[Swordmaker]

obvious Apple is ripping off its customers when these two brothers can sell an Apple computer for $399. $399 gets you a solid mid range Dell Computer. Quadcore for maybe $450. The rock bottom Dells go for $399 but include a 19" or 20" wide screen LCD monitor

These two brothers are NOT selling an "Apple" computer for $399. They are selling a basic box that runs a crippled version of Apple's OSX without permission.

In addition, the Psystar Mac clone is not $399. That gets you their base machine, minus monitor and operating system. The cooling fans are not controlled so they run at full speed and full noise level to allow for cooling in case the processor is called on to really work. To call it a Mac clone you have to add OSX for $155, bringing the Psystar Mac Clone price to $554. Then you might want to add other little necessities such as WIFI and Bluetooth... and a Monitor.

Apple could sell a Mac for $554 but they choose not to compete in the junk computer market. Instead, they offer an very well engineered Mac for $599, the Mac Mini, which is totally silent. it also comes with the iLife suite of applications which Psystar does not include.

[purpleraine]

I want to thank apple for sparing me the ignominy of buying a 599 Mac when I can pay twice as much for the same product and feel twice as self-righteous.

[antiRepublicrat]

To call it a Mac clone you have to add OSX for $155

Doesn't OS X go for $129 from Apple? That's a bit of markup. It's not much more money to go from their machine to a Mini that you know will work right out of the box, has a full warranty, has all the software, and has Apple's support department behind it. Isn't that extra worth $45?

[savedbygrace]

Apple sells the Mac Mini for $599.

[dennisw]

I like their style. I like these guys! I would definitely buy an Apple computer from them if I could think up a good reason to buy any kind of Apple machine

Windows XP does everything I need