My "PC-User" friends

[Tallest Skil]

No....I can build a PC that's more powerful than a Mac for a fraction of the cost...

Try it now with the same/better hardware as a fully spec'd Mac Pro for less. Run it through the standardized tests for system performance (NOT Windows' idea of a test... that 5.9 crap...) and come back to us.

 

[clevin]

Try it now with the same/better hardware as a fully spec'd Mac Pro for less. Run it through the standardized tests for system performance (NOT Windows' idea of a test... that 5.9 crap...) and come back to us.

last time I checked, a Mac!= a Mac pro, which is $2800 for the cheapest.

 

[queshy]

Seeing Apple's sales number in the last two years compared to the general choas of PC makers, I would say that Apple doesn't have much to learn from them.

Apple has always had a "Good, Better, Best" model with computer sales. In order to give all three lines adequate CPU, memory, HD, etc, they have to differentiate the lines in other ways such as color (black MacBook tax of $150), size (24" iMac), and optical drive. If you need an optical drive, you have to pay more. Apple isn't saving any money selling you a combo drive. They are making more money by having you buy a higher margin machine. Kudos to Apple.

Regardless, how often does the average person burn a DVD on their MacBook. Probably not as often as you would think. The average MacRumors reader/member is not your average computer user.



Design wise, Apple is years ahead of PC makers. Look at the original iMac and the PC Makers that followed in its wake. Even after Apple moved on, other companies were still pushing forward with bubblegum computers. No one has even come close to replicating the style and functionality of G4 iMac let alone the G5/Intel iMac.

Hardware wise, Apple is generally a few months behind the bleeding edge. Sometimes they catch a wave and introduce a new CPU before anyone else but then they continue to use it in their flagship machines much longer than other makers. They use what most computer savvy people call out-dated GPU's like the FX 5200, the ATi 9200 and more recently the X1600. But, in Apple's defense, if you were to ask the average consumer if they cared, 90% wouldn't even know what you were talking about.

Good post. THe only thing I disagree with is the superdrive...walk into Best Buy and the macbook is the ONLY laptop with a combo drive (for the most part, anyway) yet it is one of the more "expensive" laptops on the floor.

 

[dukeblue91]

last time I checked, a Mac!= a Mac pro, which is $2800 for the cheapest.

Not true the Quad core is only $2299.00

 

[Eraserhead]

Find a <2Lbs computers from apple

The iPod Touch .

 

[clevin]

The iPod Touch .

can I skype video chat on that computer? I can buy my own webcam! lol

 

[Hankster]

Good post. THe only thing I disagree with is the superdrive...walk into Best Buy and the macbook is the ONLY laptop with a combo drive (for the most part, anyway) yet it is one of the more "expensive" laptops on the floor.

I don't know why MacBooks come with combo drives at all. We should have already moved past those drives, they should all be SuperDrives by now

EDIT: Also, get the laptops online. They are cheaper and there's no tax

 

[CalBoy]

EDIT: Also, get the laptops online. They are cheaper and there's no tax

Technically there probably is a tax. Most states have enacted a "use tax" in lieu of sales taxes because of online stores. It's really on the honor system, but still, the tax is there.

As for the discussion this thread is based on, I think that Apple has usually been ahead in many ways compared to the PC market. The iMac shed floppy drives years before the PC market had the guts to do it for example. There are lots of ways in which Apple looks to simplify, streamline, and all around improve the computing experience.

The minor annoyance of having to shell out $200 for a DVD writer is just one of those things that is done for the sake of selling more middle macbooks. I can't say I agree with it, but other than that model (and the mini) I think Apple's products are usually pretty well designed and fairly well ahead of their time.

 

[Sawtooth811]

I Lost it? When was quadro fx 5600 released? when was it available and used by PCs? and when was it available for macs?

CPU, way off? what is the latest Intel CPU? what is the latest intel CPU in a pc? what is the latest intel CPU in a mac?

give some credit to truth. show some respect to truth.

You show some respect to truth! ATi Rules for one. Mac Pro had Intel Xeons since 2006. That's nearly the best processor out there so far. And besides, graphics cards don't really matter that much, because of the Mac's performance.

Also, PC (NOT MAC PC's) sucks, no matter how much you upgrade/build the piece of crap. And Linux sucks. I'm not coming back to hear anymore mess, so no matter how much you cry, or argue, I conclude with a statement that is true:

Mac's ARE AHEAD.

CHEERS!!!

APPLE RULES!!!

 

[kabunaru]

You give respect to truth! Mac Pro had Intel Xeons since 2006. That's nearly the best processor out there so far. And besides, graphics cards don't really matter that much, because of the Mac's performance.

Also, PC sucks, no matter how much you upgrade/build the piece of crap. And Linux sucks. I'm not coming back to hear anymore mess, so no matter how much you cry, or argue, I conclude with a statement that is true:

Mac's ARE AHEAD.

CHEERS!!!

APPLE RULES!!!

I agree, windows does suck but Linux is ok.
And the new Mac Pros are the best computers there are.

 

[Sawtooth811]

kabunaru, I agree. Linux is ok. I was just making a point, sorry, but

CHEERS!!!

 

[clevin]

You show some respect to truth! ATi Rules for one. Mac Pro had Intel Xeons since 2006. That's nearly the best processor out there so far. And besides, graphics cards don't really matter that much, because of the Mac's performance.

lol, I can see you are making up illogical reasoning and bold statements along the way without caring about the reality.

ATi rules for one?
Mac Pro had Xeon since 2006? Then when was first Xenon PC?
Graphic cards don't matter, because of Mac's performance?

Jesus, I will leave it there, and you can check back in 10 years see for yourself.

 

[ZiggyPastorius]

lol, there are always pros and cons with apple's products, you wanna compare 13.3"? fine, give it to apple

how about 14", 15", 17" 21" 12" 7" 10"?

when you focus on one product apple makes, remember there are 10 out there apple have no corresponding offers. and I dare you to say those "10" have no market.

Find a <2Lbs computers from apple
Find a sub $500 laptop from apple
Find a red/green/blue laptop from apple

..

Im glad you know apple's strength, now face the reality that apple has more weakness.

same as above, what you were referring to, is probably that 60% shrinking CPU in MBA, and thats like.... 1 out of 10 cases? if you can look at that 1 case, how about give some credit to other 9 cases when apple lag behind? not to mention PC makers don't need to beg Intel for special design.

I half agree with the points you make, clevin, but half disagree as well. While I don't think focusing on one strength of Apple and pretend that's all is fair, I also don't think any of those things you mentioned are really weaknesses either. Why does Apple have to have every type of laptop in existence? They don't have to have laptops going up in 1" increments of size; maybe for a company like Dell, that makes sense, but not for Apple.

As for the colour, again, who cares? If I really want a coloured Apple laptop, I'll spend $20 for a coloured case. Whoopdeedoo.

And a laptop for less than $500 from Apple? Last time I checked, Apple wasn't in the piece-of-**** market of computers. Maybe for the some consumers, buying a piece of **** computer for $500 once a year is a good idea, but not for someone who wants to keep their computer a while, and get some real work done. And don't pretend I'm speaking out of my ass; I own way more PCs than I do Macs. 5 compared to 1. Of course, personal anecdotes don't mean much, but I haven't had the same kind of luck from other companies that I've had from Apple.

I don't believe Apple is as far behind on processors as you like to claim; you ask when certain processors that are available for macs went available on PCs. In most cases, you'd find they came out earlier on PCs, yes, but are they standard? Where are you finding these amazing $400 computers with the same specs as a Mac Pro that work oh so much better? Because I'd really like to know so I can get in on this action. I won't try to pretend Apple is on the cutting edge of CPUs, and I definitely won't try to argue that they're ahead on GPUs, or even close, but if gaming is what you're worried about, why are you buying a Mac anyways?

Between the Operating system and how well all the parts of Apple's computers integrate together, I would be willing to place Apple in the "better" category. Maybe not in specific places, but certainly overall.

And anything about Linux is jive; it's nice, but unless you're computer-savvy, it's completely useless. Don't try to pretend it's a mainstream, acceptable platform for the average user.