Questions abound over Mac cloner Psystar's legitimacy

By Ed Oswald | Published April 17, 2008, 3:37 PM

Following its announcement of a $399 Mac clone earlier this week, problems contacting the company, a sudden failure of its online store, and changes to its Web site have raised some eyebrows.

A simple search of Florida's registered business listings indicate that the company filed with the state on July 6 of last year. The registered address is 10645 SW 122nd Street in Miami, with the apparent contacts Rodolfo and Roberto Pedraza.

This is where the issues begin. A search via Google maps using the satellite function indicates that the above address appears to be in a residential neighborhood, not the place where one would expect a business to reside.

It gets stranger from here. A reporter with the Guardian noticed that while he was researching to cover the story, the address had changed. Now, Psystar claims to be located at 10481 NW 28th Street in the city.

There's a problem there too. That location was found by a Gizmodo team to be home to USA Koen Pack, which produces packaging for floral bouquets.

That location appears to be within an industrial park of some sort, but it still raises more questions. Why would the address change, especially while the company is under such heavy scrutiny? And on top of that, why hasn't anybody heard of the company before?

Neither the Better Business Bureau nor the Chamber of Commerce have any information on Psystar.

So what do you do when you've been caught again with a suspect address? Change it. They're now down the street, at 10471. Psystar's choice of new location is plainly listed in the Yellow Pages as Logistic Solutions, under the headings "Self-Storage" and "Warehouse/Merchandise."

It appears one of the few press outlets so far that has been able to navigate the tangled web of Psystar is Tom's Hardware, whose reporter on Wednesday talked to Mr. Pedraza, apparently the company's president.

Pedraza remained defiant and said the OpenComputer (whose name was likely changed to prevent some type of trademark lawsuit) will happen. He also addressed claims from the OSx86 project, a group which has no apparent business connection to Psystar.

While Pedraza says he couldn't comment because his lawyers were in negotiations with the OSx86 project over using their work, one of its lead developers, Netkas, has called the company "liars."

Doing a bit of research on either Roberto or Roldofo Pedraza through the Florida government Web site indicates the two are involved in a host of companies, including Dade Elevator Corporation, FloridaTek, Deco Motors Corporation, Expressi Networks, and Foreceed Corporation.

Most of these companies are now inactive, save for FloridaTek. But there, clicking on some links brings up an executable, called floridatek.exe. It is not known whether this could be a possible phishing scam.

Certainly at this point, there are many more questions than there are answers. Apple has yet to comment to the press on the situation.

Comments

View comments by with a score of at least

Can you spell 'SCAM'?

I can.

P S Y S T A R

The developer of the code used with OSX to determine the legitimacy of the hardware has already made a public statement about Psystar's illegal use of his work.

I don't expect them to be around long. There's too much about Psystar that smells.

Score: 0

|

Right.

Score: 0

|

'A pivot from war to peace:' The AMD + Intel armistice, in their own words

An extraordinary day in technology history is recognized by two long-time rivals that mutually decided it's futile to fight anyplace else except the marketplace.

PS3, Xbox to soon get Twitter, Facebook integration

Both Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3 will integrate with Facebook in the near future.

Windows Marketplace for Mobile now available in browser, iTunes' App Store still not

You can now check out what Windows Marketplace for Mobile has to offer without a Windows Phone.

Microsoft damage control after marketer claims Win7 inspired by Mac

Have you ever said anything you wish you could take back? Ever? No? Not even once? Well then, you won't sympathize with a mid-level Microsoft manager today.

Blockbuster's way down, but poised for a comeback

Though it took a serious beating in 2009, Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes says the company can turn it around.

iTunes Preview deson't go far enough to create Web-based option for store

Apple has rolled out iTunes Preview, a Web interface for browsing iTunes.

PDC 2009 Preview: The move to Office 2010 and Visual Studio 2010

The major focus of Microsoft's conference next week will likely be explaining why two pillars of its software sales strategy deserve to remain where they are.

Dell's first smartphone aids the Android onslaught

Longtime PC leader Dell has finally announced its Android-based smarphone.

After the Intel + AMD armistice: Do we really want a level playing field?

Scott Fulton On Point: One by one, the reasons for us to continue suspending the course toward open and fair competition in IT, are dropping like flies.

FLO TV launches pocketable, smartphone-like TVs

Qualcomm's FLO TV Personal Television made by HTC launches in retail today.

Google acquires Gizmo5, builds IP telephony portfolio

Google Voice today confirmed rumors that it would acquire IP telephony company Gizmo5