[jholman]

Your question is confusing. Are you under the impression that Apple has somehow gained legal protection for all aluminum clamshell laptops of a certain colour scheme?

It's a laptop. Why wouldn't it be legal?

On a vaguely related note, the plaintiff lost in both Apple v. Microsoft (35 F.3d 1435) and Lotus v. Borland (516 U.S. 233). It would appear that you can neither patent nor copyright Look and Feel.

[cube13]

It's not the clamshell design that's the problem, I think. I think it's other parts, like the charging apparatus.

The magsafe-like charging connector is pretty much identical in appearance to Apple's design. I would be surprised if Apple doesn't have an industrial design patent on that.

The keyboard is similar, but I don't think there's a problem, considering all the other Chiclets-style keyboards out there.

[com]

There is significant prior art around larger-than-Apple-magsafe magnetic-attach power connectors - if you ever used a Japanese-made domestic deep fryer in the 80s or 90s, you'll have noticed the same concept. Design IP is a different matter of course.

[wmf]

Apple has design patents on the designs of their products, so anything that looks exactly like a Mac is likely to infringe those patents.

http://www.theverge.com/policy/2012/6/7/3068355/Apple-design...

[bri3d]

It hasn't gone to court yet, but yes, Apple have gained protection for all aluminum clamshell laptops of a certain shape : http://www.theverge.com/policy/2012/6/7/3068355/Apple-design... .