That's why its not free.
Sorry you had problems, I use a cheap mouse and keyboard no problem.
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Apple Sweeps Consumer Reports' Laptop Recommendations
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That's why its not free.
Sorry you had problems, I use a cheap mouse and keyboard no problem.
In Apples case its a good thing they don't include a keyboard and mouse. Such things are extremely personal in nature. Many people don't like the keyboard or mouse Apple sells.
And it seems like they don't want your money...
If you really want to try the OS, hackintosh is an easy solution.
I find it hard to come to these forums and reason with the business decisions Apple makes because the consumers here are well educated buyers vs. those who just walk in the store and let an Apple sales person make a sale. But the fact is, lots of their target market isn't like you and quite frankly is clueless to what they are actually buying. But you'll find that anywhere in retail, just look at people who buy monster cables.
I love the Monster analogy...I've been outraged at that sales pitch for like 15 years.
However, honestly, I don't find Hackintosh "easy". I'm a pc guru and I find the H website/forums a nightmare to navigate...nobody has replied to my simple comments either. Lastly, it seems the H boards are afraid to post a consistend "build"...rather, they force me to google the builds and pray the download isn't filled with viruses. When/if H produces something a bit more straightforward, I'll dive in....I just don't have time these days to spend 50+ hours researching a project like this. I wish I could easily get it up and running on my Dell 530 Inspiron quad-core 3gig ram machine. But nobody is throwing me a bone in the forums and my hardware SEEMS to not be supported as of yet (read: nobody else on the planet has used my machine for OSX).
Also, yea, I know Apple is not targeting me to buy a Mac. Again, would LOVE to own one of their laptops but I would need a MBPro and I'm just not going to plunk down $2000+ for a machine with 90day phone support and 1 year non-phone-support plus all my other "complaints". I think the PC manufacturers are taking note of Apple's "cool" designs and we are seeing more and more "cooler" pc laptops...for 1/2 or even 1/3 the price....and I'm already 100% used to Windows and extremely comfortable with Windows so what is the compelling reason for me to switch?
Apple should try running a marketing campaign that promotes PC users to switch...give us (anyone actually) a full 30-day (compared to their WEAK 14 day), no questions asked return policy...no 15% restocking fee (a slap in the face policy that's been around for a long time)...and also include on the machine some media files that show common tasks in Windows that are now on the Mac (their in-store tutorials are nice but too far to drive and limited availability).
I tried numerous keyboards from my closet...Dell, MS, and Logitech...all worked to an extent but nothing even close to 90%.
I think I am entitled to exaggeration at times...it offers a little humor. I'll increase the 3 to 30,000...which includes all employees of Apple and a subset of Mini owners who, somehow, agree that new computers should be shipped without human input devices.
But for those of us who use it numerous times a day to type in login accounts (banks, credit cards, passwords, etc) and some Excel type stuff, it's horrible. The smaller keyboard also makes me feel like I'm typing on a tiny laptop...keys are soooo close together.
But to each his own.
Unfortunately, when Apple decides on a way its their way or the highway. It is sad that they don't have an optional wireless kb with numpad for those that want one.
People can dig up all the "Apple defect" forum posts (and possibly lies) all they like.
Anecdotal information is not only meaningless, it can also be quite misleading.
Show me instead the broader trends, the consumer reports, the customer satisfaction surveys, etc. The material that gets published. And I mean year over year, too.
I really don't give a damn that someone and their "friend" have defective Macbooks. Especially when my experience might be completely the opposite. Like I'm going to believe any kind of anecdotal info on a site that is a veritable garden of trolls.
"I'm on my second/third defective Macbook, etc."
Yeah, sure you are.
Anecdotal information is not only meaningless, it can also be quite misleading.
Show me instead the broader trends, the consumer reports, the customer satisfaction surveys, etc. The material that gets published. And I mean year over year, too.
I really don't give a damn that someone and their "friend" have defective Macbooks. Especially when my experience might be completely the opposite. Like I'm going to believe any kind of anecdotal info on a site that is a veritable garden of trolls.
"I'm on my second/third defective Macbook, etc."
Yeah, sure you are.
In general, there's a fairly noteable group of desktop hobbiest types who thus aren't particularly happy, but the problem with Apple paying much attention to them is that IIRC something like 70% of Mac sales are from laptops.
As such, the argument is that Apple can "afford" (to some degree) neglect the desktop.
And on the desktop side, the iMac is supposedly the most popular, which then raises the question of if it is this way because it comes the closest to what desktop buyers want, or because it is what desktop buyers want (not the same thing)?
In the meantime, probably 80% (a Pareto Principle SWAG) of consumers are capable of having their computing power needs satisfied with a notebook-class of CPU...which also folds nicely into explaining both why laptops are so popular today, as well as why the iMac uses a mobile CPU instead of a desktop CPU.
I suspect that the broader question here is what the longer term implications are of not having a true desktop below the Mac Pro as a product to cater to 'enthusiast' consumers.
The reason why this may be important is because these also tend to be early adopters and thus, are more critical to the creation of the base of Opinion Leaders in the diffusion process who are thus the source of influence to the buying decisions of later adopters (early mainstream, etc).
In other words this argument is that the proverbial 'xMac' might not directly be a profitable product, but the demographic of the individual who buys it is an "Opinion Leader" whose (word of mouth) influence encourages others to adopt the Apple Macintosh as a brand.
Of course, the problem with this line of argument is that its hard to measure and thus prove if its working or not. As the saying goes:
Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half.
- John Wanamaker, (attributed); US department store merchant (1838 - 1922)
- John Wanamaker, (attributed); US department store merchant (1838 - 1922)
-hh
I love the Monster analogy...I've been outraged at that sales pitch for like 15 years.
However, honestly, I don't find Hackintosh "easy".
I think the PC manufacturers are taking note of Apple's "cool" designs and we are seeing more and more "cooler" pc laptops...for 1/2 or even 1/3 the price....
Yes the monster cable stuff is funny. I was reading stories over at engadget the other day.
And you are right, hackintosh isn't exactly easy, and though it would seem like there is a good support group because people are always on this forum asking questions and threads get hijacked to answering hackintosh questions and what not. I, however, haven't tried and know that time will need to be spent which some day might be a fun project but for now, no thanks. I'd be happy with a PC running XP or 7. I'm on the XP side of my Mac right now.
I was shown lots of Dell's upcoming products a couple months ago and was very very impressed with some of the designs they had come up with and what they were going to make available. Now not all of what I saw has been released yet, but still I remember sitting there saying, wow, Apple seems to be boring compared to the changes they are doing. But then again Dell has a ways to come to meet Apple designs but I was glad to know they are working hard and spending money to do so.
I agree. And I think for now they sit here and sell notebooks for high profit and continue to let the desktops do just ok. The opinionated people buying these machines do a great job spreading the word themselves.
I see the mid ranged tower as a fall back plan for Apple. If they ever feel like their profit margins aren't doing well they can simply release a tower and end up with a sudden increase in sales and profit. But that's just how I look at it.
yeah, remember that video from awhile ago...funny. "everything is just a few hundred clicks away"
What I found surprising is that with some tasks the current mini is faster than the last Quad PowerMac Apple built.
s.
So the question remains: any "not-cool-enough genius trolls" out there still defending crappy Windows PCs of any kind, or saying that Macs are "overpriced" or faltering in terms of QC? The Windows fanboys that infest this forum really need a reality check.
Apple's computers are and have ALWAYS been the best in the world, not to mention Apple's customer service and overall build quality, which even when selling by the millions are WAY above and beyond anything remotely imaginable in the inferior world of Ballmer's PCs.
The 10-odd friends and colleagues that I've helped switch over the last 2 years are more than glad to agree with me...THERE IS NO TURNING BACK.
MS IS DEAD. DELL IS DEAD.
I agree I don't like the random Windows people in here just talking and not contributing in any way.
But the rest of that...
Ballmer's PCs aren't designed or built by him. So I wouldn't blame him, and the build quality of Apple computers is about as great as other manufacturers out there. Design wise I've seen some really great stuff that will be coming to dell that looks fantastic, its not the same look as an Apple product, but if you try to copy this design its just written off as a bad knock-off. The Whitebook is not anything special design wise, and the MB/MBP line has remained relatively the same for years now.
I only build my own desktop computers.
I'm not scared to have a nice case either. Microsoft is more than happy to provide an operating system for the computers that I build. Apple isn't.
Yes, but then you have to use the Microsoft operating system. Thanks, but no thanks. Been there, done that.
Here we go again...another pointless soapbox announcement that Apple and all its products are far superior (in every single way) then anything ever created in the PC world. Pure generalization, no specifics, no quantitative input on your post. Great job!
I consider myself a guru in the pc world dating back to around 1985 as well as a proud owner/programmer on the Apple //e computer system for about 10 years. I also consider myself extremely knowledgeable in the "computer world" meaning all things computers...programming, building/modifying hardware, etc. If you want to start a separate thread and post clear, thoughtful, and intelligent ideas and POLITELY debate the world of PC vs. the world of Mac, let's discuss. However, repeated generalized comments like your post above will quickly discredit anything you have to say.
-Eric
Ummmm...no. You must be confused with Apple. See, Apple is the one who doesn't want you modifying their hardware or trying to load their OS on some other non-Apple sanctioned hardware.
You can buy almost any pc (or parts and built it yourself) and happily install your favorite flavor of Linux...or Microsoft Windows...or even Apple OS if you know what you are doing and understand you are violating Apple's terms.
On a side note, I'm a huge fan of XP. Been using Pro and Home for about 8 years now. Frankly I don't see what else an OS needs to be...Vista doesn't impress me...Apple OSs don't really offer much difference in comparison. And vice versa. I think 90% of any/all Operating Systems in the market offer core functionality that is fantastic and easy to use...and it can be a long discussion over what an "operating system" truly is vs. what it "is" today.
All the OSs you can buy/try/use over the past 5-10 years offer the same 90% functionality...disk management, networking, user input devices, output device support, graphics capabilities, sound capabilities, programming interface, etc. The 10% difference is really not that much of a difference...it's more of a PREFERENCE if you ask me...how many clicks to do this, how well this APPLICATION is tied to another APPLICATION (be it Windows Media Player and IE or iTunes and Quicktime). It's not at the OS level if you ask me. I have a Mini from 2007 and I use it mainly for dvd authoring and movie editing. Playing with OSX seems almost identical to Windows to me for the normal things like web surfing, cd ripping, MS Office creation, 3rd party utils. The Apple APPLICATIONS are kinda slick as far as integration (iDVD and iMovie for example)...but those are APPLICATIONS...not an operating system. And as a software suite (iLife) I would expect that a suite of products, from any vendor, at any price, should be integrated well.
-Eric
Some of the differences I like about OS X 10.5 are Spotlight (how the OS indexes the files when they're added to the hard drive, so that searches are virtually instantaneous), Time Machine (how the OS keeps track of which files have been modified, so when a backup kicks off, it doesn't have to scan the entire drive to figure out what's changed), Expose and Spaces. That, plus I think Dashboard is a way more effective implementation of widgets/gadgets than the Sidebar.
And until someone comes out with a Linux/Windows version of iLife (with the integration you're talking about, which would also need to extend into the browser, Mail client and other non-suite related programs), what's the technical point of separating iLife from Mac OS X?
Dude, please just buy a Dell.
This is SO funny, on so many points, I don't know where to start. 14 days is weak, and 30 days is "full"?? If you think people choose macs over pcs because their designs are "cool" you are off the mark. By the way that HP desktop design looks strangely familiar, lol. No matter how gee-whiz and slick any computer "looks", that dazzlement will quickly fade when the realization of functionality begins to creep in. Making a pc "look" cool (even if you are cribbing the aesthetics) is kind of like sticking plastic cladding all over cars... and we know how THAT turned out, lol. Frankly you "pc-folks" should love us apple-folks... if it wasn't for us you would still be working on a beige box with a 13" crt.
I am now convinced we have a hoard of PC shills filling the boards with nonsense. I am all for listening to "other" viewpoints, but not when they are so clearly maunfactured. A hearty THANKS to -hh... his post was well-reasoned, and a joy to read. Plus I have heard the phrase "astroturfing" before, but never bothered to look it up. Sounds like that is indeed what is going on.
Sorry if our snarky tones have taken a nasty edge (to you anti-posters), but I just can't believe these are "real".
..yea, I know Apple is not targeting me to buy a Mac. Again, would LOVE to own one of their laptops but I would need a MBPro and I'm just not going to plunk down $2000+ for a machine with 90day phone support and 1 year non-phone-support plus all my other "complaints". I think the PC manufacturers are taking note of Apple's "cool" designs and we are seeing more and more "cooler" pc laptops...for 1/2 or even 1/3 the price....and I'm already 100% used to Windows and extremely comfortable with Windows so what is the compelling reason for me to switch?
Apple should try running a marketing campaign that promotes PC users to switch...give us (anyone actually) a full 30-day (compared to their WEAK 14 day), no questions asked return policy...no 15% restocking fee (a slap in the face policy that's been around for a long time)...and also include on the machine some media files that show common tasks in Windows that are now on the Mac (their in-store tutorials are nice but too far to drive and limited availability).
This is SO funny, on so many points, I don't know where to start. 14 days is weak, and 30 days is "full"?? If you think people choose macs over pcs because their designs are "cool" you are off the mark. By the way that HP desktop design looks strangely familiar, lol. No matter how gee-whiz and slick any computer "looks", that dazzlement will quickly fade when the realization of functionality begins to creep in. Making a pc "look" cool (even if you are cribbing the aesthetics) is kind of like sticking plastic cladding all over cars... and we know how THAT turned out, lol. Frankly you "pc-folks" should love us apple-folks... if it wasn't for us you would still be working on a beige box with a 13" crt.
I am now convinced we have a hoard of PC shills filling the boards with nonsense. I am all for listening to "other" viewpoints, but not when they are so clearly maunfactured. A hearty THANKS to -hh... his post was well-reasoned, and a joy to read. Plus I have heard the phrase "astroturfing" before, but never bothered to look it up. Sounds like that is indeed what is going on.
Sorry if our snarky tones have taken a nasty edge (to you anti-posters), but I just can't believe these are "real".
And I quote: "Microsoft is more than happy to provide an operating system for the computers that I build." Seems pretty clear what you are interested in.
EDIT: Oops... Sorry ericboston, I thought you were the guy I quoted...