KEY POINTS:
Apple's clone-making nemesis has lifted its game with Blu-ray drives and hardcore graphics cards - and is rumoured to be looking at Mac clone laptops.
Psystar, the company that raised the ire of Cupertino's finest when it released its Open Computer, shipping with Apples' OS X operating system, has now announced an even higher-spec machine.
Its Open Computer and Open Computer Pro models, which start at US$555 ($940), like Apple's machines, run Intel Core2Duo processors of various performance levels.
But the Psystar machines can now be upgraded with Blu-ray burners for US$310 ($524), according to the Psystar website.
More powerful graphics cards can be added - a 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9800GT (or two) can be added at US$200 each.
There are also upgrades to add super-fast 10,000rpm SATA drives for primary or extra storage.
Hot on the heels of news of these upgrades, rumours started doing the rounds that the clone-maker now plans to offer Mac OS X-toting laptops.
The rumours are based on a email allegedly leaked to AppleInsider.
Apple sued Psystar in July this year because it broke the company's EULA (end user licensing agreement) by bundling OS X with non-Apple machines.
The EULA specifies: "You agree not to install, use or run the Apple Software on any non-Apple-labelled computer, or to enable others to do so."
But just over a month later, Psystar bit back with a countersuit that alleged anti-competitive business practices by Apple only allowing its operating system to run on Macs.
The two companies are now working towards alternative dispute resolution, according to tech site engadget.com.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
