What i want to know is, Is it cheaper to build a hackintosh or buy a mac. I only buy mac stuff mostly low end desktops but how do they compare to a cheap hackintosh. Compatibility and performance wise. Because i develop a lot of software and my Mini and powerbook are just what i need. And what also makes you want a hackintosh compared to a real Macintosh?

unless ur talking Mac Pro octo core with 2gb of ramand 8800gt($2900) vs octo core PC with 2gb of ram and 8800gt($2700).. the priceses are drastically different. You can build a perfectly working hackintosh for well under 1000 dollars.. for the same price as a little mac mini (600 dollars) you could have a perfect working hackintosh that is much faster than the leading imacs (2000+)

If you want to know more detailed specifcations and whats compatible, check HCL

I'm sure you could build one for a $200 - $300. Get a cheap 945g motherboard with built in graphics. A cheap core2. Fry's had this combo: (Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor E2200 & ECS 945GCT-M/133 Motherboard $99.99) That would work great !

Two words here:
Choice & Freedom to choose the Hardware that i want or need for my job!
APPLE locks me in the hardware they have on offer, i don't want a crippled 'book or mini, neither a notebook-like iMac, i want to choose the hardware for my own needs and apple has a big hole between iMac/mini and the MacPros. The MacPros are simply to expensive, if i want something to build several harddrives in, a fast videocard, RAID or what else then i'm out of luck and here the hacintosh-scene shines, and in my opinion apple profits greatly from the work that all the leading Knowledgeworkers here do because more often then not the useres who have choosen to test os x will go the way and buy a real mac because they have build the faith for the platform in a way no advertising or marketing is able to do. It's the same way so much softwarecompanies build there imperiums: Stolen software, that gets used over and over and a whole lot of people go out and buy what they have "tested" not only because they feel better but also because they rely more and more on the software they use.
APPLEs tendency to lock people in there ecosystems (iPod, iTunes, iPhone) are gaining more and more ground. The more they want to lock me in the more i look to break out...., thankfully the people here and elsewhere are of great help for me and others who think like i am doing here. I love APPLE and i still by some of there products and recommend them to my customers, but i simply want get locked in in a way like they do it with the iPhone for example.
I really hope they get more sensitive in the future and open there hard- and software in a way that everyone can live with without the need to feel jailed in there systems. So, for me, its not a question of cost alone, its simply this two words and everything behind them...
cheers

you can of course go much cheaper than this, or more expensive than this.. but i gaurantee with the following build you can have a perfect install.. run vmware perfectly.. play games nice.. do everything



Qty. Product Description Unit Price Savings Total Price

Update COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: CAC-T05-UW
Item #: N82E16811119068
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
In Stock $49.99

Update ASUS P5W DH DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: P5WDH DELUXE/WIFI-AP
Item #: N82E16813131025
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock $169.99

Update EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #: 512-P3-N801-AR
Item #: N82E16814130318
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock
Mail-in Rebate $239.99


Update Rosewill RP550-2 ATX12V v2.01 550W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: RP550-2
Item #: N82E16817182017
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
In Stock $66.99 -$5.00 Instant $61.99


Update Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
Model #: BX80562Q6600
Item #: N82E16819115017
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
In Stock $275.99

Update G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
Model #: F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ
Item #: N82E16820231122
Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy
In Stock $129.99 -$40.00 Instant $89.99

Update Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3320620AS
Item #: N82E16822148140
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock $84.99

Update LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-06 - Retail
Model #: LH-20A1L-06
Item #: N82E16827106072
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
In Stock $37.99

Subtotal: $1,010.92


Price of equivalent Mac Pro
Summary Subtotal $2,999.00 Estimated Ship:
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Specifications

• One 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon (quad-core)
• 4GB (4 x 1GB)
• 320GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
• NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512MB (Two dual-link DVI)
• One 16x SuperDrive
• Apple Mighty Mouse
• Apple Keyboard (English) + Mac OS X

Sorry for silly question, maybe.... But could you explain me what does Hackintosh mean?

it is just a made up word for osx86, mac os running on pc hard ware