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Psystar, a small tech company, has recently announced the OpenMac, a $399 computer ready for Leopard.  For $554, you can get a retail copy of Leopard pre-installed. As you probably know, Apple has never licensed another hardware company to make an OS X Compatible computer, so legal action is inevitable.  The knock-off includes a 2.2 GHz processor, 250 gigabytes of hard drive space, 2 gigabytes of RAM and four USB ports.  The OpenMac uses minimal patching and a EFI V8 Emulator to successfully run Leopard. 

With the OpenMac you can run OS X natively as if you had purchased an expensive Apple computer except that, while paying less, you receive more. Apple’s entry-level computer, the Mac Mini, is a small and not very powerful machine. When comparing base configurations, the Mac Mini costs 150% of the price of the OpenMac while offering poorer performance, smaller storage space, and RAM. Not only that but the Mac Mini doesn’t have the option for an nVidia GeForce 8600 video card like the OpenMac does so playing games on it is a lost cause.

The Psystar website, for unknown reasons (possibly legal?), is down, and as soon Apple’s legal department notices that which has spread all over the web, appropriate action will probably be taken on the OpenMac. 

Via [TUAW], [Ars Technica], [Mac Rumors]

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