Most users will agree that a Mac computer costs more than a similar Windows based system. One reason for the increased cost of Mac systems is that Apple doesn’t license its operating system. This means that you are only supposed to be able to get the Mac OS on complete computers built by Apple. That little fact doesn’t stop some from trying to make Mac clones– like Psystar.

The problem with firms like Psystar that try to sell Mac clones with the Mac Os pre-installed is that it breaks the software license and leads to Apple suing the firms into oblivion. A company called RSOL PC has announced a new computer called the Jive that it says is Multi-platform capable. The Jive machine can be had with no OS or pre-installed Windows, Ubuntu, and Fedora.

We entered the Politically Correct or PC age sometime in the 90’s, and the effect that it has had on censorship, whether blatant or mild, continues in one form or another to this day. Take the above image for instance. Moronic as it may seem, the cigarette in the hand of the man in the Mad Men promotional image was digitally removed when it was placed on iTunes.

Apparently Apple thinks that anyone who sees (a rough poster outline) of a man smoking, will begin smoking a pack a day immediately. It proves one thing I’ve known for years: Consumers are not nearly as stupid as those in charge of making such idiotic decisions as whether to remove a cigarette from a TV character’s hand or not. Yeah, people have been having trouble getting their iPhone to work for like a week, but they have the cigarette until control, never you fear.

I know for a fact that several nerds just crapped themselves looking at the picture above. This monstrosity is a PC Case Mod designed around the Matrix Regenerator. Some specs: Pentium 4 3.2, MSI 875P Neo Mainboard, a Solarism 17″ LCD Monitor LM1730, 1 GB Corsair CMX512 3200LL, Crucial Radeon 9800 Pro 256, and more.

It’s really a highly detailed work of art. From the creator “The Matrix: Regenerator project is the second in a series of two case mods based on The Matrix movies. The first project, The Matrix: Rebirth 8.0 was a recreation of the scene where machines are breeding humans for their electric power. Regenerator will show the second stage in that breeding process, where adult humans are plugged in to their power plants, dreaming their dream within the Matrix and providing power for the machines.”

If Phantom Menace, Attack of The Clones and Revenge of the Sith didn’t ruin Star Wars for you the new Clone Wars probably will. To help celebrate George Lucas throwing his own feces on screen once again, comes this Clone Trooper laptop for the kids.

Nice case, and a typical keyboard lets your little Jedi play boring learning games on its monochrome screen. It’s probably a good case to use for a mod, or maybe you could take the front off and have yourself a half mask, but that’s about it for $39.99.

For lots of people when it starts getting close to back to school time, they start looking for a new computer. For most users a basic computer will do the trick and the biggest factor is the price of the system. While eMachines may not have the best reputation, its computers certainly fit the low-cost requirement.

Today eMachines announced three new computers just in time for the back to school crowd. The first new system is the T3656 desktop with a retail price of $299.99. For that amount you get an Intel Celeron CPU, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB HDD. If you need more performance the eMachines T5374 retails for $399.99 and features a Intel Celeron dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a 320GB HDD.

So you’ve wanted some motion control on your PC, but so far every mod you’ve attempted fails miserably. The folks at GoLive2 are here to help with Stix, a Wiimote for the PC. No, it won’t sing Mr. Roboto or Come Sail Away, but it will let you have a Wii-like experience on your PC.

It’s launching with a companion website called sphere that has hundreds of “free Web-based games” available, which usually means suckage. The Stix 200 will work with those games while the Stix 400 will apparently work with normal PC games. It will be available in August.

If you figure PCs should look like a bizarre abstract UFO, or maybe resemble a Sit and Spin type toy with a CD tray sticking out, you are not alone. Designer Won-Seok Lee apparently agrees.

The B-membrane computer concept does away with monitors entirely, instead opting for a built-in projector that will beam the display onto any surface. The membrane keyboard shows up whenever it’s needed as well as a built-in optical drive. It will probably be some time before we see something like this become a reality. It’s just not that easy to make a PC of the future look like the inside of a washing machine.

There are PCs, and then there are PCs that look like Pac-Man has arrived from the future to kick ass and chew bubble gum…And he’s all out of bubble gum. Plus he’s got legs. According to the modder, this PC came about because he wanted to “construct some kind of Pacman or motorcycle-helmet that can open a visor driven by a motor.”

The visor is comprised of two quarter-spheres, one slightly smaller than the other. They are glued together with about 5mm of space for the water cooling system. I’d say job well done. This thing looks like it could lurch forward at any minute and start gobbling things up.

Looks like Asus has been working on an official handwriting recognition add-on for the Eee PC. Which is good news if you’ve been trying to mod your DS to do the job, but failing miserably. It was demoed at last weeks Computex show, and it accepts English and simplified Chinese characters via the Eee’s USB port.

The touch pad is just over 2-inches across, with the whole thing measuring 4.3 x 4.4 x 0.7 inches. If you’re big on handwriting, you’ll have to wait. How long we’re not sure. No launch date or price info yet.

Most devices already have a calculator app built in, including your computer. That’s why most people have no use for a stand-alone calculator. But if you do want or need a number cruncher that’s free and untethered and all independent like, this is the one to get. The 10-key calculator. It’s what a calculator would have looked like if there had been one built into your keyboard number pad. Instead of soft squishy keys, you get the clickety clack of a keyboard, which I’m sure won’t help it fit in your pocket and it will only annoy fellow nerds. All of this backwards innovation will cost you $88. Oddly, it’s only available in red or white.

What’s a nerd to do when one day you wake up and realize that there’s no woman in your life and there likely never will be? You create your own woman, that’s what! One who will carry your PC on her back like Luke carrying Yoda.

If that’s not creepy enough, make sure you take plenty of pictures of the project, and I mean planty, detailing every stage of it’s construction and adding to the overall flavor of desperation and geek excitement. That’s what Katsuya Matsumura did. His gal is party in the front and PC in the back. Say what you will about a perv and his PC, you don’t have one.

iHome, announced the iH69 and iH70 speaker systems for Mac and the PC. Now, you can dock, charge, play and sync your iPod directly to the computer via the actual speakers, which is nice for convenience and because it eliminates some wires extra wires. The all in one speaker solution will also save you space.

The speakers are compatible with all docking iPod models, and are designed with high-fidelity Reson8™ speaker chambers for premium power output, sports a computer port, sync switch, volume controls and a headphone jack for private listening. Both models are currently available for pre-order on iHomeaudio.com and will be available soon nationwide for $99.99 and $129.99.

Whether built by King Tut himself or the work of an ancient alien civilization, this is surely proof of alien intervention. The detail is just too amazing. There’s no way they could have done it. And the fact that an ancient PC case has been unearthed…

This work of art was built from nothing by Chris Kramer a.k.a “Jadragon”, and is called the EgyptMod PC. There’s some amazing detail, like hieroglyphics, fake jewels and an awesome aged look. Check out the Eye of Ra made of brass and inlaid with polished malachite and verisite. The project took over 200 hours of carving and he never once wavered and cried out for his mummy. It’s a truly inspiring creation.

Are you as weirded out as I am? I’m not sure if it’s the strange tomato color or the fact that two nunchuks appear to be mating. They were seen recently at a trade show in Taipei. We think they must be connected through a wireless usb transmitter and it would make sense if they were compatible with the company’s new desktop.

It would not only be good for most types of games, but could obviously be used as a wireless mouse as well. I’m guessing there must be a few extra buttons we aren’t seeing judging by the 10 and 11 buttons. Word on the street is that the price will be $70 whenever it comes out into the open. Check out a video below to see these in action.

The Enlighten PC from Suissa Computers has a bit of an odd design. It looks more like a great bit of art deco furniture or a retro speaker. We first told you about it here. It’s a custom wood, metal and glass case that has separated components that helps to boost cooling. It’s not just a crap computer inside either. You get a choice of Intel Quad core CPU or AMD X2 6400+ processors, with 4GB of RAM and 1TB of storage standard. You get a DVD burner and a choice of NVIDIA 8800GTX or ATI Radeon HD2900XT video cards.

Interestingly, the system is designed so that you don’t need many fans. It’s all about the engineering and where they placed the components, with the aluminum and air venting keeping it all cool. It’s a limited edition of only ten machines, so if you want one you better hurry up. No word on pricing. All I know is it looks damn cool and damn retro. That makes me want it.