The following is from Nano_tube’s Hackintosh Guide in an AppleInsider forum thread discussing the virtues (or otherwise) of purchasing a Mac Pro.

OS X Updates. If a Hackintosh is installed with a Retail version of OS X (mainly SL) and the hardware does not include an Atom processor (netbook), then there is no issues. It’s just like updating a regular Mac. Here are two nice guides on how to do it: Lifehacker , teknojunkie.

Also, just type “hackintosh” in YouTube… a lot of videos and visual guides can be found there.

How does a retail version of OS X works on a Hackintosh? If the hardware of the Hackintosh is supported by OS X, then the only remaining issue left is how does OS X communicate with this hardware when it boots. As you know, PCs use a BIOS system while Macs use the more advanced EFI. So what is needed is some sort of software that “translates” to OS X what the BIOS says (in human terms, it’s like translating from Chinese to English). This translation software is called “Boot Loader” and the best (by far) on the scene is called Chameleon. Additionally, like Boot Camp, this software also allows multiple OSs to be installed on the Hackintosh. I have it installed on mine and I am running OS X and Windows 7. It is also a graphical boot loader so it is dead easy to use. You install it like you install every other Mac program.

Updates in general. If you installed a retail Mac OS X, you update just like a normal Mac – via the Apple Update Application or by downloading a combo update. However, as any Mac user out there, it is wise to wait a day or two before you do any update on a Mac or a Hackintosh. A good place to read news about everything-hackintosh is here: Insanely Mac.

Bottom line. Most of the people reading about Hackintoshes for the first time think “Meh … it’s too complicated” and as Mac users are (including me), we want it to just work when we buy it. Well, it is not difficult to build a Hackintosh if you just follow the guides. Last but not least, it is a lot of fun to build one.

My “HackPro” is running on:
Intel Quad 6600 2.4Ghz CPU
Intel DragonTail Motherboard with on-Board LAN and Sound (just like a Mac)
8 GB DDR2 800Mhz RAM
GeForce 9800GTX+ 512MB
Two 320GB SATA HDs
DVD-RW SATA
Nice Thermaltake black case with quite fans and power supply.
Mac OS Leopard 10.5.8 that identifies my HackPro as “Mac Pro 2,1″

A machine like this today will cost under $1,000 and trust me, it flies! Boots under 15 seconds and works great with all the pro apps.