For all of those who gripe about outsourcing to India, this just goes to show that tech support has turned to crap domestically as well. So much for us consumers, self-sufficient or bust.

But they would have to do a "hard" shut down cuz there is not video. LOL!

Not surprised, here.

All I want to do is return the computer and get a refund.

I don't know why but reading that line and picturing a sad face makes me crack up laughing. You shoulda known from the beginning what you were getting in to.

The people who purchase these have a lot of balls let me tell you. Purchasing a $400+ PC from a fly by night maker which is essentially a couple nerds in a strip mall in miami building PC's with COTS components. Do you really think a couple guys (even with a receptionist) could handle ANY type of call volume? They're better off Opening an ebay store, at least there the ebay dash is neat and functional and provides some sort of daily organization

You are expecting customer service from prystar? they are selling a computer with stuff stolen from apple and osx86 developers and you want them to provide tech support?
HP, a legit company, can't work their tech support out and expecting that from prystar is just crazy.

What is psystar actually doing? Anything most of us already can? Just picking out components that go together and assembling them?

I build my own computers too. I'm no expert but my machine looks and performs professional and high-end.

That thing looks like a filmstrip projector from middle school.

@TOWken22: I dissagree. There are alot of good companies out there still. I work for Logitech, and all of our Tech Support is done here in the states, and done very efficiently at that! I'm sure many of you out there can attest to the fact that last time you spilt some coffee on your Logitech keyboard, we sent out a sparkling new one to you within days!

We don't know why Rick doesn't just bring it to the Apple Store and have the Apple Genius at the Bar take a look?

@Subterfuge: Start your own company. Substar.

The adage "You get you pay for" comes to mind...

"If you ever drop money into a shady company called Psystar, let 'em go, because man, they're gone." - Jack Handy

@Joseph: I dare ya to say that on Consumerist... those hippies will eat your liver in front of you.

(I love you, Consumerist 'Advocates'! Don't disembowel me!)

@Joseph: Or SubPar.

wow that's like 10 comments and no "apple fanboys are so...."

Why would they have to check with UPS first? Are they suggesting that UPS swapped graphics cards?

Damn, Chen, do the owners of Psystar owe you back child support or something? I mean, I'm all for outing a shitty company, but The Giz really has a hard-on for killing this company lately.

C'mon, Psystar... If you're going to drop the ball like this, you might as well just shut down and go home now.

OUCH!

Note to self - Don't fuck with the Apple community...

rick got rolled

@RainyDayInterns: That's a really good idea,LOL. it's not like Gizmodo didn't warm people from day one

thats what you get for purchasing a computer thats really an incomplete project

"A female answered the phone, presumably a receptionist."

A female what????

@Hiphopopotamus: Oh wow, they are that dumb over there? That's probably where all the people that buy those $1,100 video cameras for $499 with Special Kit 3, who never get the camera, wait 5 months while the company holds their money, and then receive their product 8 months later with out a battery must hang out. And then complain about it. If it looks to good to be true...

This is amazing to me. The sound advice being given here is "watch out, this place seems shady and their product seem crappy" and yet people out there will sink good money to buy from those guys??? I'm more in awe of the customers.

@IphtashuFitz: I dunno - you can get a pretty good machine and decent tech support from a place like ibuypower for that price.

But this place had all the signs of shadiness from the beginning.

Still, it's probably something he can fix on his own. Though he really shouldn't have to spend the extra dough on a new video card, it might be easier than coordinating with (and gettign the cooperation of) Psystar to get it fixed.

@Munch: nah if Chen was owed CS, then he would have had all of their earning garnished and put out WAAYYY MORE articles than this..

Not that I know about this or anything.

I say call the BBB (worthless in this case) it makes the shade-tree exposed in a broader sense. If he paid my credit card...dispute it, or charge back..

These guys need a least a Lesiure Learning class of CS and how to run a business

I just feel they weren't prepared to get such publicity and attention so fast.

To me it just seems like a Kid with a lemonade stand deciding to just buy a gallon of Snapple and pour it into cups and sprinkle vitamins in it or something, underselling the Convenience Store across the street.

Just so happens a news reporter with no leads walked by and decided to write a report about it giving it national attention.

I don't think the kid would be prepared for a line around the block for his lemonade stand and either is Psystar.

Why do you guys keep giving them publicity?
The're such a shady company and just talking about them is going to give them more business.

I mean, if you guys actually were trying to advocate them, fine...but you guys keep talking about their shady business and in return it's getting them more attention.

@TOWken22: This isn't bad tech support because tech support sucks, its bad tech support because this is a craptastic company with a craptastic product who may or may not be in buisness for that long. Seriously its like complaining about the quality of stereo gear you buy of some guys truck in a back alley somewhere...

To me it just seems like a Kid with a lemonade stand deciding to just buy a gallon of Snapple and pour it into cups and sprinkle vitamins in it or something, underselling the Convenience Store across the street.

Just so happens a news reporter with no leads walked by and decided to write a report about it giving it national attention.

Wasn't that an episode of South Park?

@Kraftwerker:
Oops... See above.

@krizoitz: I understand that this company is shadier than a midget hawking Rolex's in Washington Square Park, but seriously, I haven't experienced even the slightest bit of helpful tech support from any company (regardless of their rep) in the recent past. I may be wrong and there are probably smaller companies out there that really do provide quality support, but customer service seems to be a dying practice reminiscent of full service gas stations.

@Kraftwerker: I agree 100%, they probably didn't think it was gonna be a big deal and now they have a huge magnifying glass on their operation. I think that people are also going to scrutinize this with the same level of detail that the scrutinize Apple with, which will make it even more difficult for them. Apples market capitalization (corporate/economic size) is roughly 60% of Microsoft (even with an OS that's only 5%-10% of the computer market). When you say you're going to compete with their biggest business, which is obviously hardware, you're gonna have a lot of eyes on you.

A female answered the phone so it's GOT TO BE the receptionist? Sexist much?

In Summary:
Someone bought something for next to nothing and expected to actually get something, but got nothing.

Apple should do whatever they can to keep this company a-float. They are a living example of what happens to you when you mess with the big fruit.

@xcharliemx: if she took the message then she is THE RECEPTIONIST. why don't you call 'em (Psystar) give us your feedback. if a big, burly, deep voice answers the phone . . ."Hello and thank you for calling Psystar how may I direct your call" just presume it's THE RECEPTIONIST.

Gee; that doesn't sound much different than the "customer support" I get from ecost.com.

@xcharliemx: Not necessarily sexist; I can usually tell within a sentence or two whether the person on the other end (male or female) is a clueless phone answerer or a someone who can answer questions of a technical nature. It's really not that difficult. And not really worth getting your underwear bundled over.

@Shawn_K: I understand the concept of "any publicity is good publicity", but to me that works mostly for celebrities or websites where just the click (exposure) means money. A new company selling a new product is highly threatened by bad press. Just google Psystar and see what the results look like.

So how does this make them any different from ASUS?

@TOWken22: Sir, as someone who takes pride in their domestic tech support abilities, I'm slightly offended by your generalization. Some of us aren't idiots and receive decent training. Don't expect such a thing from a fly-by-night company like this though.

honestly, i dont feel bad for him. nor do i feel bad for anybody who bought one of these. if you couldnt figure out you were being duped then you really need to brush up on what it is to be a good consumer.

We need to take up a collection so everyone who buys a computer from these punks can have "CAVEAT EMPTOR" tattooed on their foreheads for free as a warning to the rest.

Why doesn't reader Rick just send the thing back and reverse the charges on his card?

It sucks to be an early adopter, right?

@kahri: Just to make you happy: Macs are overpriced pieces of sh*t. Pystar are just underpriced pieces of sh*t.

Of course I say that in jest, being a Mac user. The sad thing is I woudn't be surprised if the same people are trying use both arguments.

Psytar almost illustrates why many people are willing to pay extra for their computers - piece of mind is certainly worth the extra dollars.

@RainyDayInterns: I'd love to see some idiot bring that box to my genius bar. Would give all of us genii a good laugh for the day!

@TOWken22:
I don't really think a fly-by-night business, which is is doing something that is most likely illegal, is a good way to make a generalization about tech support quality. That said, I agree that many US-based companies have bad, and declining, technical support. At least if you look around, you get what you pay for.

after reading some comments, i now understand why they say giz is full of apple fanboys.