Russian Mac clones debut

Computers using Apple Macintosh technology are now being offered for sale in Russia, Lenta.ru reports. Six computers with the Mac OS X operating system are available. All copies of the operating system are legally obtained and licensed, the producer adds.

The RuMac PRO, analogous to the high-end Apple iMac, costs $737 at today’s exchange rate. It has a 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4 GB of operating memory. The comparable Apple product costs $3407 in Russia (according to the RussianMac website). In the United States, the iMac with a 2.93 GHz processor and 4 GB of operating memory costs $1799, according to Apple’s website.

The RuMac Multimedia/Home Theater with the same processor costs and memory $700. It has only four USB ports, compared to the RuMac PRO's eight, however. It is compatible with digital LCD television and can be used to play DVD’s. It has no Apple analog.

The RuMac Mini, with a 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor and 2 GB of operating memory costs $365, compared to an Apple Mac Mini that costs $929 in Russia. An Apple Mac Mini with a 2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2 GB of memory costs $799 in the US.

The RuMac Stardart, with a 2.8-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2 GB of operating memory costs $489, compared to $1858 for the Apple product in Russia. An Apple iMac with a 2.66-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2 GB of operating memory costs $1199 in the US.

The RuMac Book, with a 15.4-inch screen, 1.6-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 1 GB of operating memory costs $784, compared to $1548 for the comparable Apple in Russia. A 13-inch Apple MacBook with 2-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2 GB of operating memory costs $1299 in the US.

The RuMac miniBook, with an 8.9- or 10-inch screen, a 1.6-GHz Intel Atom processor and 1 GB of operating memory, costs $498 or $706, depending on screen size. It features WiFi and Bluetooth. It has no Apple analog.

Two American companies, Psystar and Open Tech, and the Argentine OpeniMac and German HyperMeganet companies also make Apple analogs. Apple filed suit against Psystar in July 2008 over the presence in its computers of preinstalled Mac OS X Leopard operating systems, claiming that, since the end-user agreement for Mac OS prohibits third-party installations of the system, the company is infringing on Apple’s copyright. Psystar has countersued, accusing Apple of anticompetitive practices, monopolistic behavior and copyright misuse.

Mac OS X Leopard, the successor to the Tiger that was introduced in 2007, is the only operating system that is compatible with the iPhone development platform.

RussianMac notes that all of its computers are “adapted” for Mac OS X Leopard, without clear elaboration of the situation, other than that “software designed for OS X Leopard works flawlessly” on its computers.