US PC painter Colorware has begun offering Mac fans the chance to buy Apple's 15.4in MacBook Pro in one of almost two dozen metallic and non-metallic hues. But the process doesn't come cheap, adding around $650 to the aluminium-clad notebook's base price.

Still, it's the only way consumers are likely to be able to get a Mac that's coloured Lamborghini yellow or Ferrari red - a la laptops from Asus and Acer, respectively. Unless, of course, Apple announces coloured MacBooks tomorrow as has been claimed.

Colorware's range of hues is likely to be rather larger than Apple's, stretching to five plain colours and 18 metallic shades. When you've paid for your MacBook Pro - bought through Colorware's website - the company pulls it apart, paints the aluminium casing, applies an infrared-cured protective coating, then puts it back together and ships it off in the original packaging.

There's no word yet on whether the process makes for a quieter, cooler-running notebook.

Colorware is offering the two standard and one BTO-derived MacBook Pro configurations with 1.83GHz, 2GHz and 2.16GHz Core Duo processors for $2,649, $3,149 and $3,549. Apple charges $1,999, $2,499 and $2,799 for the unadorned versions. ®