Some Apple fans are building their own 'Hackintoshes' - Mac computers they build themselves. And they point to a weakness with Apple's computer lineup

To build a Hackintosh, you need a copy of Apple's MacOS to install on it, or else what's the point? The problem is that, generally speaking, the only Apple-sanctioned way to get a copy of MacOS is to have it already installed on a Mac.

Most reputable Hackintosh guides advise you to take a Mac you already own, and copy the operating system off of that. But it's fair to say that this isn't what Apple had in mind for the MacOS software — and it could violate the terms of service that you agree to when you first got your Mac.

So far, Apple hasn't taken action one way or another on the Hackintosh community, and has let it be. Just be advised that this may not always be the case.

We've reached out to Apple for comment on its stance towards Hackintoshes, and will update if we hear back.

Before buying parts for a Hackintosh, it's a good idea to see which parts have been found to be compatible with the process. The Hackintosh community maintains lists of parts that are known to be compatible.