Got a pretty noobish question, so please bear with me. I'm considering buying an Air soon, but would like to spend some quality time with the Mac OS before spending up on an Apple laptop. Thus, I'm going to convert my PC to a Hackintosh. I'm not totally understanding how to obtain the Lion OS to do a clean install.

From what I understand, Lion comes on a USB key for $70 or as a Mac Store download for $39. Are these delivery methods providing the same software? Or is the Mac App store only an upgrade option for users with Snow Leopard? Obviously I don't have Snow Leopard, but I do have a friend with a MBP that would allow me to download it if a full clean install is possible from this delivery method.

So my question boils down to: can I download Lion off the Mac store on my friend's Mac and install from that package, or would I have to buy the $70 USB stick from the apple store to permit a clean install on a hackintosh?

Thanks for your guidance as I begin this adventure!

BUMP. I am interested as well. From what I have found you download it from another mac from the app store, install/extract it to the computer, add some magic, then load an iso to the USB drive.

sad face