I find it funny how Apple is quick to prevent stuff like this when it occurs yet promotes Bootcamp and uses the point that we can run Windows on our Mac if we want to. If OS X is so great, why not let anyone run OS X on any computer they wish to?
This isn't a jab at Apple, by the way -- I've been using a MBP for about two years now as my only machine and love it.
that's like saying "if OSX is so great, why doesn't apple give it away for free?" in other words, "does not compute."
part of the reason the apple experience is better than windows is because the hardware involved is much less diverse. windows users and programmers get killed trying to keep up with drivers for every hardware device under the sun. much of that hardware is complete crap, produced by fly-by-night companies that couldn't care less whether it works or not. an environment like that is not amenable to a good user experience.
also, apple is primarily a hardware company, not a software company. they are very possibly losing money on every sale of OSX. they are willing to do that because they know every copy will be run on a piece of hardware they sold.
apple's margins on their own hardware is ncredible, usually cited as around 40 percent. meanwhile, pc manufacturers have been competing on nothing but price for years, so they've driven their own margins into the ground. one main reason dell is in so much trouble right now.
This isn't a jab at Apple, by the way -- I've been using a MBP for about two years now as my only machine and love it.