Desktops are dead ?

[d0nK]

Apple is a consumer electronics business. You're not the punter they're chasing.

Apple still charges 'pro' prices for consumer-level gear, treating their "typical consumer" as ignorant. Ignorant of the actual bang-for-buck prices for the latest quality desktop components.
My 2008 £900 custom-built PC runs faster than a 2011 base model iMac. That is pathetic of Apple.

 

[Occamsrazr]

Maybe Apple customers realize that they are not buying a box of components when they purchase an Apple computer

 

[jji7skyline]

Maybe Apple customers realize that they are not buying a box of components when they purchase an Apple computer

Exactly. What would you have to do with your home built computer if the graphics failed? What if it wouldn't boot one day and you found your disk was dead?

You'd have to replace the graphics out of your own money.

You'd have to get a professional to recover your life time of photos and memories.

What about the design?

 

[iSayuSay]

Exactly. What would you have to do with your home built computer if the graphics failed? What if it wouldn't boot one day and you found your disk was dead?

You'd have to replace the graphics out of your own money.

You'd have to get a professional to recover your life time of photos and memories.

What about the design?

No shoot ...

What would you do if a Mac graphic card failed?
What would you do if a Mac HDD failed?
What would you do if you're out of Apple warranty/AppleCare? Paying Apple to do official repairs is a complete rip-off. They could charge you $300 for 3 or 4 years old component.

Last time I checked, Mac fails just as much as a PC would. I had my iMac HDD replaced and all Apple would do is replace it and reinstalling OSX back. I lost my data on it (luckily still have back up) and Apple don't responsible for your data. Stated clearly on their service agreement.
You'd still need professional for serious recovery.

All GPU on desktop PC have 1 year limited warranty. Not much different than Mac computers.

 

[jji7skyline]

No shoot ...

What would you do if a Mac graphic card failed?
What would you do if a Mac HDD failed?
What would you do if you're out of Apple warranty/AppleCare? Paying Apple to do official repairs is a complete rip-off. They could charge you $300 for 3 or 4 years old component.

Last time I checked, Mac fails just as much as a PC would. I had my iMac HDD replaced and all Apple would do is replace it and reinstalling OSX back. I lost my data on it (luckily still have back up) and Apple don't responsible for your data. Stated clearly on their service agreement.
You'd still need professional for serious recovery.

All GPU on desktop PC have 1 year limited warranty. Not much different than Mac computers.

I was assuming the Mac was under warranty

 

[Occamsrazr]

Tme machine.


Owned! Go home pc

 

[12dylan34]

Apple still charges 'pro' prices for consumer-level gear, treating their "typical consumer" as ignorant. Ignorant of the actual bang-for-buck prices for the latest quality desktop components.
My 2008 £900 custom-built PC runs faster than a 2011 base model iMac. That is pathetic of Apple.

It's not news that you can build a PC for cheaper than you can get a prebuilt machine or Mac for. Most people here prefer to use OS X over Windows though, so it's sort of a moot point.

I could get an 8 core, GTX 680, all top-of-the-line parts PC for the same price that I'm about to get a top-end iMac for, but I won't do it. It's not worth losing all of my programs and having to use Windows to me. I've considered it carefully. It might sound like a dumb decision, but I figure I should enjoy using something that I'll use every day for the next 4 years.

 

[Newtype]

Apple still charges 'pro' prices for consumer-level gear, treating their "typical consumer" as ignorant. Ignorant of the actual bang-for-buck prices for the latest quality desktop components.
My 2008 £900 custom-built PC runs faster than a 2011 base model iMac. That is pathetic of Apple.

There are not there to give you bang for your buck. I don't understand why people are failing to see Apple products are semi-luxury. They charge premium price like how Louis Vuitton charges x-times over typical wallet (btw not perfect example).

 

[Mike Valmike]

Last time I checked, Mac fails just as much as a PC would.

In what universe? Because that isn't the case in this one. While some Macs do fail, as is unavoidable in consumer electronics, far and away more Macs last longer working correctly, mainly because they aren't crates of the worst cut-rate parts to be had out of the Guangzhou foundries.

 

[davidcmc]

mainly because they aren't crates of the worst cut-rate parts to be had out of the Guangzhou foundries.

Macs have many cheap parts inside them.

You just have no idea what you're talking about.

So you think that Intel CPU's inside Macs use a different technology from DELL's computers?
So you think that Apple's SSD are made with a different material from OCZ's SSD's?
So you think that Foxconn's motherboards are made with better materials than Gigabyte's motherboards?

Again: you have absolutely no idea about these things.

 

[imaginary]

Well even if they have cheap parts inside its a WIDE margin of how they're assembled.

I don't care if the iMac would only last 2-3 years as I'd have (and would want) to buy a new one about that timeframe as well.

The reason I like apple is it's OS base, and the look and feel of the products. If it would just be performance my pleasure could be satisfied elsewhere as well. But someone who likes armani probably wouldn't want high performance clothes like jack wolfskin (cought).

 

[iSayuSay]

In what universe? Because that isn't the case in this one. While some Macs do fail, as is unavoidable in consumer electronics, far and away more Macs last longer working correctly, mainly because they aren't crates of the worst cut-rate parts to be had out of the Guangzhou foundries.

Only Apple would have exact data of failing Mac numbers.
But in my local Apple service provider, lots of visitors claim their warranty everytime I visit them.

My personal iMac has 2 display + 1 HDD replacements just within the first year.
My iPhone 4S has this dodgy home button and creaking backplate after 6 months.
My 4 years old Macbook had 2 blue lines on the screen so I had to sell it for cheap.

So far I never had an Apple product with ZERO problems during ownership period. The one that doesn't need to go back to Apple Store, ever.

I had Samsung CRT monitor, plasticky and fugly as usual .. but it had zero repairs, and picture looks just as the day I bought it for 10 years. I never had that with gorgeous looking Apple displays.

Hard lesson learned, I always sell my Mac computers just before AppleCare runs out. Because it will always be expensive repairs once I'm out of Apple's warranty.

And you understand by now that all Apple stuff are Made in China in a shoddy Foxconn factory by a low-paid workers. Just as with 99% of all consumer electronics.

The reason I still stand up with some Apple products are nice design and build quality (read: pretty looks) and a decent warranty service.
Ironically enough, it's the pretty looks that often result in bad calls.

 

[iMcLovin]

I don't really understand the whole "desktops are dead" discussion. A lot of people will need to work on the computers. I assume the amount of desktops will stay quite flat for a while longer. Not everyone will start using laptops. I'm sure even inside apple most people come to the office without a laptop under their arm as their main working station. Laptop is a supplemental machine IMO.

But eventually it will go away, but not before in 10-15 years I would say. And Apple is probably able see this timeline clearer than most of us.
The day you your iphone is so powerful that you only need a phone then maybe. It will happen - but not yet! It will happen when the alternative is way better than a desktop.
today the iphone is much more powerful than the first iMac that got released and it's continuously catching up with the larger hardware.
in 15 years time, maybe you can just keep your phone in your pocket, once you are near your desk monitor and keyboard it will automatically become the working computer with retina display and all. All your data is cloud based and you wouldn't notice the difference if your computer is in your pocket or on the desk....then why would you care if desktops are dead (?).....Currently the laptops are heavy and delicate machinery that cost a lot of money for mobility - and they simply don't do anything more than a desktop except being mobile.

 

[Nightarchaon]

I used to think that desktops were dead,

i ran a MBP as my main machine,

then i bought an iMac, because i wanted space on my desk, without a million wires and hubs sticking all over the place,

now my MBP is used as a laptop, taken on business trips when needed,

The rest of my "portable" computing use, such as reading websites in bed or on the sofa or in the garden, is done on the iPad.

If anything i would say that thanks to the iPad the Notebook/Laptop is dead, now you can have a Desktop for power computer, and an iPad for on the move.

 

[iMcLovin]

I used to think that desktops were dead,

i ran a MBP as my main machine,

then i bought an iMac, because i wanted space on my desk, without a million wires and hubs sticking all over the place,

now my MBP is used as a laptop, taken on business trips when needed,

The rest of my "portable" computing use, such as reading websites in bed or on the sofa or in the garden, is done on the iPad.

If anything i would say that thanks to the iPad the Notebook/Laptop is dead, now you can have a Desktop for power computer, and an iPad for on the move.

Exactly how I feel too, laptops for me are just a crossover. I much rather bring an iPad with me and stay on a desktop. For me laptops are more dead than an Desktop. Once pads became a new market they ate a chunk of the laptop market - not the desktop market. I don't see a lot of people running around with a moving working space....in fact I hardly never see a person in the subway or bus working on a laptop. They are killing time on their phone or iPad. Were's this place were every working person doesn't have a desk and keeps moving around all the time ?

 

[Roller]

Exactly how I feel too, laptops for me are just a crossover. I much rather bring an iPad with me and stay on a desktop. For me laptops are more dead than an Desktop. Once pads became a new market they ate a chunk of the laptop market - not the desktop market. I don't see a lot of people running around with a moving working space....in fact I hardly never see a person in the subway or bus working on a laptop. They are killing time on their phone or iPad. Were's this place were every working person doesn't have a desk and keeps moving around all the time ?

Each one has its place. My iMac, MacBook Air, and iPad serve overlapping functions, but none could replace the others without compromises that I can't or am not willing to make.

 

[antidromic]

Dear OP,

You're an idiot.

Lots of love, hugs and kisses,

The MacRumors iMac forum

 

[thekev]

...and if you look up a dealer that does cater to the 'pro imaging' business, you'll find that the Apple Thunderbolt Display really doesn't look that expensive after all - you can easily pay twice as much for a 1440p 'pro' display from Eizo or NEC.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...71W_BK_MultiSync_PA271W_BK_27_Widescreen.html

You'd need to buy the calibration kit, but otherwise it's surprisingly affordable. $100 more than the TB display for the PA271W. In the US the only difference with the spectraview version is an oem colorimeter and spectraview II software.

 

[MJL]

i am, in the audio department
actually, a lot of professionals are always flying, working all around the world, and i don't think they're carrying an iMac in their luggage

And I travel a lot, my eyes have deteriorated and need a larger screen than a laptop can offer. So I use a Mac mini server 2010 (windows 7 SSD / Lion OS X 500 Gb HDD backing up the SSD) and carry a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse and use the hotel's TV. If I stay longer than a few weeks I get a couple 24" Dell e-IPS screens and donate them to the local school when I leave. (have difficulty with glossy screens too). I do not need the CPU power but need the screen real estate - much easier to follow 20-24 currency charts on a large screen / multiple screens.

Used to have laptops (had about 19 of them on last count) but no going back. No damage to computer in overhead locker on the airplane because of some inconsiderate fellow traveller pushing his / her overweight soft sided travelbag in there. (even in business/first class)

For Tom, Dick and Harry down the street a laptop is fine, not for the work that I am doing.

 

[MJL]

Only Apple would have exact data of failing Mac numbers.
But in my local Apple service provider, lots of visitors claim their warranty everytime I visit them.

My personal iMac has 2 display + 1 HDD replacements just within the first year.
My iPhone 4S has this dodgy home button and creaking backplate after 6 months.
My 4 years old Macbook had 2 blue lines on the screen so I had to sell it for cheap.

So far I never had an Apple product with ZERO problems during ownership period. The one that doesn't need to go back to Apple Store, ever.

I had Samsung CRT monitor, plasticky and fugly as usual .. but it had zero repairs, and picture looks just as the day I bought it for 10 years. I never had that with gorgeous looking Apple displays.

Hard lesson learned, I always sell my Mac computers just before AppleCare runs out. Because it will always be expensive repairs once I'm out of Apple's warranty.

And you understand by now that all Apple stuff are Made in China in a shoddy Foxconn factory by a low-paid workers. Just as with 99% of all consumer electronics.

The reason I still stand up with some Apple products are nice design and build quality (read: pretty looks) and a decent warranty service.
Ironically enough, it's the pretty looks that often result in bad calls.

I owned about 19 laptops, started of with a Dell and quickly migrated to Toshiba Tecra's. Had Toshiba Portege's and then went to IBM Thinkpads. The Terca's and the Thinkpads gave zero problems, the Protege's had the hinges cracking, the last Lenovo T61p is still running after 4 years 24/7. Some Thinkpads A31 that I bought close to 10 years ago and sold off 6-7 years ago, are still running.

I am not impressed by the built quality of Apple - the miniaturisation comes at a cost. There are enough reports of those who wanted to replace the HDD in the mini themselves and finished up damaging the connectors of the fan, led etc.

Nice fancy housing, reminding me of the hey days of Japanese electronics and photo equipment: nice on the outside but under the hood....

 

[NickBoy98]

hi

what's preventing you all to go with the macbook route ?

back in the days, desktop were faster than laptop, but these days they're fast enough to do CPU intensive tasks such as Audio / Video.

i have an old iMac and a 2011 Macbook. i've started working on the macbook and the performance is excellent. i'm thinking of buying a display and saying goodbye to the desktop, which is i think a dying format anyway.

the Thunderbolt Display is too expensive, but these days monitors have HDMI / DISPLAYPORT / USB hubs / built-in speakers / Headphones out ... you can get an excellent 22" for 200$ ... and take your computer with you everywhere.

thoughts ? what's the thing that makes you wait for the iMac ?

I want a one plug all-in-one with a large screen!

 

[Nova Sensei]

The more i think about it, the more i'm starting to think that Apple has held back the iMac release so as to not overshadow the rMBP. They don't want to bump it off the front page of the website just yet.

 

[G4DP]

not everyone absolutely need a screen so huge and so high quality
unless you're a professional

Which you clearly are not. Wondering why anyone would need more than 8GB Ram gave it away to anyone in this thread. Try needing to use 4 or 5 things from CS at the same time doing various things.

In what universe? Because that isn't the case in this one. While some Macs do fail, as is unavoidable in consumer electronics, far and away more Macs last longer working correctly, mainly because they aren't crates of the worst cut-rate parts to be had out of the Guangzhou foundries.

That is complete horse hockey, you must be in your own little universe. Mac's have become far less reliable as time has progressed. When I started using Mac's you could get 10 years out of one no problems. The G4's ran like a dream - The Cube being the exception thanks to a ***** stupid design straight from Job's. In fact the one I have still does, nothing has ever actually failed on it, not even the HDD and it was used almost 24 hours a day for 9 years. The machines then although built to a cost, the cost was higher. The quality was of a higher level. Those machines and those before are what created brand loyalty.

Something that is no longer of any importance to the muppets in charge. Todays Mac's are made by the company with the cheapest tender. Simple as. The Mac Pro I currently use, has had 5 failed GPU's, 4 Radeon 2600's and an Apple Nvidia 8800GT, all went in the bin because they were the crap no-one else wanted. Apple even continued to use them after manufacturing faults were found. The heat sensors on the motherboard have hat to be changed, so has the DVD drive as it decided it didn't like to read anything. All went within 2 years of purchase. The better half's MacBook Pro has had GPU issues and had to have the DVD drive replaced for the same reason as the MacPro.

Apple now use the cheapest parts possible whilst still screwing you over. Case in point the 2009 Mac Pro. The cost of the CPU dropped by 50% compared to those used in the 2008 model, the cost of the Macs went up around the world and stayed the same in the US.

 

[RUGERMAN]

You are not considering that not anyone is really going to need portability.

iMac runs faster, cooler, has more storage, and a better display. Also you don't have a power unit hanging around on your power cord, and all the cabling needed for an external display, and a spare wireless keyboard to put in front of it. Having a battery that you won't ever use that's going to get ruined. Also, just plugging in an external monitor in a hot summer day gets your MacBook hot as hell, with fans ramping up. iMac is just cooler. And guess what? At the same performance level iMac is 20/30% cheaper.

If you only need a desktop you can never beat that.

Also, if you have a wife that uses a Mac you need two, so I have an IMac with the nice screen and she uses her macBook Pro. When we travel I have access to the laptop and with ML coming in a few days I can sync with the Cloud.

 

[d0nK]

It's not news that you can build a PC for cheaper than you can get a prebuilt machine or Mac for. Most people here prefer to use OS X over Windows though, so it's sort of a moot point.

I could get an 8 core, GTX 680, all top-of-the-line parts PC for the same price that I'm about to get a top-end iMac for, but I won't do it. It's not worth losing all of my programs and having to use Windows to me. I've considered it carefully. It might sound like a dumb decision, but I figure I should enjoy using something that I'll use every day for the next 4 years.

I use Lion on my PC. I haven't used Windows on it for over a year now This is not for everyone as you have to be careful with each major OS change (I convinced my parents to buy an actual iMac for this reason).
I agree though, that it is Mac OS + Apple aesthetics that make the iMac the major contender that it is.
My next desktop will probably be an iMac or a Mac Pro. That may be a while yet as my pc's tend to last for a good 6 years.