For that matter, a Mini isn’t a replacement for a netbook, either. The Mini isn’t meant to stick in your briefcase, or be used on the plane, or in the coffee shop. It’s tethered to the wall and to an external monitor. Don’t use a screwdriver to drive a nail.

As for what is or isn’t “murky” water regarding IP law, an uninformed layman’s opinion (aaron) means very little. Once the Pystar lawsuit plays out, we’ll have the one, legal answer to the question. It will likely be some time before that episode plays out completely, through all levels of the courts. But play out it will. Any conjecture on the part of ‘Joe Blow’ in the mean time is simply blather.

One of the reasons that the Macs have less problems making things work is because they control both the software/driver side of the equation, as well as the hardware side of the equation.

If they were to allow folks to run it on a box of their choice, and then be ‘forced’ to support it, they’d probably be in the same boat as is Microsoft, trying to figure out driver issues for every piece of stupid hardware that people would dig up. Lots of companies sell hardware meant to plug into an MS-driven box, but they write lousy or non-certified drivers. No one complains to the hardware company, and in some cases you can’t even get in touch with them. So instead, the go after, and blame it on MS. MS takes the black eye because the other company’s piece of hardware doesn’t ‘play well.’ Put Apple in the same ‘open’ environment, and they’d be in the same boat. If everyone who ever bought a piece of hardware for which the driver didn’t work started bad mouthing, or suing the manufacturer instead of the software company, those manufacturers would conclude that it’s cheaper to clean up their own mess. Right now they laugh because MS takes the hit for their incompetence.

Don’t dismiss me or label me anyone’s ‘fanboy,’ either. It isn’t so, and it isn’t that simple. My daily system is a MacBook. I use Linux for certain purposes, and Windows when I have to. I’m a system admin by trade. I see and acknowledge the ‘warts’ in all of them. They each have their problems, and they’re different problems.

Apple’s statements regarding a Netbook to date have been along the lines of not wanting to produce a ‘cheap’ device. That could be simple hubris, or could be a move against ‘brand dilution.’ As to which it is, that’s probably largely a matter of opinion as well. At the very least, they’ll listen to the chatter, quietly tinker in the lab, and maybe once they think that the desire and pricing curves cross at their desired intersection, you’ll see that type of device from Apple. When it comes out, I just hope that the thing has a user-replaceable battery. Otherwise, I don’t want *it,* either.

If you’re just surfing the net and using e-mail, W
why not the iPhone/iPod touch? What else are Netbooks good for? I bet, given the right apps, an iPod touch or an iPhone can do much more than a Netbook.

Oh, they are also both media players and they fit in your pocket.

Of course they have every right to defend their IP, as they should, but how does that have anything to do with preventing PC users from trying its operating system?
Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?

They SELL the operating system, on its own, in a package. How does installing that software on a computer which, except for a logo, is the exact hardware the operating system was designed for violate Apple’s IP?
Because Apple gives you a document which you don’t read that says not to? What a joke.

I understand that computer retailers who sell computers with OSX pre-installed, such as Psystar, are in muddy waters because they are turning a profit off Apple while unauthorized to be a reseller. But if somebody wants to hack OSX, which they bought, on their own computer, more power to them. Why would you want to stop them? Apple doesn’t.