Ya, I was just trying to prove that Apple needs to make their computers cheaper if they want any switchers.netdog said:
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MacBook Anticipation
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The great thing about Pessimism is you can never be disappointed ;-)macgeek2005 said:
I have to say I'd agree with you if we were talking about Apple a few years ago. But this is about the iBook replacement, at a time when Apple is very clearly trying to get more sales. Most Macs today are not overpriced, that is to say, Apple's rivals generally sell the same hardware at comparable prices. (That's not to say they're bargains or that competitors don't beat them on price*, but on a feature for feature basis, prices tend to be roughly the same.)
If I can walk into Staples and see 17" laptops with ATI graphics for $999 (and I did, the other day), and see specs comparable to a 15" widescreen laptop based upon the $600 Mac mini for $740 at Dell's website, then, well, I think it'd be out of character for Apple to try to pass off the same thing (with a smaller screen) for over $1,000. They're not doing that any more. Arguably, they can't afford to now they're on Intel and everyone can compare like with like.
I hope we're both surprised rather than I'm disappointed. If Apple did what you're suggesting, we'd be looking at a return to the old Apple, and I think Apple would find it more difficult than ever to get the machine sold. The MacBook will become a machine soley for Apple enthusiasts and a handful of people who are either unaware that OS X is available on the 'net, or who do not like piracy, and are willing to pay a lot extra for a machine with Mac OS X on it.
The game rules have changed.
* You're wondering about bit, right? Surely "Competitors beat Apple on price" contradicts "Apple's hardware usually costs the same as their competitor's equivalent."? Well, it works like this. When a consumer buys a computer, they generally "spec it" as X (where X = I want a large screen, I want to be able to watch DVDs, I want wireless, ...etc). Apple has a machine whose closest match to X is X+Y (where Y is stuff like the iSight and remote control.) Dell has a machine whose closest match to X is X+Z (where Z is probably some of Y but not all of it.)
X+Y = $1,299, X+Z = $599.
Dell beats Apple on price. Now, yes, Dell's machine that happens to have the same spec as X+Y may cost $1,400, but the consumer doesn't actually want Y. It might be something they like, but they went in wanting X.
So anyway, that explains that bit. That, incidentally, underlines even more that Apple needs to keep a few models at the low-end, as long as it can maintain the margins for them. The fact Mac OS X is no longer tied to Macs and many people gave up caring about piracy a long time ago is a good, additional, reason.
OS X For All PCs Is "On The Net"? What The Hell Do You Mean?
This is certainly not common knowledge.
What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean OS X is on the net? Are you saying people are STEALING illegal copies of OS X that run on all PCs? I have never heard of this. Would you please write a post about exactly what you mean?peharri said:
This is certainly not common knowledge.
Excellent analysis of why Apple should offer a $799 Core Solo Combo MacBook.peharri said:
Multimedia said:What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean OS X is on the net? Are you saying people are STEALING illegal copies of OS X that run on all PCs? I have never heard of this. Would you please write a post about exactly what you mean?
Where have you been? Ever since the developers Intel boxes came out, everyone's been talking about this. It is common knowledge you can install Mac OS X on a PC.
(It's not stealing, but it is copyright infringment - I'll accept "piracy" too as the dictionary agrees with that one. Once Apple starts selling boxed copies of OS X for Intel, which they will when Leopard's released (else how are existing Tiger users going to upgrade?) it'll, at worst, be "Breaking an EULA", a contractual thing.)
Mac OS X 86 Looks Very Complicated
So your idea that it will be popular seems to me to be completely within the context of your NERD WORLD which is not the REAL WORLD.
I don't see how this is going to ever get significatly popular. The installation process involves Rocket Science and there is no way I nor the vast majority of the world's population are ever going to be able to install it on non-Mac PCs. This is strictly for a small club of hackers.peharri said:
So your idea that it will be popular seems to me to be completely within the context of your NERD WORLD which is not the REAL WORLD.
Multimedia said:I don't see how this is going to ever get significatly popular. The installation process involves Rocket Science and there is no way I nor the vast majority of the world's population are ever going to be able to install it on non-Mac PCs. This is strictly for a small club of hackers.
So your idea that it will be popular seems to me to be completely within the context of your NERD WORLD which is not the REAL WORLD.
It doesn't matter if it's difficult. They'll do what everyone does in the computing world, ask us to do it.
Everyone asks the geek. That's how it works.
i guess it's time for another episode of Wishful Thinking Theater.
So my ibook g4 that went in for repair has been escalated to "enginnering". clever new way to say "we're just going to send you a macbook on tuesday and pretend we can't figure out your ibook's problem"?
So my ibook g4 that went in for repair has been escalated to "enginnering". clever new way to say "we're just going to send you a macbook on tuesday and pretend we can't figure out your ibook's problem"?