Nickle and Dimed

[ilovefanboyz]

What a grotesque discussion this is.


Fact. Apple likes to rip off their customers otherwise they would have included a display port that 90% of the world uses. Anyone here trying to deny this fact is embarrassing themselves.

Therefore the "average" user shouldnt be expected to know this.

Imagine if Apple made you buy a USB adapter to use USB devices?? Its the same kind of deal. Apple doesnt advertise on the box that their computer has a non-standard display port on it. So give everyone a break!

 

[kastenbrust]

What a grotesque discussion this is.


Fact. Apple likes to rip off their customers otherwise they would have included a display port that 90% of the world uses. Anyone here trying to deny this fact is embarrassing themselves.

Therefore the "average" user shouldnt be expected to know this.

Imagine if Apple made you buy a USB adapter to use USB devices?? Its the same kind of deal. Apple doesnt advertise on the box that their computer has a non-standard display port on it. So give everyone a break!

Steve told us that the DisplayPort would be world standard in a few years, and since he's my God i believe him, so calm down, its all taken care of.

 

[Demosthenes X]

And to continue to the car analogy some have used, if a manufacturer of an incredible car with great performance and features decided to then use a non-standard tyre specification and then charge $500 for a spare, wouldn't you think this was outrageous?

Tires for performance cars routinely cost $500+, so I'm not sure where you're going with this. Cars that use hard-to-find, irregular tires are a bit of an annoyance because tires are harder to find, but I wouldn't whine about it and claim I'm not buying that car.

As for the new adapter, yes, it's unfortunate. It'd be nice if Apple could continue using the same adapter and make everyone's life easy. But if they did that, technology would never move forward. If they made it their mission to support all the previous technology they once used, the MacBook would look like this:

The simple fact is, technology goes forward, and some things because obsolete, and you need to upgrade. You can complain about the price, but remember, these adapters are a tiny fraction of the price of the computer you're buying.

Demosthenes X: What a ridiclous comparison. No one is saying that something should be free simply because its wanted. It's a specious argument that either reflects your lack of knowledge about the issue involved or your valuation of rhetoric at the expense of precision.

What a great point! I guess when you're argument falls apart you resort to ad hominem attacks...

Your argument since the beginning has been that Apple should, for some indiscernible reason, include an adapter simply because you want one but don't want to pay for it.

Yes, it's a ridiculous comparison. And I said just that when I made it. But the point remains: there is no reason for Apple to include an adapter in the box simply because a few people want one. The argument that "they used to do it" is just silly. Things change. I think that Acura should sell me a brand new NSX... but guess what, things have changed, and they don't do that anymore.

It makes far more logical sense to charge the few people that want an adapter than to manufacture thousands extra that will never be used. It's better business sense, and it's better for the environment.

 

[dejo]

Fact. Apple likes to rip off their customers otherwise they would have included a display port that 90% of the world uses.

Fact: 80% of statistics are made up on the spot.

 

[clyde2801]

It makes far more logical sense to charge the few people that want an adapter than to manufacture thousands extra that will never be used. It's better business sense, and it's better for the environment.

I would disagree with the second part of this analogy. IMO, Apple quit including this accessory to cut their expenses and maximize their profits. I'm guessing that Apple sells this accessory over a substantial markup over the cost of manufacturing it, since I can find third parties selling apple accessories at a discount. The green Apple had in mind in making this move was the green in your wallet.

 

[Demosthenes X]

Fact: 80% of statistics are made up on the spot.

67% of all people know that!

I would disagree with the second part of this analogy. IMO, Apple quit including this accessory to cut their expenses and maximize their profits. I'm guessing that Apple sells this accessory over a substantial markup over the cost of manufacturing it, since I can find third parties selling apple accessories at a discount. The green Apple had in mind in making this move was the green in your wallet.

And? All public companies exist to make profits. Why is anyone acting like Apple is somehow being greedy or unfair by trying to maximize profits?

Even if that is the case (and I wouldn't doubt it), it still makes more sense to me that people who want an adapter buy one, and people who don't need one don't pay for one. That's business. That it benefits the environment is a nice plus.

 

[clyde2801]

And again, my point was that in my opinion, Apple's motive for this move was to maximize profits, and nothing more. Claiming a environmental basis for the decision is disingenuous.

And, again in my opinion, business practices like charging a premium for adapters they used to include for free is likely over time to erode consumer goodwill, which in the long run is NOT good for profits, assuming a competitor gets its crap together in putting out a viable o.s.

 

[ntrigue]

I keep coming close to buying a MBP but I cant get over the fact that I would have to buy a $30 adapter because of their pointless mini-displayport crap. Plus I also wanted to use VGA as well which is another $30. That was really the only thing stopping me from buying one, knowing that I would HAVE to get one of those stupid adapters.

Its really insulting, I just cant bring myself to support such blatant greed.

That's an absolutely silly reason to avoid a $2500 purchase. You can get it on eBay for $2000+$30 adapter. You can have a friend/family member use student discount. You could probably even negotiate it at an Apple Store.

 

[dmmcintyre3]

My PowerBook included a DVI to VGA adapter and the 12 inch included a Mini DVI to DVI and Mini DVI to VGA adapter. Old MacBook Pro's included DVI to VGA adapters and remotes. It is just the new ones that don't. They used to but they don't anymore. I HATE apple's mini or micro ports. Just put the full sized one for crying out loud. I do not care that regular display ports (VGA AND DVI) include screws. I never use the screws on a LAPTOP anyway. They are on the desk meaning easy access to the ports when they fall out and I have never had one fall out screwed in or not. It is stupid that apple cannot use a STANDARD port and I don't care that Mini DisplayPort can be used by other monitor or computer makers. It is still a MINI port that I have no monitors for and there is only 1 monitor on the market that has it and it is $900 where other 24" are $250. And there is no Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter unless you buy a 3rd party one which are cheaper.

http://www.macdailynews.com/index.p...ort_to_hdmi_dvi_and_vga_adapters_coming_soon/

But there is no Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort adapter on the market that I can find.

 

[dejo]

It is stupid that apple cannot use a STANDARD port...

Define "standard". DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, VGA, S-Video?

And there is no Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter unless you buy a 3rd party one which are cheaper.

Cheaper than an adapter that Apple doesn't sell? How does that work?

 

[Phil A.]

And to continue to the car analogy some have used, if a manufacturer of an incredible car with great performance and features decided to then use a non-standard tyre specification and then charge $500 for a spare, wouldn't you think this was outrageous?

$500 isn't that excessive for a tyre on a lot of cars, and a few manufacturers are making the spare tyre an optional extra (e.g. the new Honda Civic)

 

[pavinder]

...And? All public companies exist to make profits....

That's an absolutely silly reason to avoid a $2500 purchase. You can get it on eBay

It seems some people have only read the first few posts in this thread....we are now on page 6....the discussion has moved on.

Originally Posted by pavinder
And to continue to the car analogy some have used, if a manufacturer of an incredible car with great performance and features decided to then use a non-standard tyre specification and then charge $500 for a spare, wouldn't you think this was outrageous?

Not really - I recently paid over $2,000 for 4 new tyres for my car...

Apologies. I'm not a car owner and don't know exactly how much tyres cost.. But I'm sure you understand the point I'm trying to make, that the price is exorbitant. I'd like to hear your views on the point I made which was that having to spend $100 on adapters for a $700 projector seems just ridiculous and doesn't lead to customer satisfaction.

 

[California]

I dunno. Apple used over $2000 of parts to fix my out of warranty Quad last month. And then they sent me a free new powercord because mine was no where to be found.

Apple replaced my Powerbook's logic board and case on the last day of its three year warranty because I broke the ram clips (while on the phone with them).

I love Apple. I haven't had a need for a remote on my new Macbook, and because I bought it on black Friday, my four gig upgrade was only fifty bucks.

I think Apple rocks.

 

[Arcus]

that had a 700 mhz Celeron,

No they didn't.

 

[Horst]

The simple fact is, technology goes forward, and some things because obsolete, and you need to upgrade.

Only the mini display port is not an upgrade or an advancement, right now it's just an experiment .
To further spread the technology, Apple would be well advised to make a switch as pain-free as possible.

Chances are, every Mac with mini display port will be obsolete within a couple of years.
Upgrade that !

 

[jaw04005]

Well, the price of the mini-DisplayPort to DVI is a rip-off, and the price mini-DisplayPort to dual-link DVI is just shameful, but Apple has a history of doing this.

Take the original Apple Cinema Displays. They all used ADC, but the only Mac that shipped with an ADC output was the Power Mac. If you owned a 15" or 17" PowerBook, you had to purchase a $199 DVI to ADC adapter. If you owned a 12" PowerBook, you needed the mini-DVI to DVI adapter (included) and the $199 DVI to ADC adapter.