In less than two weeks. Cheaper hardware, not illegal, faster than a Mac Pro and half the price of one.
Yes, bring it on. Preferably with i7 support soon, when Gigabyte brings out their i7 motherboards.
I just don't buy the argument that people go for Hackintosh because Apple doesn't make a product that suits them. If that's the case, do some research and buy an older model, e.g. one from a year or two ago that doesn't have matte screens or a used Mac Pro with AppleCare.
Your solution is to spend money on accelerated obsoleteness, even if it doesn't meet the need? And just hope you can get a machine that works well and hasn't been abused or overheated? AppleCare is only 3 years. If you buy used, it is less, perhaps less than half of that. The specs are that much further away from upcoming software requirements. I don't need a Mac Pro's configuration specifications now, but I want something newer than a year old, or perhaps two, if given budget constraints. an obsolete Mac Pro, or PowerMac G5 is not a better solution for that situation, it is just a differently insufficient solution.
I don't mind the current iMac's specs, especially if they weren't hindered by space considerations, and could actually use desktop components... But Apple doesn't see it that way, at least right now. But I don't need or want ANY built in screen. In one setting, I want to use two matching monitors of my choice. In another setting, I want to use a 1080p high quality monitor for television and cinema viewing in a home theater central media server and library. And if Apple doesn't do it, why not step up to the new i7 desktop/workstation (commercial server-grade hardware not required) architecture, and have something even more current than Core 2 Duo?
If Apple refuses to sell the product that the market demands, I say it is fair game to build it one's self from parts. A legal retail version of Mac OS X being one of those parts, EFiX perhaps being another. I would not expect warranted support beyond the basic inherent operation of the specific part, in that case. Liable for replacing defective physical items, or obviously not meeting advertised capabilities, being the only real claims to be made on any vendor of any part, for a user-assembled system.
All Apple has to do is listen to it's customers, and release a mid-range headless computer with some moderate specs. Quad-core or i7, DDR3, with a great, or at least upgradeable video card, and replaceable internal hard drive(s), perhaps even 3.5"... Keep the digital audio, Firewire (1600-3200, even?), and add eSata.
MiniDisplayPort that is capable of driving two monitors on a desktop, or a single large screen monitor compatible with HD/BluRay content in Home Theater setups. (either via dual DVI adapter, or two MDP sockets).
Apple is very capable of creating an even better product than MacMini currently is, even if it requires a slight increase in size for true versatility.
Apple can do it. Apple can nip this in the bud. I would rather buy something official, and with a warranty, but if they don't, I don't owe them allegiance, and am capable of building something myself with products on the market to fill my role. A set of roles that many people seem to be clamoring for.
I am an Apple fan, but I am not blindly obedient to a corporation's business plan. Certainly not to the point of scrounging for their leftovers and table scraps from years past.
