God do Apple computers cost a lot

[eflat]

I was so ready to get a Macbook Pro, especially with cool software like parallels available now.

But they cost at least an extra $1000 off of a Dell system on sale, and that is with the student discount.

Crazy.

 

[Farang]

So this is why the ground started shaking and a booming voice called down "Yes" from the sky.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

this thread sucks.

 

[George P Burdell]

THAR SHE BLOWS!!!

 

[nageov3t]

/agree

I've always wanted to try an apple, but the cost of entry for a machine that's not low-end is too high for an OS I've never used on a platform I haven't touched since playing Oregon Trail in 4th grade.

 

[0roo0roo]

?
comparing a system that is much thicker or heavier and outfitted with vista home basic*cries* isn't exactly equivalent.
it might be a little more.
but no where near $1000 if you do an honest comparison.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

They aren't targeting this group of users - they're after people who want something simple and straightforward to use who don't care about the tech specs. I'm not saying that their hardware is bad, so don't get the opinion. My point though is that their user base is sold on the whole package, or willing to pay a premium.

The technologists are a very small portion of the market and so that's not who they target.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

I'd still rather get a Macbook Pro, the quality is there. 1 Macbook Pro sale is probably equivalent to 4 HP sales in terms of profiting. Apple doesn't care if you think it's over priced. Their business model is great.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
?
comparing a system that is much thicker or heavier and outfitted with vista home basic*cries* isn't exactly equivalent.
it might be a little more.
but no where near $1000 if you do an honest comparison.

Check this out: http://slickdeals.net/?pno=11103&lno=1&afsrc=1

It actually looks OK too. The only thing this lacks is the DVI out and LED display.

But then again it is well under $1000 cheaper.


Anyways I was not trying to hate. I was about to bite on a Macbook but then I saw this and I just can't do it.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: SoundTheSurrender
I'd still rather get a Macbook Pro, the quality is there.

it's not so much that but that you are paying for the slim profile and slickness, something that you have to pay for regardless of what system you go for (dell m31, sony tz etc).

sure you can get a Vostro for next to nothing, but thy are products in completely different lines for both manufactures

 

[0roo0roo]

add the cost of office and other apps.
iwork/ilife type capability costs a lot more on pc.

the price difference is probably more for the mac pros because theyve been waiting for an update for a while from what i remember.

 

[Toonces]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
add the cost of office and other apps.
iwork/ilife type capability costs a lot more on pc.

the price difference is probably more for the mac pros because theyve been waiting for an update for a while from what i remember.

you can get equivalent apps absolutely free from the open source community...

but then this argument will turn into about quality of said free programs vs. those bundled with Leopard

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: loki8481
/agree

I've always wanted to try an apple, but the cost of entry for a machine that's not low-end is too high for an OS I've never used on a platform I haven't touched since playing Oregon Trail in 4th grade.

+1... thought I would gift myself a Powerbook for Christmas... didnt realize they cost TWO GRANDS.

havent seen a 2k laptop in a long time. i could get a desktop and TWO laptops for that price

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

goose - if you don't mind me asking, why do you need a macbook pro? Would maybe a regular macbook serve you well?

 

[nageov3t]

I used an apple in college once.

I couldn't figure out how to eject a floppy... I nearly smashed the god-damned one button mouse before finally just walking away.

 

[Kmax82]

Yes.. there is a premium, but it's mainly because of the fact that Apple doesn't always change it's specs. If they would update specs on their lines like Dell does, you'd see more competitive pricing. As it stands now, a similarly priced MBP is a bit more than the XPS system there, but there are a few factors that I, personally, can't overlook.

1) The XPS only has a 1280x800 res LCD. Who uses that nowadays? I understand why they went that way, mainly because these are supposed to be gaming laptops and you want the games to look the best, but 1280? Ouch.
2) Windows (I just don't care for Windows. I know most people don't like OS X, but I find OS X handles my workflow much better than Windows)

So for me a Mac is really my only choice. Sure Dell's, Sony's, etc.. will have better specs later on down the road, but when I bought my machine a similarly spec'd Dell was the same price. So you kind of have to plan your Mac purchases.

I look at it, kind of, like you approach a car. You are paying a premium for the name and quality. Sure, I could get a Hyundai, or Kia, for $10,000 less than a Honda, but the Honda will definitely hold it's value much more than that Hyundai/Kia. When I go to upgrade my current machine, I will still be able to get $1600-1800 for it, and that will make my upgrade all that much easier.

 

[erikistired]

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: loki8481
/agree

I've always wanted to try an apple, but the cost of entry for a machine that's not low-end is too high for an OS I've never used on a platform I haven't touched since playing Oregon Trail in 4th grade.

+1... thought I would gift myself a Powerbook for Christmas... didnt realize they cost TWO GRANDS.

havent seen a 2k laptop in a long time. i could get a desktop and TWO laptops for that price

considering they don't sell powerbooks anymore that's rather interesting.

 

[Tegeril]

And considering how terrible those laptops would be while running Vista Home Premium, the argument is more or less nullified.

 

[umrigar]

Get a refurb MacBook Pro for $1300 and stop whining.

http://systemshootouts.org/index.html

http://systemshootouts.org/sho.../2007/0515_lt1500.html

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
I was so ready to get a Macbook Pro, especially with cool software like parallels available now.

But they cost at least an extra $1000 off of a Dell system on sale, and that is with the student discount.

Crazy.

So go buy the Dell.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

No Dell is comparable to a MBP in terms of build quality - a Thinkpad T-series is arguably the only comparable PC laptop, and even that is a pretty kludgy design compared to the MBP. A MB is closer in some respects, but it still of much higher quality than any Dell.

 

[accguy9009]

Get the $ 499.99 Dell Vostro and run X86/Leopard on it. Wait a minute, I can't use my Zune on Leopard.

 

[umrigar]

OK, configured a Vostro like a refurb MacBook Pro.
When you start adding in what the MacBook Pro includes, the price difference becomes A LOT less!

Dell Vostro 1500:
PROCESSOR Intel® Core? 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz, 4MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows® XP Professional **
LCD PANEL 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA LCD Display
MEMORY 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 DIMM
HARD DRIVE 160GB Free Fall Sensor Hard Drive, 7200RPM, for Dell Vostro 1500 Notebook
OPTICAL DRIVE 8X CD/DVD Burner w/ double-layer DVD+R write capability, w/ Roxio Creator
VIDEO CARD 128MB NVIDIA® GeForce? 8400M GS
MEDIA DIRECT Dell Exclusive MediaDirect? Instant Play Software Application
WI-FI WIRELESS CARD Dell Wireless 1505 Wireless-N Mini-card
BLUETOOTH WIRELESS Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate), WinXP **
WEBCAM Integrated 2.0 mega pixel Web Camera
BATTERIES 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
PRODUCTIVITY Microsoft® Works Plus 2008
SECURITY No Pre-installed Anti-Virus/Security Software
WARRANTY & SERVICE 1 Year Limited Hardware Warranty with Mail-in Service
DELL DATASAFE? ONLINE BACKUP 10GB for 1 Year Online Data Backup by Dell DataSafe
AUTOMATED PC TUNEUP 1 Year Dell Automated PC Tuneup
STANDARD VOSTRO SERVICES TOOLS Dell Network Assistant
ALSO INCLUDED WITH YOUR SYSTEM
SOUND OPTION High Definition Audio 2.0
Integrated NIC and Modem
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Labels Windows XP?
Processor Branding Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
$1330

** Wait a minute, you can't select Vista AND have Bluetooth 2.0! OH NOES!!

-----
Model Refurbished MacBook Pro with Glossy Widescreen Display
Processor 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 2GB (two SO-DIMMs) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300)
Display 15.4-inch (diagonal), 1440 x 900 resolution, TFT glossy widescreen
PCI Express Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 128MB of GDDR3 SDRAM and dual-link DVI
Video Built-in iSight Camera, DVI, VGA (DVI to VGA adapter included)
Audio Combined optical digital input/audio line in, combined optical digital output/headphone out, stereo speakers, microphone
Hard disk drive 120GB Serial ATA; 5400 rpm
Slot-loading optical drive 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Ethernet Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit)
Wireless Built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11n); built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
Modem Apple USB Modem (sold separately)
Input Apple Remote; full-size, illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor; scrolling Trackpad
Expansion One FireWire 400, one FireWire 800, two USB 2.0 ports, and ExpressCard/34 slot
Weight 5.4 pounds (2.45 kg) with battery and optical drive installed
Footprint 14.1 x 9.6 inches
Thickness 1.0 inch (2.59 cm)
Video accessories DVI to VGA adapter included (other adapters sold separately)
Hardware accessories 85W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, lithium-polymer battery
Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard
Bundle of software: iLife '08, Front Row, Photo Booth, OmniOutliner
$1,699

 

[TheStu]

So, the Vostro has a worse vid card, better hard drive, worse screen, better webcam, worse wired ethernet, better battery (maybe)

It is $300 something cheaper... but I think the benefits of the MacBook Pro outweigh and detractors.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: TheStu
So, the Vostro has a worse vid card, better hard drive, worse screen, better webcam, worse wired ethernet, better battery (maybe)

It is $300 something cheaper... but I think the benefits of the MacBook Pro outweigh and detractors.

Well PC laptops are cheap because Dell always has good sales. For example, the one I was looking at:

Case in point: thisnotebook (which actually looks pretty good. The best looking non-apple one I've seen).

Specs:

* Tuxedo Black
* Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
* Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
* Glossy, widescreen 15.4 inch LCD (1280x800) & 2.0 MP Camera
* 3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz (2 Dimms)
* 250GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* Slot Load DVD+/-RW (DVD/CD read/write)
* NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
* Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/g Mini Card
* Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0+Enhanced Data Rate)
* 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
* Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy HD Software Edition
* Trend Micro Internet Security 15-months
* 4Yr In-Home Service, Parts Labor, 24x7 Phone Support
* 1Yr LoJack for Laptops Theft Protection (CD Shipped Separately)
* DataSafe Online Backup 10GB for 1 year
* Get a $200 Gift Card on systems $1499+ (cards to arrive in 6-8 weeks)

If you go about it right the price for this all less than $1280 if you include the $250 Dell gift card.

If you bought a Macbook Pro and did the same specs, it would cost $2995. That is with the same processor, video card and 1GB less of ram. And that is only 3 year warranty.

So around ~$1300 for the Dell and ~$3000 for the Macbook Pro. It is at least twice as expensive when you find a good deal on a PC.





That said, I think I'm going to buy a Mac after all. My sole reason being that I want a computer that a lot of people have so that any bug, driver issue, etc will be a major concern to every Apple user and be taken care of promptly.

If you have a PC on the other hand, which come with a combination of literally thousands if different motherboards and components, how is a company going to address specific problems for those thousands of computers? You can't.

That is why I recently bought a nice computer music interface only to find out that it randomly would just not work with the PC motherboard I have. I wasted countless hours trying to fix it and then on tech support. That would never happen with a Mac.

And I would like to think it will hold its resale value more, but I don't really know.