Photos: Psystar's Mac clones

Psystar claims its Open Computer can give the enjoyment of a Mac at a fraction of the cost.

By Andy Smith, Contributor April 15, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. PT

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Psystar's site is back up, a day after it unveiled the Open Computer, a low-cost Mac-compatible tower PC built from generic PC components. The Open Computer will begin at a retail cost of $399 without the operating system. The company began its OSx86 Project when Intel-based Macs were introduced in 2006. Psystar achieved Mac OS X compatibility achieved using an EFI emulator. All eyes are now on Apple--expecting the company's legal team to have a say in the project. The lowest cost Mac is the Mac mini which starts at $599.

The Open Computer comes with a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB DDR2 memory, integrated Intel 950 graphics, and a 250GB 7200RPM drive. Its operating system is separate but the PC can come with Leopard OS pre-installed for $155.

Read what Jason D. O'Grady and Adrian Kingsley-Hughes have to say about the OpenMac. Photos from Psystar.

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The drive bays are hidden--push the chrome eject button to open. Firewire is $50 extra on the Open Compter.

The name of the Psystar's Mac clone is interesting as it is sometimes referred to as the OpenMac on psystar.com. Was this due to a last minute change for legal purposes or is the model with Mac OS X installed actually called the OpenMac?

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For a size comparison, the Open Computer is on the left, next to a Dell Dimension C521.

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Rear view of the Open Computer (right) and the Dell C521.

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The Open Computer has a big brother, the OpenPro Computer. Its basics include a 2.6GHz Core 2 Duo chip from Intel, a 150GB 10000RPM hard drive, and a 512MB GeForce 8600GT graphics card. This black model costs $50 extra,

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The OpenPro Computer also has an optional stainless steel mirror case for an extra $90.

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The hideaway front peripheral ports.

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