Originally posted by bennetsaysargh
linux isn't usually used by people like my dad who just checks his email and watches movies and iMovie (actually i do it for him as he watches)
i would love a 500$ laptop from apple, but it wold
1)have to be over time because of angry people who just bought new ones
2)around 700$ because 500 is the high end iPod!
linux
could be used by your dad, with the proper motivation. linux doesn't have to be all terminal. and you don't have spend hours moding your window manager either. you can make it as easy to install and use as os x. red hat 9.1 or whatever is the latest is dead easy.
as for apple releasing a $500 laptop? it would never happen. they are more likely to release a $700 PDA
oh, and one more thing and i don't mean to attack you specifically, [RANT]but it bugs me that some people think apple shouldn't upgrade their line or make drastic changes because "of angry people who just bought new ones" that's just the way the cookie crumbles and if you do your research, which i would always do for any product of significant value and others should to with the ease of the internet, this won't happen to you. [/RANT]
the reason HP Thailand can make a $450 laptop? they use cheap components, they skim on everything possible and still sell with a tiny margin because they are selling in massive quantities to the government. apple has a decent business model because they have high margins. massive margins even!
and they have been known to skim on hardware too
