[heisetax]

People that make Mac Clones are the ones that like to do things for themselves. They can only be happy with a tower. MacBooks & iMacs are not customizable in the ways that they want &/or need to customize. An Intel MacBook Pro & Intel Mac Pro has a PCI Express buss that will allow for some expansion beyond what Apple ships. But they want a computer that is more customized than either will allow. This is part of what makes Linux as popular by many as it is. Even a portion of the Windows crowd use Windows beause of all of the many choices they have. To me it is only natural for a group of Mac people to want do make a Clone. Apple is afraid that if they would allow Clones that they would sell micros like IBM does now.

As much as we want to make Apple a software company, they really are a hardware design company (they don't even assemble much of their hardware anymore. Look at their products: iPhone, iPod & even a few Macs now & then. They would keep a monopoly on their OS, but the hardware can be duplicated much easier. I'm not saying that everyone should have to make a MacClone is they want a Mac. I just think that it should be easier to allow a Clone to be made just like it is in the Linux & Windows world.

Bill the TaxMan

[vbetts]

From what I understand, there have been small rumors suggesting that Snow Leopard will be both PC and Mac compatible, reason for this rumor going around, I guess somewhere around, it was listed as Os X 10.6, and not Mac Os X 10.6. I doubt this though, as I doubt it will happen too, since Apple is really pushing for a closed platform. Look at the Iphone, it took Apple so long just to finally give in and say to people "Hey, you can have your home made apps!"



But I think a major factor why Apple will not release an OS for PCs, it would create competiton with other Macs, as well as real Macs, and personally, if it were me and I had a computer that could run it perfectly, I'd go for the OS instead of the actual machine. Like, Toyota and Scion. Who needs the Scion TC when the Corolla is the Scion TC, but also cheaper? Apple is not what some would consider "Cheap".

[stnbth]

OK With this Frankenmac you're giving me goosebumps. What comparesions to a mac does this have in the power area???

[benroethig]

Its exactly where a tower should be, between the family oriented laptop based iMac and the MP xeon-based professional workstation Mac Pro.

[griffman]

What do you mean by "power"? Energy usage, or how fast does it run Mac programs?

-rob.

[cjmillsnun]

OK Honesty time here.
As well as my G4..... I have run a hackintosh. (specifically a "hack book" based on a Toshiba). I actually ran the laptop first and the experience with OS X made me want to get a Mac. I still have the Tosh (it runs Ubuntu Linux now - not as good as OS X) but I replaced my desktop with an old PowerMac G4 (OK I'm not rich and can't afford a Mac Pro and I don't want an iMac or Mac Mini) that technically isn't as powerful as the PC I ran before it, just so I could continue to run OS X (even if it is Tiger rather than Leopard). I will be buying a new MBP soon to replace the Tosh. So OSX86 isn't a bad thing as I know that my experience is far from unique. Hackintoshes generate new sales for Apple, as people replace their PC hardware in time with real Macs.
If Apple were to release a reasonably priced mid tower that you could swap out components like the graphics card with reasonably priced replacements, then it would sell like nobody's business. Apple would seriously struggle to keep up with demand, as there is a serious market for this kind of computer running OS X. I hope they do it soon!

[macmutt]

I have a giant Super Alien X tower collecting dust that I'd like to make into the Mother Of All Macs. I have hunted down every single hardware component used for making a Mac Pro, save for the BIOS and would welcome the help in building my 8 core, 64GB RAM, Radeon HD 4870 packing, 5 Pioneer Blu-Ray optical drive toting, 6TB's of HD powerhouse. Granted, it will be a bit pricey when completed, but I intend to build this baby in the Johnny Cash method-One piece at a time, spreading the cost out over a couple years. Even so, it will come in well under the $26,000.00+ a maxed out Mac Pro would run me.....plus have Blu-Ray capability and three extra optical drives as well as two more Hard Drives than the Mac. Final cost, including Logic Pro, iLife, Leopard, and other miscellaneous goodies.......... $8,480.36 allowing me to utilize nearly $18,000.00 in savings on more important things, like buying a new car. Besides, Apple has all but turned it's back on me lately. After sending me updates that caused my super drive to quit functioning as well as a few apps, now they put out an OS my poor old PowerMac G4 won't even be able to run, just to add insult to injury.