Oh please, this "size" argument that Apple fans try to use has never worked and it never will. Maybe if Apple gave consumers actual CHOICES then it could work. But right now if I want a desktop I have 3 choices from Apple. A Mac mini, which is extremely low-end and extremely overpriced for the power. Theres the iMac, which is a laptop on a stand. Then theres the Mac Pro, which is also extremely overpriced and offers extremely limited expandability.
So comparing a tower PC to an iMac is a perfectly fair comparison since Apple does not even give you the choice of having such a system.
That's like saying "Let's compare the storage space of a Ford pickup to a Mercedes SUV. Even though they're different classes of vehicles, Mercedes doesn't offer a pickup, so it must be a fair comparison".
Again, a PC is not a fashion accessory. A computer is a tool.
You seem to think that a well designed product is synonymous to a fashion accessory, and thus has no value to "real" computer users. Look at it this way, though: if I'm going to have to carry around and stare at a notebook computer for the next three years, I might as well buy one that's pleasant to look at and doesn't weigh much, because no matter what Mac
or PC you buy now, there's still going to be a faster one in a few months. In fact, unless you're willing to spend a stupid amount of money on hardware, there will
always be a faster computer.
Of course, trying to argue the virtues of product design to someone only concerned with their processor's clockspeed is like explaining the difference between red and green to someone who is colorblind.
$1299 at HP gets you an 18.4" screen, Core i7, 4GB DDR, 320GB 7200 RPM, 1GB GeForce GT 230, blu-ray, HDMI, all that good stuff.
How is that even remotely portable? And why is there this continued obsession with HDMI? Apple has already moved on to DisplayPort... they're not about to go back. If you had you're way we'd all still have VGA and floppy drives on our computers. God forbid we try to move on.
Still more difficult to service the current MacBook and Pro line compared to a PC.
Now you're just making sweeping generalizations. I've taken apart laptop PCs that are far more difficult to take apart than the current MacBooks.
First, that's Lenovo's fault. Second, why didn't you check to see who manufactured your soundcard before reformatting? Third, why didn't you just open Windows update? Windows Update will install all of the drivers for your system.
Why should I have to check to see who manufactured the soundcard in the system? (And why should I check *before* reformatting? Would your solution be to not reformat?) The point is, you said drivers weren't an issue, and I provided a counter-example (for an OEM PC, too). And thanks, but Windows Update didn't bother to install the drivers. I guess Macs aren't the only system with flaws.
I guess we have different requirements for "quality". When it comes to movies, blu-ray is as low as I'll go now. For TV, theres no way I'd go back to cable or downloading from iTunes when DirecTV and FiOS look so much better.
I'm just saying that increasingly fast broadband connections will eventually allow for streaming HD that matches the quality of Bluray.
The best part about NOT having a tacky all-in-one thats more fashion accessory than computer is that you can overclock that CPU.
Again, I think you fail to understand the target demographic of the iMac. Very few people are actually concerned with overclocking their CPU.
Given the choice of running wires behind their desk for video and sound, and then plugging all these things in, why not just sacrifice some performance (which they probably won't use
anyways) for a nicer form factor?
Taking your argument to the extreme, why don't you put a couple of servers and rackmount RAIDs under your desk? You'll have so many CPUs to send jobs off too, and so much space, too! Plus, you'll have all that server grade hardware, which is so easy to service and replace... And it's not
that noisy.
Honestly, if you care about performance that much, why would you even bother with the iMac? Buy a workstation, a Mac Pro, or build some insanely fast gaming rig.
For the price of one Apple display you can get two higher quality displays for a PC, and thanks to Windows proper multi-display support, you can actually use both at the same time.
What is this improper multi-display support in OS X that you speak of (no snark intended; I'm genuinely curious).
