/adt/auto/1317323916.usr105634.jpg" style="margin-left: 100px; margin-right: 100px;" width="400" /></p><p><em>Image Credit: AppleTell</em></p><p>Of course, the home enthusiasts can still "do-it-yourself" with kits that companies sell or by going online at any number of sites to get the how to instructions. At least it is very doubtful Apple would go after individuals, unless they started doing it commercially I suppose. Personally I'm glad for this since it keeps the ecosystem closed, so I know, for the most part, that software and hardware are going to mesh together well. Unlike with that other software system...you know the one. What are your thoughts?</p>

[Sven Johannsen]

Absolutely agree. (surprising huh?) It's their stuff. They have the right to protect it as they choose. If that closed concept costs them business because there isn't as much choice for consumers, that is offset by the tight integration it allows. A significant benefit to another sort of conumer. That is their business model. Seems to work. Some other guys sell the OS and try to provide some guidance to hardware manufacturers so the experience remains at some reasonable level. Seems to work for them. Kind of amazing that Windows PCs work as well as they do, considering.

I like that there are options. If there was a concept that worked for every consumer, there wouldn't be 2+ major options. Absolutely believe it is the vendors right to do business they way he wants. The market will kill the bad ideas.