How exactly is apple "overpriced junk?"

[slackerinabox]

I've been in the market for a desktop and a laptop and have vigorously looked for alternatives to buying an apple. Everyone says that macs are pieces of shit that are overpriced and only appeal to hipster, but I did a fair amount of research and came away with a simple conclusion- excellent customer care and build quality costs extra. After touching a "premium" windows laptop (hp envy) and comparing it to my new macbook air, I seriously have to wonder what everyone's smoking.

I don't have a brand preference (until now, actually) and did a thorough comparison (not just of cheapies):
1. HP - Junky trackpads, mediocre keyboards, horrid LCDs unless you upgrade (which ends up costing more than a mac)
2. Sony - very nice once you get higher in budget but you still don't have the ease of walking into an apple store and getting your system repaired
3. Dell - I actually like my vostro but the keys fell off and the lcd mediocre. tech support was awful, awful, awful when I called about the keyboard
4. Lenovo - my pick for great windows laptops. Love my little thinkpad but it does get too hot sometimes
5. Apple - outstanding build quality with a great keyboard, outstanding trackpad, and performance to match the premium look. Also, the peace of mind of apple care is wonderful,.

My point is, for my budget Apple was the best bet. UNLESS YOU'RE A GAMER, why would you call the superior build quality "overpriced junk?" I'm trying to understand the cult of Windows here, we're american after all - don't we embrace excellent workmandship and customer service over the cheapest shit money can buy?

Looking for a mac mini now and sincerely want a cheaper i5 windows alternative but just can't find something that packs the same form factor, specs, and build quality plus the customer service...

 

[Fritzo]

I found the Macbook Pro to be one of the best built laptops I've ever used, and at around $1100, they're around the same price as an HP or Dell with similar build quality (some areas even better- battery life, screen, and track pad for example).

Now, the iPhone, iPad, and iPod can shove it, but they make solid laptops.

 

[rcpratt]

I've always had great luck with Dell support.

 

[bfdd]

I personally think Lenovo makes the best laptops at the moment. Solid quality, great keyboards, cheap.

 

[ultimatebob]

They're not junk by any means... they're just overpriced.

I'd rather take a Lenovo ThinkPad over an Apple Macbook Pro, though, they're built just as well but are still around $500 cheaper.

 

[Fritzo]

I personally think Lenovo makes the best laptops at the moment. Solid quality, great keyboards, cheap.

They really came through as well. Lenovo is my pick if you want a cheap but decent laptop. Their high-end isn't quite as good as others though.

I think my current favorite non-Apple high end laptop is the HP Envy line.

 

[gothamhunter]

Build quality - excellent. Internal components - usually very subpar to similarly priced competition. An Apple laptop and an Asus laptop will cost the same, and the Apple will have a 2.4 c2d while the Asus will have an i5.

For most people, the components are what matter, especially when build quality of competing machines are just fine for those that don't care about how "awesome" their laptop looks.

I have an Asus laptop that looks and works amazingly; a similarly priced one from Apple would not have had the same performance.

 

[mmntech]

The debate hinges mostly on the fact that you can buy a better equipped PC for the same price or less than a Mac. Dell will sell you an All-in-One system with the same CPU, more RAM, and bigger hard drive than the base iMac for $300 less. A desktop with monitor of comparable specs only goes for about $620.

Mind you these Dells do not feature dedicated graphics. The iMac has an HD 6750M where as the Dells use Intel Integrated HD 3000 GPUs. The hardware notion gets entirely flipped around when you factor phones and tablets into the mix. Apples iOS products tend to offer better performance for a comparable price to their prime competitors.

I think it's been known for a long time that Macs are designer PCs. At least when it comes to consumers. They still reign supreme for creative professionals due to having better software support for those kinds of applications.

 

[mnewsham]

1. the upgrade on the LCD would be maybe 100-150 bucks that is not enough to close the price gap between comparable Mac and an HP.

2. You can't write off only Sony because they don't have stores you can take it to to get it fixed, you kinda would write off EVERY company if that were a major issue...

3.Dell tech support sucks unless you have warranty, if you do and you are covered then I have NEVER had a problem with them

4.Lenovo basing an entire company off your laptop that got a bit warm? Makes sense

5. Quality laptops, im not gonna disagree but the 50% markup on their products is totally outrageous i can understand 20% for better build quality and customer support $1000 PC would be a $1,200 Mac however that is not the case. the specs of a $1,000 PC compared to a $1,200 Mac the PC wins hands down everytime (in pure specs).

If you aren't very good with computers or you have a SPECIFIC need for a Mac then I can understand paying for it, otherwise I just don't get it.

 

[natto fire]

You should have just posted this in the tablet thread, since it is already turning into yet another Apple vs. everyone thread, just like this one will.

I say it is overpriced but definitely not junk, so your OP has shens already. I had a Lenovo S10 netbook, that I durability tested myself in some pretty extreme conditions. It had some cosmetic damage and the HDD died, but it was a Western Digital, so I was prepared for that. I have not had the opportunity to subject an Apple laptop to the same extremes my netbook went through, so I can't really make a comparison. A useless anecdote I guess, but this thread will fill up with them fast.

But hey let's just rehash this topic for the billionth time, with the same vocal players making it an incomprehensible thread by page two. :thumbup:

 

[corwin]

Never heard anyone call them junk...over priced is pretty much consensus unless you consider their "look" worth the premium

 

[DominionSeraph]

And just how many thousands of laptops have you tested for duability?

"Build quality" in apple fanboi lingo just means, "I think it's pretty."
Congratulations, you spent $1000+ on a fashion accessory.

 

[FoBoT]

you want to pay Apple tax, be my guest, it is your money to spend as you choose

 

[slackerinabox]

Build quality - excellent. Internal components - usually very subpar to similarly priced competition. An Apple laptop and an Asus laptop will cost the same, and the Apple will have a 2.4 c2d while the Asus will have an i5.

For most people, the components are what matter, especially when build quality of competing machines are just fine for those that don't care about how "awesome" their laptop looks.

I have an Asus laptop that looks and works amazingly; a similarly priced one from Apple would not have had the same performance.

I checked out an asus zenbook - about $200 less than my macbook air but with a mediocre (though not awful) lcd and GOD AWFUL TRACKPAD!! Why can't a single pc manufacturer (save for lenovo) get the trackpad right? Honestly, what I find most frustrating about windows laptops is that the trackpad and keyboard's such a major part of the user experience yet they always cheap out. I'd gladly pay $200 once to never have to mess with a horrible trackpad.

 

[Schfifty Five]

I've always felt the premium with apple products was mostly due to the amazingly sleek/clean look and their exceptional customer service.

If you look at HP/Dell, etc, they are butt f'n ugly compared to apple.

 

[MaxFusion16]

They really came through as well. Lenovo is my pick if you want a cheap but decent laptop. Their high-end isn't quite as good as others though.

I think my current favorite non-Apple high end laptop is the HP Envy line.

HP is the worst, their laptops will overheat and fail, I guarantee it.

I've had 4 HPs fail, including an Envy 14, which came with scratch marks and dents in the case, on a BRAND NEW laptop.

ridiculous, I'll never buy another HP.

 

[waggy]

Never heard anyone call them junk...over priced is pretty much consensus unless you consider their "look" worth the premium

same. never heard anyone call them junk. overpriced? sure but not junk

 

[MaxFusion16]

you want to pay Apple tax, be my guest, it is your money to spend as you choose

I used to think like that, but it's not really a tax, you are not paying more for the same product, you are paying more for quality.

 

[MaxFusion16]

And just how many thousands of laptops have you tested for duability?

"Build quality" in apple fanboi lingo just means, "I think it's pretty."
Congratulations, you spent $1000+ on a fashion accessory.

you've obviously never had an apple product.

 

[slackerinabox]

1. the upgrade on the LCD would be maybe 100-150 bucks that is not enough to close the price gap between comparable Mac and an HP.

2. You can't write off only Sony because they don't have stores you can take it to to get it fixed, you kinda would write off EVERY company if that were a major issue...

3.Dell tech support sucks unless you have warranty, if you do and you are covered then I have NEVER had a problem with them

4.Lenovo basing an entire company off your laptop that got a bit warm? Makes sense

5. Quality laptops, im not gonna disagree but the 50% markup on their products is totally outrageous i can understand 20% for better build quality and customer support $1000 PC would be a $1,200 Mac however that is not the case. the specs of a $1,000 PC compared to a $1,200 Mac the PC wins hands down everytime (in pure specs).

If you aren't very good with computers or you have a SPECIFIC need for a Mac then I can understand paying for it, otherwise I just don't get it.

Just to correct you - you can't shens an opinion... Also, I <3 lenovo.. I'll recommend them over a mac actually, because their sub-$1,000 laptops (sometimes very sub) are outstanding. Heck, I have an s10 that costs me $200 that's still kicking after years of abuse.

Also, price difference can be nullified after you account resale value, but bargain windows laptop junkies rarely think about long term value

 

[cheezy321]

And just how many thousands of laptops have you tested for duability?

"Build quality" in apple fanboi lingo just means, "I think it's pretty."
Congratulations, you spent $1000+ on a fashion accessory.

LOL. and here it begins...

Lets compare laptops to laptops guys. I know people always like to compare the desktop apple products to their PC counterpart because it further proves your point. But who the hell buys a desktop anymore these days?

laptops are where you can make a true comparison. Apple is more expensive for sure. Is is that much more expensive? Not really. A lot of people wont factor in intangible things like build quality and customer service. So they consider the extra cost without considering the extra value.

Edit: As for me, I will recommend mac's to pretty much anyone that can afford them. If they cant afford it, I will recommend a lenovo. Lenovos are nice, quality products. They arent on the same level as a Mac, but they are pretty good comparable.

 

[corwin]

Also, price difference can be nullified after you account resale value, but bargain windows laptop junkies rarely think about long term value

And how do you figure that?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

They're not junk by any means... they're just overpriced.

I'd rather take a Lenovo ThinkPad over an Apple Macbook Pro, though, they're built just as well but are still around $500 cheaper.

:thumbsup:

 

[slackerinabox]

And just how many thousands of laptops have you tested for duability?

"Build quality" in apple fanboi lingo just means, "I think it's pretty."
Congratulations, you spent $1000+ on a fashion accessory.

a) what's wrong with valuing aesthetics (not necessarily OVER function, but along)? keep your sticker encrusted, plastic chrome piece of shit
b) aluminum costs more than the shitty plastics used in most windows laptops
c) premium workmanship costs more
d) how old are you to spell "fanboi" that way?
e) are you a virgin?

 

[darkewaffle]

This thread again?