Sick Of The High Prices...

[waltchan]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. :mad: A $1,799.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on a MacBook Pro only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB memory RAM, and 2.0 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,600 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.

[generik]

Do you need a laptop?

I'm very happy with the Mini so far, from my perspective the current MBP is not worth the premium... at least until one with the Merom processor is released.

[edesignuk]

boo hoo.

[dejo]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Dell charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. A $1,999.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on an XPS M170 only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 1 GB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 2 GB memory RAM, and 2.26 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,759 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Dell should be ashamed of themselves.

Touché. :D

[rhsgolfer33]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. :mad: A $1,799.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on a MacBook Pro only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB memory RAM, and 2.0 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,600 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.

They charge a price that many Apple users are willing to pay, if the prices disgust you so much dont buy Apple computers. Even with the high price demand is still extremely high for the MacBook Pro, so high that they cannot meet demand. Apple manufacturers some of the best computers in the world and stands by them with great tech support, something you wont get with Dell or HP. $2600 is a reasonable price for that computer, a Dell with similar specs(Core Duo 2.0, X1400 256mb, 1gb Ram, 120gb 5400, 17inch screen, Wireless+BT, Windows Pro) rubs about $2400. The Mac comes with OS X, iLife 06, FrontRow, FR Remote, X1600 GPU, iSight, and MagSafe. Personally I think the MacBookPro is very competitively priced and is very high on features.

[jrk07]

This forum needs a "random thoughts/comments" area for this to go along with that thread of the dude who ripped his mom off. :D

[Morn]

You aren't going to find a laptop cheaper than that without things like intergrated intel graphics and other cheap and nasty stuff.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2697 This is what acer offers for the same price as the 2ghz macbook. And it's specs are not that different, it's the most comparable machine on the market also. If you want something in a cheap and nasty price range you'll have to wait for the intel ibook. ;) Also there's cost of ownership issues, realise the additional costs of an anti-virus subscription etc.

[generik]

Actually it is true, I was reading a recent copy of PC Authority and I'm so surprised by how competitively priced the MBP is to other PC Core Duo notebooks.

It is higher than most bottom of the barrel makers for sure, but when it comes to brands like Leveno and Toshiba, it's pricing definitely holds its own very well.

[waltchan]

Well, still, I think Apple should make a $600 laptop computer, like Compaq, Dell, HP, and Toshiba.

[TheMonarch]

Hehe. Good thing you weren't around for the good old days :D ;)
42850

[generik]

Well, still, I think Apple should make a $600 laptop computer, like Compaq, Dell, HP, and Toshiba.

Well, still, I think all those morons heading off into "college" should not automatically think they are entitled and need a laptop, as with everyone else.

Jeez, I never understood what's the deal. Owned 3 laptops in the course of my degree, all sold off within weeks. A desktop is way better, and computer labs are there for a purpose.

I'd trade a slow $2000 computer and a squainty small screen with a desktop loaded with 4gb of memory, fast gpu, and a 20" LCD *anyday*

[BakedBeans]

Well, still, I think Apple should make a $600 laptop computer, like Compaq, Dell, HP, and Toshiba.

So, your basically saying you want a pro machine for crappy PC windows box prices?

Get real, eh

They are good value, cheap isnt what apple aims for. You will not get an equal spec with all the equivelent software for cheaper.

[taylorpohlman]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it.... This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.
This topic has been beat to death, but let me just say that this complaint is really that Apple won't build "cheap" versions of their computers - you know, flimsy, plastic, with poor video, dim displays, slow drives, bad, virus-ridden OS, etc. They keep building high quality, top of the line machines, and charge about what everybody else does for top of the line machines (well proven by many posts).

If you want to see what a cheap MacBook would look like, try putting the single core intel mac mini into a plastic case with a $100 flat panel - that would get this guy what he wants, but I wouldn't buy it - I make a living working on my MBP (had mac laptops since they were introduced) and I need something that can take a pounding.

My guess is that the cheap laptop I was talking about will be the intel iBook, and even then, I'm guessing that Apple will do a quality job, and get it in around $1,200-$1,500. I'm glad they did the MBP first.
T

[tdhurst]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. :mad: A $1,799.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on a MacBook Pro only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB memory RAM, and 2.0 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,600 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.

You NEED all that stuff? Nobody NEEDS a MacBook Pro.

Welcome to the business world, where companies set prices based on what people are willing to pay...

Go whine somewhere else.

[Morn]

A $600 laptop. Celeron M ibook? Don't think apple can actually have a $600 laptop until the core solo goes down to celeron pricing level.

[Heb1228]

Hehe. Good thing you weren't around for the good old days :D ;)
http://forums.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=42850&d=1141978686
That is amazing! $500 more for 10GB more HDD, an extra battery and extra power adapter?!?! My how things have changed!

[generik]

You NEED all that stuff? Nobody NEEDS a MacBook Pro.

Welcome to the business world, where companies set prices based on what people are willing to pay...

Go whine somewhere else.

Well said, kids who seem fixated on a "laptop" the moment they are enrolled in a college makes absolute no sense at all.

See all those kids with laptops propped up on their arm rests during lecture? Guess what? In the exams you are going to be actually writing with your hand mark I and a pen, all that typing skills is doing you absolutely zero good.

Heck, in fact I'd boldly throw in a statement that students who take notes on laptops consistently do worse than students who do it the old fashion way. More often than not people are just busy trying to look "cool" or playing solitaire instead of actually concentrating on the lecturer.

[Deepdale]

... sick of the high prices Apple charges ...

Rule 1: Anybody considering the purchase of Apple's higher end laptop line should never for a moment cling to hopes that their personal financial situation will exist peacefully with the reality of pricing.

Rule 2: Make a proper assessment of whether all your needs can be met by alternative choices. There is no shortage of people who maintain they absolutely must have the MBP, but would be well served by something else.

[LethalWolfe]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. :mad: A $1,799.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on a MacBook Pro only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB memory RAM, and 2.0 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,600 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.

Please stop. You are breaking my heart...:sad: I was about to donate money to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, but upon hearing about the utter tragedy in your life I've decided that you are more worthy of my money than those suffering a life threatening and currently incurable disease. In fact, I found your story so moving that I'm going to setup a website in your name and solicit donations to help your cause. No person should ever suffer the humiliation, degradation, and maltreatment that you have suffered at the hands of Apple Computer, Inc.

The fact that your dire situation has not received national attention is just another glaring example of how a cadre of rich, capitalist pig-dogs controls the media and uses their power to oppress the ignorant and inept. But fear not my reality-challenged friend. I'll do everything in my power to help you get your Mac Book Pro so that, like a quadriplegic monkey whose brain has been hardwired to a robotic arm, you too may live a more normal life in spite of your obvious short comings.


Lethal

[ChrisA]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. :mad: A $1,799.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on a MacBook Pro only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB memory RAM, and 2.0 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,600 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.

Why don't you just buy refurb 12" iBook. I've seen them for about $700.

But If you really _need_ a MBP then $3K is not unreasonable if you are using the MPB to earn a living. That's kind of the definition of "profesional" computer - something that you use to make a living. If you use three year depresation and a three year loan, after taxes the thing might cost only $700 per year out of pocket $700 is less then one day of billable time for many profesionals.

One other way to think about it: It costs $3K. It lasts 3 years. That's $1K per year. In one year how much do yu pay the guy who ues the computer? One would hope at least 40 times that much plus that much more in benefits, payrol taxes and insurance. The MBP is less than 3% of the total

On the other hand if the MBP is used as a toy at home for web surfing and watching DVDs $3K is an unjustifiable waste of money

All that said. A "fair" price by definition is a price where after the transaction both the buyer and the seller are happy. As it turns out Apple is happy to sell the MBP at currnt price and many, many buyers are waiting in line to buy. So by definition it is a fair price.

Will I buy one? Absolutly not. I don't need a notebook like that and $3K will buy a much more powerfull desktop. I'll buy in 2007 after the dust from the Intel trasition settles and the universal binaries are available.
I may buy the Intel iBook or maybe a used G4 iBook. All I need is a gadget to hold and display photos

I do have a computer I use every day at work. I think we spent about $10K
Down stairs in the lab, I think they are into 8 figures.

[jamesi]

apple always has and always will charge too much for their computer, if you have a conflict with that then dont buy it. in the end i feel like i paid 2500 (17 inch PB) for OS X. you know this coming in, you pay alot for for the ease of use. the machines are beauftiful and thats why we shell out the cash for it

[gunm]

In college, I used the school's computer facilities and a sub-$100 word processor. I couldn't afford a laptop then, and even now it's a major purchase. I really don't have much sympathy for folks who whine about the price of laptops as there are plenty of cheapie laptops out there for $700 or less. You want more, you pay more--seems pretty reasonable to me. Yes, Apple charges a premium for their products, but they aren't forcing you to buy their stuff either.

[ChrisBrightwell]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers.... Then don't buy one.

Novel concept, I know.

[tdhurst]

This guy is just having fun with us. According to this: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=1440994#post1440994 he already owns an iMac.

How can he still be whining?

[risc]

This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.

No one is forcing you to buy anything here, move on and get on with your life. :rolleyes:

[Chundles]

doo bee doo bee doooooooooo......
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/6293/picture13gw.png

[n8236]

..............this thread makes me sad :(

1) Have you ever felt a pc and apple laptop side by side and see which is made more solid?

2) Have you considered how much a comparable pc laptop would cost given the amount of software a Mac laptop comes with?

3) Aesthetics and design, need I say more.

4) Econmics, ya dig?

[Chundles]

None of this "comparison pricing" makes any difference to me. I don't want a PC, I want a system that will run OS X legally and properly. For that, I need Apple.

I can't afford top-of-the-line Apple gear so I buy the lower down stuff. Suits me just fine.

Those that NEED a MacBook Pro have either the money to buy it or the ability to write it off as a business purchase. Others who have the MacBook Pro mightn't NEED it but they can afford it - always get the best computer you can afford.

This stock 12" iBook was the best I could afford at the time. It still is, considering I have diddly squat to my name right now. If I had more money I'd buy the absolute best I could.

[majorp]

i feel that apple were charging too much for powerbooks but now they have switched to intel i find it a much better deal. a lot more for your money.

[Bunsen Burner]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. :mad: A $1,799.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on a MacBook Pro only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB memory RAM, and 2.0 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,600 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.

Post is of absolutely NO value. It is based on ignorance and misinformation, is childish and reeks of an entitlement minded attitude, all evidenced by this latter, ridiculous attempt to save face:

Well, still, I think Apple should make a $600 laptop computer, like Compaq, Dell, HP, and Toshiba.

BB

[T-Stex]

Well said, kids who seem fixated on a "laptop" the moment they are enrolled in a college makes absolute no sense at all.

Heck, in fact I'd boldly throw in a statement that students who take notes on laptops consistently do worse than students who do it the old fashion way. More often than not people are just busy trying to look "cool" or playing solitaire instead of actually concentrating on the lecturer.

I'm not sure that you can make that kind of blanket statement and just assume you're right. Maybe in your case, when you were enrolled, you didn't need a laptop. However, for other people, that may not be the case. Some colleges and universities today require incoming students to have a laptop. In my case, having a laptop has been extremely helpful, if not necessary. You can't simply say since it wasn't necessary for you, it won't be necessary for other people.

As far as your bold statement regarding performance of students who take notes on laptops goes, that's just wrong too. Personally, I take notes on my laptop, and I've been on the dean's list for the past three semesters at one of the best engineering universities in the country. I know plenty of people here that use their laptops in class and do well too. You can't take your own experience and assume that it applies to everyone.

If the original poster was refering to a laptop in college, I'd suggest waiting for the Intel iBook and the back-to-school sale.

[macOSX-tastic]

when i was accepted to university, i chose a laptop because i live over 6 hours away from the campus. it's just easier to go home with, i can take my work with me. my laptop is the most powerful computer i have ever owned, and i am more than happy with it. i do not "pose" with it in class; it stays in my hall room 99% of the time, apart from when i have group meetings where most of the people bring's their laptops for collaboration, or a presentation. many students choose portables for these very same reasons. maybe it is different in the states, but i have NEVER seen anyone take notes with their computer in class. a few of my friends have desktops, but most have laptops.

the reason students choose laptops for college is that they are simply more practical, for the student way. not to "show off". if a more powerful computer is needed....well, thats why universities invest hundreds of thousands in computer labs:rolleyes:.

S

[notjustjay]

It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it.

Oh, boo hoo. Here I am trying to scrape together the down payment for my first house and work out how I'm going to pay for some sort of car-like transportation as well, and you're whining about a COMPUTER putting pressure on your buying needs. A MacBookPro isn't even on the HORIZON for me, as I've (sadly) been forced to acknowledge.

The clear answer, waltchan, is for you to get yourself a higher-paying job.

[yellow]

Don't feed the troll.

http://www.othersteve.com/images/troll.jpg

[joshwest]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. :mad: A $1,799.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on a MacBook Pro only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB memory RAM, and 2.0 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,600 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.


not trying to be a smart butt by anymeans, the reason why apple charges these prices is because.a) they can.. b)MacUsers pay these prices and say the MacBook Pro your Raving about in the post, they could charge an extra 200$ on both models and i bet you Half of Mac Rumors and everyone else in the world wanting one would still pay it. Its just like BMW's they could charge less but then why would they when everyone will pay the sticker price no matter what. Plus your getting quality computer, im a Network Admin for a frim in nashville and i work on pc's all day. I'll pay the extra to know my puters are all macs. just my .02

[Blind Buzzard]

Man- Everyone wants to burn this cat because they brought up a good point. One that all my PC lovin’ friends catch me on quit often. The hardware prices are a little steep. Yes, they are. Even when talking Desktop units. I can piece together one hell of a machine for a whole lot less. This is just a fact of life.

But, I like the Mac OS this is why I have put up with the price, and will continue to put up with the price, at least until it is possible to run the Mac OS on any hardware.

If you are seriously frustrated with the $$$ and can't substantiate throwing down the cash, then you really need to look into other options.

Forget Windoz! :o

But you could build something, preferably a desktop (more bang for your buck) and then run a Linux OS. Or even purchase a refurb laptop, say from Dell, and also throw Linux on it.

[applemacdude]

Don't feed the troll.



hes not a troll... hes jsut 13...

[DougTheImpaler]

Mac users (myself included) will pay a big more because you pay for quality, and the operating system is high quality, the built-in apps are high quality, and the large choice of expansion (firewire 400/800, USB, DVI outputs, digital audio in/out) make up for the cost easily.

[Arcus]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. :mad: A $1,799.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on a MacBook Pro only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB memory RAM, and 2.0 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,600 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.


Me no like money. I give apple extra $1000 tip for being good computer builder. I like give money. Apple smooth case make nipples hard. I give extra for hard nipples.

[emaja]

Well, still, I think Apple should make a $600 laptop computer, like Compaq, Dell, HP, and Toshiba.

That $600 laptop has 256MB a 40GB hard drive, integrated graphics and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM. Most likely not a widescreen and a much poorer quality LCD at that. Oh wait, battery life will stink and it will be a Celeron M.

That sounds like a pro laptop to me.

You are completely unrealistic in what you want and what price you want to pay. You want pro-level hardware, you pay for it. You want a "craptop" go to Best Buy on Sunday and get one of their "El Cheapo" models that they will no doubt hae this week.

I was a Porsche and I want to pay a Hyundai price for it. They should be ashamed of themselves for gouging.

Get real.

[yellow]

It's not like the high price tag of Macs is a new thing. :confused:

[sushi]

Well, still, I think all those morons heading off into "college" should not automatically think they are entitled and need a laptop, as with everyone else.
If I were heading to college I would strongly consider this an option:

http://www.alphasmart.com/danastore/neo_features.html

and of course use the computer lab or have an iMac in the dorm room.

[sushi]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Dell charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. A $1,999.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on an XPS M170 only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 1 GB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 2 GB memory RAM, and 2.26 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,759 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Dell should be ashamed of themselves.

Touché. :D
Good one.

When you get down to it, comparatively priced PCs and Macs are not all that different in cost.

You can however get a stripped down PC for less.

But you get what you pay for. I know folks who try to save but end up getting a substandard solution that does not work well for them.

[Deepdale]

Apple smooth case make nipples hard. I give extra for hard nipples.

Nothing better to contribute than that?

[Arcus]

Nothing better to contribute than that?

Sorry thats all I got. :p

[Max on Macs]

MacBook Pro is a professional laptop. Can't afford it? That's nobody's problem but yours, they do an iBook, or you can wait for the MacBook. A MacBook Pro at $1800 is not much (if at all) more expensive than an equivelant Dell or Sony laptop when you consider that it's the Core Duo (not P-M which is cheaper), it's DDR2 (good quality stuff too), a large drive, DVD±RW, camera and the remote. Grow up and buy what you can afford (iBook perhaps?). We get the best we can, for some of us that is lower than for others.

[Play Ultimate]

Rule 1: Anybody considering the purchase of Apple's higher end laptop line should never for a moment cling to hopes that their personal financial situation will exist peacefully with the reality of pricing.

Rule 2: Make a proper assessment of whether all your needs can be met by alternative choices. There is no shortage of people who maintain they absolutely must have the MBP, but would be well served by something else.


Rule 3: A computer is a tool. Use the correct one.

When I was looking at Mac Laptops, I was torn between the 12" PowerBook and 12" iBook (liked the portability). The price difference was a few hundred dollars for the base models. When all was said and done, the chip speed was too similar, I wasn't going to burn DVDs (in hindsight it would have been nice for backup, but an external HD works just fine) and I didn't need monitor spanning. All in all the PowerBook was nicer but I wouldn't use the features that I was paying extra money for. I suspect that most of these college students would be very well served with a refurb. G4 iBook.

[DougTheImpaler]

Sorry thats all I got. :p
And if you have hard nipples, you know, that's all you *really* need. :D

[notjustjay]

For the record, I do agree that Apple's hardware prices are a bit steep. There's no question. Whether it's worth the price is another question (and I along with many other people here believe it is). It's true that once you do some comparison shopping and get similarly-specced hardware and add in the costs of the software you get, industrial design, etc. that you're getting a decent deal.

In the end it's all about priorities. I kinda lied earlier when I said an MBP wasn't on the horizon for me. In truth my job pays me well enough that I could, if I really wanted to, buy a MacBook Pro today, and have it paid for by next month. But again, I choose not to, because an MBP is a luxury computing device for me (my 12" Powerbook -- which ALSO cost me a pretty penny, and at THAT time I was a starving student -- is still holding up rather well), and I have higher priorities, like the afore-mentioned house. So I could... but I won't.

Sorry if my previous response was snarky, but you simply don't come onto a forum ranting about a Mac "putting pressure" on "buying needs" without getting a reality check. The first couple of years that I had a good income I spent almost everything on all manner of tech toys, like laptops, projectors, PDA's, handheld tablets, portable video units... my impulse control was non-existent. I've since learned to smarten up about how I spend (and save) my money.

So I wish the OP well in saving for his Mac, and I trust that the harder he has to work to save it, the more he will appreciate it in the end.

[California]

That is amazing! $500 more for 10GB more HDD, an extra battery and extra power adapter?!?! My how things have changed!

I bought a 400mhz Titanium for $2250.00 on SALE.

Still wondering about that.

[TheMasin9]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Dell charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. A $1,999.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on an XPS M170 only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 1 GB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 2 GB memory RAM, and 2.26 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,759 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Dell should be ashamed of themselves.

Touché. :D
plus you get the great asthetic quality of an xps system. Man you could use the xps as a PADDED case for a macbook.

[ehurtley]

That is amazing! $500 more for 10GB more HDD, an extra battery and extra power adapter?!?! My how things have changed!

Hell, the PowerBook 1400c was up to $5000 on introduction. My dad happened to win a $2500 'shopping spree' with MacConnection (or one of those other mail-order catalogs that were common at the time,) and could just BARELY afford to get the slowest, no-L2-cache, passive-matrix screen, floppy-drive-only-no-CD-ROM 117cs model. He didn't even have enough left over to get a laptop case. That's what I just paid for a top-of-the-line MacBook Pro.

(And I still have that old 1400. My dad gave it to me a couple years back when he finally upgraded to a PowerBook G3. Yes, 'a couple years back', as in, well after the PB G3s themselves were obsolete. I just gave him my recently replaced 12" PowerBook G4, though.)

edit: (Ouch. Just checking other Apple laptops, and the high-end model of the first PPC PowerBook, the 5300ce, was $6500! And to think that I got one of those at a garage sale for $10)

[Play Ultimate]

Hell, the PowerBook 1400c was up to $5000 on introduction. My dad happened to win a $2500 'shopping spree' with MacConnection (or one of those other mail-order catalogs that were common at the time,) and could just BARELY afford to get the slowest, no-L2-cache, passive-matrix screen, floppy-drive-only-no-CD-ROM 117cs model. He didn't even have enough left over to get a laptop case. That's what I just paid for a top-of-the-line MacBook Pro.

(And I still have that old 1400. My dad gave it to me a couple years back when he finally upgraded to a PowerBook G3. Yes, 'a couple years back', as in, well after the PB G3s themselves were obsolete. I just gave him my recently replaced 12" PowerBook G4, though.)

edit: (Ouch. Just checking other Apple laptops, and the high-end model of the first PPC PowerBook, the 5300ce, was $6500! And to think that I got one of those at a garage sale for $10)

It is really quite amazing how the tech industry has changed over the past few years. You just get so much more for the dollar today yet everybody whines about wanting more.
My dad bought an early Craig 4-function calculator, no square root, and a constant switch. Over $100!!! And that was in the early 1970s. Calculate that out for inflation.

[bankshot]

For the record, I do agree that Apple's hardware prices are a bit steep. There's no question. Whether it's worth the price is another question (and I along with many other people here believe it is). It's true that once you do some comparison shopping and get similarly-specced hardware and add in the costs of the software you get, industrial design, etc. that you're getting a decent deal.

That's absolutely right. For quite some time now, Macs have been very competitive in price with similarly specced PCs. Yet their prices are still seen as unnecessarily high, and I kind of agree. Why?

Because Apple likes to throw in the kitchen sink, even on the base model. You have to buy a bunch of stuff you may not ever need, just to gain entry into the OS X club. Built-in iSight, remote control, FireWire, DVD burner, backlit keyboard, light sensor, gigabit ethernet, hefty video card, motion sensor, airport, bluetooth, etc. You configure an equivalent PC to add all the things that come standard on the Mac, and you'll pay a lot more than that PC's base price. Problem is, there's no option on the Mac to get just a basic model - cpu, memory, hard drive, basic video, 100-base-T ethernet, etc, that all runs OS X.

Yes, there are different product families, so if you don't need everything in the pro notebook, you get an iBook. But even that has extras people may not want (FireWire is probably the biggest one). But I'm not too worried about the iBook, especially once it goes Intel. There will be cheaper competitors, but it's a damn good value for what you get.

Where I think there is a glaring deficiency in the product lineup is on the desktop. The Mac mini was supposed to be the cheap sub-$500 Mac to shut up all the price complaints, but it can't even claim that anymore with its $599 base price. It includes several things that many people probably don't want or need in a basic desktop machine: airport, bluetooth, remote, and tiny size. I'm guessing that the size constraint adds quite a bit to the machine's price.

What I'd like to see is a very basic Mac minitower, configured in specs like the Mac mini, but with the above features (airport, bluetooth, remote) as options. How much could Apple squeeze down the price by removing these components, as well as removing the size constraint? To $400 maybe? The mini is cute and stylish and all that, but I think something like this would fly off the shelves based on bang for the buck alone. It probably won't happen because Steve Jobs, and Apple by extension, is too interested in the "cool" factor to sell a basic, no-frills machine that runs OS X well. They're free to do whatever they please as a company, but that's too bad. They could still make it look as good as any other Apple product, and I always thought that OS X was by far the biggest part of the Mac experience anyway.

What's really disappointing is reading all the belligerent responses here advising the original poster to quit whining, don't complain if you don't want to pay up, etc. It comes across to me as rather elitist, arrogant, and childish. This isn't some country club for rich people to sit around and look down their noses at the poor folks who can't or are unwilling to afford the price of membership. That price could be lower, and Apple simply chooses not to make it so. That's their right, but I also think there's nothing wrong with a potential customer venting about that fact. Just like my rant in my sig. :D

[sushi]

It is really quite amazing how the tech industry has changed over the past few years. You just get so much more for the dollar today yet everybody whines about wanting more.
My dad bought an early Craig 4-function calculator, no square root, and a constant switch. Over $100!!! And that was in the early 1970s. Calculate that out for inflation.
Ha, the first calculator that I used would only add, subtrack and multiply. There was no division button/function. You had to plug it into the wall socket for power.

The first calculator that I owned, had all 4 math functions, used a 9 Volt battery. A new battery would last about 20 minutes. Ouch!

[Deepdale]

It is interesting to read about prices paid for some of the older systems. I just looked at my receipts for the two Apple computers I have purchased to date.

01-20-95: Performa 578, 320 MB, 8 MB RAM ... $1,999.00. They generously tossed in a green mouse pad for free. :)

09-12-00: iMac DV 450 MHz, 20 GB, 64 MB RAM, additional 256 SDRAM memory module + AppleCare ... $2,009.00.

[Keebler]

I'm absolutely sick of the high prices Apple charges for their computers. It puts too much pressure on my buying needs, and I ended up not being able to afford it. :mad: A $1,799.99 plus 8.25% sales tax on a MacBook Pro only comes with a 80 GB hard drive and 512 MB memory RAM. I need 120 GB hard drive, 1 GB memory RAM, and 2.0 GHZ processor speed, so that rings up to $2,600 for everything. This is absolutely pathetic and a disgrace in the computer market, and Apple should be ashamed of themselves.

oh ya..i'm sick of them too. i'm sick of them including award winning, rock solid, industry leading software, i'm sick of them creating wonderful computers that people, such as yourself, want to buy. i'm sick of them including a rock solid operating system..one Microsoft is trying to emulate with their gabillion versions of vista. i'm sick of their spanky, information laden website; i'm sick of their tight knit mac communities which work together to help each other out with problems etc...

then you know what, go buy a cheap, crappy PC laptop....it will be cheaper...but it will suck.

the same type of analysis could be made for cars.... you want to drive a nice dependable, fancy vehicle like a lexus that has all the bells and whistles...great...but don't complain about the price. buy a sunfire (no offense to anyone out there), but don't complain that the ride isn't as smooth and silky or that you don't have seat warmers and auto driving positions and steering wheel controls.

nice to see this whiny baby hasn't even replied back...post a msg, cry and leave....

you don't deserve a mac. spend your time working instead of complaining and make the money.

[Play Ultimate]

That's absolutely right. For quite some time now, Macs have been very competitive in price with similarly specced PCs. Yet their prices are still seen as unnecessarily high, and I kind of agree. Why?

Because Apple likes to throw in the kitchen sink, even on the base model....What I'd like to see is a very basic Mac minitower, configured in specs like the Mac mini, but with the above features (airport, bluetooth, remote) as options. How much could Apple squeeze down the price by removing these components, as well as removing the size constraint? To $400 maybe?

It is important that businesses like Apple do a couple of things:
1) Maintain margins.
2) Maintain image. Whether we like it or not, Apple is a cult-market. It is important for Apple to maintain that image. There needs to be a degree of exclusiveness for Apple to continue. There are numerous stories of businesses moving to mass market and almost going out of business. Tommy Hilfiger is one when he started selling products in Costco and Wal-Mart. At the time T.H. was a premium brand selling in Nordstroms, now it is at discount stores. Almost wiped out the business. Similar examples exist of other companies moving into new markets.
3) Be percieved as offering a superior product.

enough for now...got to get back to work