Psystar's Mac Clone Emerges, Disappears, Re-Emerges on Same Day

Psystar claims it has a Mac clone for sale - and that it will sell the computer for $400. Unfortunately, until a little while ago, most of the pages related to the so-called "Open Computer" were not working (and who knows how long they'll stay up). The site went down mere hours after the computer launched, leading some to assume Apple's lawyers had already shut it down.

According to Psystar, the Open Computer's specs are:

The highly extensible Open Computer is a configuration of PC hardware capable of running unmodified OS X Leopard kernels. If you purchase Leopard with your Open Computer we will not only include the actual Leopard retail package with genuine installation disc, but we also include a Psystar restore disc for your Open Computer and we will preinstall Leopard for free so you can begin to use your computer right out of the box.

Base Configuration

• 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Processor
• 2GB of DDR2 667 memory
• Integrated Intel GMA 950 Graphics
• 20x DVD+/-R SATA drive that is Lightscribe-capable
• 4 rear USB Ports
  

And that base configuration is $400. Well, technically, if you want OS X on it, it's $555.

Thing is you might have a 10.5.2 PC forever. As the site says in reference to updates:

The answer is yes and no. No because there are some updates that are decidedly non-safe. Yes because most updates are not non-safe.

Non-safe? Sounds like the whole idea is non-safe.

In fact, the company is likely treading on non-safe ground, as we know how protective Apple is about its turf - and installing Mac OS X on non-Apple hardware violates the EULA.

So, if you want one of these, buy it now, before the site disappears again.