Apple please listen; I want a MacBook but Dell is cheaper & better equipped

[yellow]

Please update the line of MacBooks with more realistic prices immediately.

So why all the friction when I plead for Apple to do their product upgrades sooner rather than later?

Some of you Apple fans need to lighten up and stop being so defensive about your favorite computer company.

Uhhh...

Looks to me like you were complaining about prices rather than slow product updates. Is that not the case? Then why bother comparing prices to make your point?

Unfortunately, somtimes fact == defensive fanboyism, so be it.

 

[wPod]

I think this is a good thread. And a very important thing for apple to look at. Not just this specific example of a macbook vs a dell whatever. But in general. Apple put themselves in this position by switching to intel. Users can now spec out identical computers from different companies (such as dell) and directly compare the prices. I've done this with a mac pro vs a top of the line dell desktop (and actually the apple came out cheaper for the same specs, but only a few hundred dollars on a $3000 ish machine so not a huge difference).

I think Apple will have to change its pricing model with the switch to intel. They also need to change the timming of their chip upgrades. Apple right now is one of the few major laptop manufactures that does not have a Core 2 in their laptops. So right now their top of the line laptop isnt that top of the line compared to everyone else.

So what do you do? think about what is more important to you. cheap price/quality or more money for a better product (imo)

I have worked in IT tech support for about 8 years and have seen the most problems with dell laptops (though the desktop machines are pretty good) I have seen very few problems with the apple laptops (except for the big problems apple fixes for free) (true fewer people use apple lap tops, but (from my experience and a rough estimate) 1/10 mac usuers has trouble with their laptops while 1/3 to 1/2 of PC laptops have problems. i think it has to do with the better quality of the apple laptops. so, i think its worth paying extra ok, im done now.

 

[Mac-Addict]

Hi, Mac-Addict!

This isn't really a quality comparison thread; rather it is a price comparison thread. Even if it were, let's be COMPLETELY honest: If you buy a computer from ANY of the majors such as Apple, IBM, Dell, HP, then you're getting a pretty good machine with comparable quality. While we Mac users may love to espouse the quality of our Macs and belittle the quality of Dells, the Dells are not bad machines quality-wise. I know people who have Dells and love them - and keep them for just as long as I would my Mac.

My point in joining this topic was to show that the price differences are not as bad as many claim, especially when ALL things are considered. Arguing quality is a different topic and, frankly, it's one that becomes moot if one were to look at the numbers. Dells break; Macs break; computers break. It's not a manufacturer thing in most cases. It's a technology thing.

Have fun... Tony.

Well sorry if I went off topic.. xD but its the way I feel.. maybe I did go a bit over the top but I know I would pay more for quality and Iim not rich but I could save up.. but point taken...

 

[MacManTexas56]

Then buy the ****ing Dell.

Why are there so many of these topics?

it somehow brings out all the fanboys each time a topic like this is presented.....like urself...why are you responding?

 

[MacManTexas56]

Seems Switchers are the most vocal complainers.
QUOTE]

i wonder why that is? that aren't all for apple and fanboys like a lot of mac users are. now that apple is on the same level parts wise as pc companies why the price hike? I think switchers is a huge area that apple needs to get ahold of to gain any type of market share. They aren't going to get that if they price the same spec'd machines $500 more than the competition REGARDLESS if the OS is different......to switchers...they don't know anything about OSX so it's not worth the premium. apple fanboys need to realize mac osx and apple isn't life...it's a computer.

 

[boxlight]

Looks to me like you were complaining about prices rather than slow product updates. Is that not the case? Then why bother comparing prices to make your point?

Well, I'm assuming a product update will come with better specs and a lower price.

Unfortunately, somtimes fact == defensive fanboyism, so be it.

Ha, good point.

I find myself unable to continue debating this topic because your avatar is too pretty.

boxlight

 

[shecky]

I find myself unable to continue debating this topic because your avatar is too pretty.

put it back in your pants, romeo.

 

[boxlight]

put it back in your pants, romeo.

LOL.

 

[AuPhalanx]

Hi, rmhop81!

Please review my posts that I think show that Apple's offerings REALLY aren't more expensive than other manufacturers. When compared to Dell's prices, the price difference is negligible. As I've shown, just comparing RAM, HD capacity, and processor isn't comparing similar machines - and, no, I don't mean comparing XP and OSX, either. Better yet, as another person has posted, when you comparre Apple's pricing to that of Sony or IBM, you find that Apple's pricing is right in the middle. Much like car analogies and exhortions about Dell's quality, the price argument is quite old.

Now, I do agree that many Mac users argue primarily from an emotional standpoint and many of their arguments are weak. I've presented some facts here, though, that should dispel the whole 'Apple premium' belief.

Have fun... Tony.

Seems Switchers are the most vocal complainers.
QUOTE]

i wonder why that is? that aren't all for apple and fanboys like a lot of mac users are. now that apple is on the same level parts wise as pc companies why the price hike? I think switchers is a huge area that apple needs to get ahold of to gain any type of market share. They aren't going to get that if they price the same spec'd machines $500 more than the competition REGARDLESS if the OS is different......to switchers...they don't know anything about OSX so it's not worth the premium. apple fanboys need to realize mac osx and apple isn't life...it's a computer.

 

[yellow]

now that apple is on the same level parts wise as pc companies why the price hike? I think switchers is a huge area that apple needs to get ahold of to gain any type of market share.

It's NOT a price HIKE. Apples have always cost more. It's an unfortunate truth of being a Mac user. Why? Once again, Apple sells less computers than Dell, therefore parts cost them more, therefore they have to charge more to the end user. Once again, they cannot risk LOOSING money in hopes that they gain market share. For every switcher that bitches about price, there's 2 people that buy anyway* grumbling.

If you want OS X, then you have to pay more for a Mac.

Whine, scream, troll, cry fanboy all you want, but that's the way it is currently. If you don't want to pay, don't pay. Show Apple that you're displeased by hitting them in the wallet. Just know that there are people out there who WANT/NEED OS X, and therefore will pay, making your protest moot.

to switchers...they don't know anything about OSX so it's not worth the premium. apple fanboys need to realize mac osx and apple isn't life...it's a computer.

Then why are they buying a Mac if it's not worth it? Does anyone buy because of the hardware? As you said, it's the same as a PC. I'd say most people switch/buy Macs because of OS X.

* Not a real ratio, completely fabricated by me.

 

[roland.g]

if it is just going to be a web browser then buy a used powerbook or ibook.
if it is just going to be a web browser then dvd burning, ram, and hd space are not factoring into your decision.

relate it to tv's. I could buy a 50" samsung dlp or sony lcd and may much more than i do for a 50" fill in the blank. I can get a 50" fill in the blank Plasma for less than a 50" dlp or lcd in some cases. You decide what you want to pay for quality or budget.

there are lots of factors like OS, hardware, dependability, lifespan, resale value, aesthetics, bundled software, but oh, you already know that because you have a 20" intel iMac and you are complaining that the cost of a second brand new macbook is not cheap enough. You are essentially complaining that like Dell, Apple does not make cheap computers. Everyone here at MacRumors is happy that Apple does not make cheap computers.

 

[JAT]

Seems Switchers are the most vocal complainers.

i wonder why that is? that aren't all for apple and fanboys like a lot of mac users are. now that apple is on the same level parts wise as pc companies why the price hike? I think switchers is a huge area that apple needs to get ahold of to gain any type of market share. They aren't going to get that if they price the same spec'd machines $500 more than the competition REGARDLESS if the OS is different......to switchers...they don't know anything about OSX so it's not worth the premium.

You have no clue about pricing, you are just spouting comments from PC guys who hate Apple from 10 years ago. Do some research.

apple fanboys need to realize mac osx and apple isn't life...it's a computer.

But we're talking about computers. If you want to talk about life, we can probably do that, too. In another place. I don't think any computer nut will say their computer choice is more important than bigger life issues, yet at some point you still have to choose a computer. Considering some people spend 8 hours/day or more sitting at a computer, I'm afraid it does become a fairly important part of life.

 

[roland.g]

and no, most likely improved specs will be at the same prices points.
only rarely do price points change.

 

[someguy]

it somehow brings out all the fanboys each time a topic like this is presented.....like urself...why are you responding?

I am not a fanboy, I am just tired of reading the same argument over and over.

If you would rather pay less and have a Dell, buy a ****ing Dell and shut the **** up! If you don't see the upside to having a Mac, or it just isn't worth it to you, but something else. I can't stand hearing people try and argue that Apple's prices are too high.

"I can get a similar spec Dell for cheaper" is the most ignorant statement I've ever heard. There is more to a computer than it's specs. Like I just said, if you don't understand why most of us here are willing to pay higher prices for Apple products, then maybe Apple products aren't for you.

IMO, you get what you pay for, and if you're going to whine about it then maybe you deserve a Dell.

 

[suneohair]

One thing to consider here is Apples model.

They dont change prices daily like Dell. Nor can they afford to. Since they sell less computers a relatively fixed price is the better option for Apple.

If you all get off your horse and start buying more Apples maybe the price will come down and bounce around like Dells.

But basic economics can show you why Apple charges what they do. If you want to ignore that whatever.

 

[suneohair]

One more thing. This fanboy garbage needs to stop. Just because someone likes Apple computers does not make then a slave to Apple.

Besides you anti-apple-fanboy guys have your own little club. Get over it. If the only defense you have is to call someone a fanboy and shrug them off as an idiot, then you my friend are the idiot since you can't invent anything else.

 

[roland.g]

Let's talk about Dells.

Last year when I working in real estate (short-lived), I bought a Dell b/c I needed Windows and there was no intel/bootcamp world yet. I used my Dell laptop for 10 months before giving it as a gift to my mom (60th b-day) and she needed a new laptop (she too is in real estate). Now, it was not a bad machine. I used it quite a bit at home even though I had my G4 tower b/c I could surf the web on the couch while watching tv. But it was Windows, and no iLife or anything else OSX, except for iTunes which I could play to my stereo (airport express) sharing my G4 library. For most everything else I was on my old, relatively slower G4, why, b/c OS X (and it's only running Panther 10.3) Now I just use my wife's 12" PB which is a little small on screen size for me. I'm also about to order a 24" iMac - 2.33GHz 2GB RAM 500GB HDD 7600GT 256MB VRAM Wireless MM & KB and Applecare and probably a 8GB Nano. It will cost me US$ after discount $2,713 ($2,940 with Nano). I'm excited. I'm not complaining. Other than my Dell, my last new Mac was my G4 450 - Feb 2000. The only thing I could possibly complain about is no available Mac Pro Jr. for $1600 that I could hook to a 23" ACD. I like the aluminum. I'd even love a black iMac. But the 24" white will do. And for quite a while. Though I doubt another 6 1/2 yrs.

 

[yellow]

We should all stop calling each other idiots and fanboys, it's pretty unconstructive and really gets people's backs up.

 

[suneohair]

Let's talk about Dells.

Last year when I working in real estate (short-lived), I bought a Dell b/c I needed Windows and there was no intel/bootcamp world yet. I used my Dell laptop for 10 months before giving it as a gift to my mom (60th b-day) and she needed a new laptop (she too is in real estate). Now, it was not a bad machine. I used it quite a bit at home even though I had my G4 tower b/c I could surf the web on the couch while watching tv. But it was Windows, and no iLife or anything else OSX, except for iTunes which I could play to my stereo (airport express) sharing my G4 library. For most everything else I was on my old, relatively slower G4, why, b/c OS X (and it's only running Panther 10.3) Now I just use my wife's 12" PB which is a little small on screen size for me. I'm also about to order a 24" iMac - 2.33GHz 2GB RAM 500GB HDD 7600GT 256MB VRAM Wireless MM & KB and Applecare and probably a 8GB Nano. It will cost me US$ after discount $2,713 ($2,940 with Nano). I'm excited. I'm not complaining. Other than my Dell, my last new Mac was my G4 450 - Feb 2000. The only thing I could possibly complain about is no available Mac Pro Jr. for $1600 that I could hook to a 23" ACD. I like the aluminum. I'd even love a black iMac. But the 24" white will do. And for quite a while. Though I doubt another 6 1/2 yrs.

Ok. Sorry but what about the Dell? You didnt really talk about it... what was the point here?

 

[shecky]

these discussions always come up and are argued endlessly, but to me it is all about exactly one thing.

yes dells are cheaper than comparably equipped macs

yes dells use the same or similar components

yes dells can do basically the same things macs can do

but it is not about the hard drive size

it is not about the screen resolution

it is not about the weight

it is not about the included movie making software

it is not about the shape of the power adapter

it is not even about XP or OS X

it is only about The Apple Experience™

you are paying a premium, some times slight, sometime significant, for The Apple Experience™, which is all the tangibles and the intangibles, from the way the enclosure looks to how easy iMovie is; the way an Apple Store feels when you walk into it, the apple stickers in the box, the John Hodgman commercials, the glowing apple on the back of the Macbook, the font and colors used on thier website, and a million other things large and small.

dell will never give you The Apple Experience™, sony will never give you The Apple Experience™, only Apple will.

some are willing to pay for it, some are not. some love it, some do not.

any argument over component comparisons and dueling operating systems are a waste of time.

you do not like the price of the macbook, too bad. lots of people do, and they will buy it to get The Apple Experience™. If you will not, then that is both Apple's loss as well as yours, but apple is not going to alter its pricing at the cost of losing The Apple Experience™.

 

[suneohair]

I hope you all take note at the first response. I called for an immediate locking of this thread. It would have saved a lot of you some trouble.

I should be a mod!

 

[mpw]

apple is not going to change absolutely anything ever based on 1 single thread on macrumors...

You lack faith, never underestimate our powers, Muhahahahahahahah!

 

[tvguru]

Not that I care what anyone buys... but I figured I'd give you something to think about.


I a contracted IT Manager. (I manage several Medical Office networks) Each office is 100% Dell - Servers, Network hardware, desktops and notebooks.
In all I manage 227 Dell OptiPlex Desktops, 32 Dell Latitude Notebooks and 44 Dell PowerEdge servers.

I am an Authorized Dell business reseller. That is, I can sell Dell "Business Class" computers to any of my clients for less than you can get them on the Dell website. Last year I sold $67,750 of Dell hardware.

I would never sell or support any other PC on the market.

That said, I have a Mac Pro, MacBook Pro and my wife has a MacBook and a MacMini.

Bottom line. You get what you pay for.

Personally, I don't get paid for fixing my own computers.
This is why I have Apples at home. So I don't have to fix my own hardware and software.

BT

I stopped reading after this post. Best post ever.

 

[roland.g]

Ok. Sorry but what about the Dell? You didnt really talk about it... what was the point here?

That it was a suitable portable browser. That like we all know, it was Windows, which is, well what can you say. That even though I know how to properly maintain a computer, the OS still had some issues from time to time. It didn't like to restart sometimes, eventually you had to hold the power down till it shut off. That reacquiring wifi signals was slow. That it always wants to tell you that there is a wifi signal found even if you have plugged into an ethernet cable. But who wants to disable and enable the wifi each time you need it. That Bluetooth was bearable, but not easy. Nothing was ever just easy. A USB jumpdrive, you can't even eject it as easily. Networking two computers to share files, can't do that as easily. Nothing was ever just easy. There's a Mac add - the easy premium. 15 or 45 minutes to do something. What can you use that 30 minutes for. How many times do you want to reboot, install drivers, pull out your hair along the way. I can keep listing things, point is it worked ok. Like driving a Hyundai or something. Unlike Macs which perform more like an Audi or BMW. It's not just the engine, it's the experience. Uh-oh, did I digress again. The other point is I had to have windows again for some reason, I would never buy another Dell. I don't have to. Parallels/Bootcamp take care of that. If it had been 1 yr later. I'd have a blackbook. And I'd still have it. Sorry Mom. Eventually I'd give it her, just to convert her.

 

[boxlight]

it is only about The Apple Experience™

dell will never give you The Apple Experience™, sony will never give you The Apple Experience™, only Apple will.

Congratulations. I think you've won me over.

When you're right, you're right.

boxlight