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Sorry. I just don't get it. I configured their box as this:
Case Color: White
Intel Processor: Core2Duo/2.2GHz E4500
Hard Drive: 250GB 7200RPM SATA
Graphics Processor: GeForce 8600GT 256MB (+ $110.00)
Firewire: 3 x IEEE 1394 (+ $50.00)
Installed OS: OS X 10.5 Leopard (+ $155.00)
Memory: 2GB DDR2

And the total was $715. And that's with a max of 2GB RAM (no option for 4). If I COULD go to 4GB, that'd be about $850 (or more, with shipping and/or taxes??). And I think I'd be getting just a box, without mouse, keyboard and monitor??

AND -- you get the bonus of a butt-ugly PC looking mini-tower. Woo-hoo! Why not spend just a little tiny bit more, and get a refurb iMac, have everything work together, have a reputable, brand-name company behind you in support, have no upgrade hassels, get it all in one box, and plug it in and run.

If you need both PC and Mac, it makes much more sense to get a Mac, and run XP2 or Vista on it. As an academic or hobbyist project, OSX on PC hardware is interesting, but as a consumer, it just strikes me as a waste of time and money.
 
I think the entire quote by Johnahan Ive was Bull crap.

"Its a shocking statement for a CEO to say publicly, as Steve has, that the goal of a company(Apple) isn't to make money, its to make great products"

Why not let Leopard run on any machine, if the person buys the disk? Dell said it would love to sell computers with 10.5 on it. For a company to charge $20 for a software update to an ipod doen't sound like its all about the product and not about the profit. Why is it ok to run windows on a mac and not 10.5 on any computer you want.

Its because Apple wants to control its development Cycle. AND its the reason Mac owners own Mac's. If it when out to the masses every little snot nosed brat is going to put every odd card and overclocked bios..... the Clean orderly Mac world that we know and love where everything works.... would end.
 
The reason Apple doesn't want OS X to run on any machine is because they want to make good products, that make them money too. They need to bring in money, if they want to stay around. Plus one of companies top goal is to make money.

They let Windows run on their computer because it makes buying a Mac easier, because would be buyer can always say "If I end up disliking OS X, I can install Windows"

Not only that, but imagine what would happen when some 12 year old tries to install OSX on his Compaq from 8 years ago and it doesn't work. That would take up hours and hours of Apple tech support that could be easily directed at TRUE Apple customers.
 
Not only that, but imagine what would happen when some 12 year old tries to install OSX on his Compaq from 8 years ago and it doesn't work. That would take up hours and hours of Apple tech support that could be easily directed at TRUE Apple customers.

••••*True, but still, the mini and macbooks used old on-board GMA and the only reason Apple won't release a better graphic card is their fear of Pro's using them for high end applications. Ironically, the thing is, the Pro's make up a very littler percentage of the user base. It's all iPhone, iMacs, and with regard to Apple Care, most are out of the country anyway and I dealt with a guy who had to talk to Apple Care as well as the company that releases Parallels, and neither could walk him through the installation process.

A few minutes with me and he was up and running, so, as far as phone support, forget it, have heard time and time again, its not that good and many times they send them (customers) to the store and as foreigners, they can hardly speak english. For tech support, its worth it though.

In my opinion, if Apple can have enough product in the channels, I think they would do themselves well if they released a MINI for $800 with a good graphic card, a Macbook with a good graphic card and throw in 4 cores on the Macbook Pro and use 16 (next year) on the 2009 Mac Pro's - who cares if the small 2.5% of pro users buy a mini or Macbook for motion.

The user base of the Macbooks would increase 10 fold if the users could install windows, directX 10, and run high end games. Every high school/college kid would have one. From a Macbook Pro POV, I see no reason (even with a iMac/Mac Pro) NO reason what so ever to buy a PC and the irony is, the last PC I built was for a Hack N Tosh and good thing as using the hack made me buy a Mac Book Pro.

I think down the road, if a good HACK (according to some benchmarks), $800 sounds a lot better than $2700 for a Mac Pro, even with a discount from Apple ($1700), for $800, you can build a great AUDIO system that can have plug in after plug in. For that matter, the MACBOOK PRO seems to NEVER run out of headroom. The 2.4 is amazing as it keeps going and going, much faster than a DUAL G5. Amazing. Best laptop EVER.

Have also had a matte and glossy and to be honest, in a dark studio, you can hardly tell the difference.

PS. Anyone know where to send MARKETING and RESEARCH ideas for new APPLE products? I have some great ideas.

Peace.
:apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple:
:apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple::apple:
 
I think the entire quote by Johnahan Ive was Bull crap.

"Its a shocking statement for a CEO to say publicly, as Steve has, that the goal of a company(Apple) isn't to make money, its to make great products"

Why not let Leopard run on any machine, if the person buys the disk? Dell said it would love to sell computers with 10.5 on it. For a company to charge $20 for a software update to an ipod doen't sound like its all about the product and not about the profit. Why is it ok to run windows on a mac and not 10.5 on any computer you want.

Don't you get it? You are not ALLOWED to ask that question to Mac Fanboys because they will always defend Apple's draconian methods no matter what. So what if you want a decent graphics card but don't NEED a MacPro or it's $2400+ graphics card price tag. Too darn bad! Apple knows best! If you don't agree, you should go buy a PC. LOL. Really, I think a lot of Mac fanatics LIKE being a small "elitist" clique just like certain Linux fans (only without the actual computer knowledge most Linux fans have and most Mac fanboys do not have). Really, it's a shame that Apple has such a superior operating system to Windows yet it can't admit that its hardware currently is just generic PC stuff with a pretty case around it. Worse yet, it's mostly LAPTOP hardware with a pretty case around it pretending to be desktop hardware (iMac and MacMini).

Personally, I care more about what's on the INSIDE of a computer than its external appearance. That does include the OS, BTW so telling me to buy another PC doesn't really fit the bill. I've got one already. I've also got a PPC Mac (I'm typing on it now), two AppleTV units and an iPod Touch. I bought a new PC last November, though because Apple didn't offer anything that had decent 3D performance for gaming. I've had to make due with upgrading the PPC machine to a faster processor for running the Mac software I need instead. In other words, Apple lost a sale there because they do not offer reasonably graphics performance until the Pro level (and in November, they didn't even have THAT; the 8600GT wasn't available until the following year and until a few days ago as an upgrade for the older Mac Pro).
 
I like all the comparisons on price and feature sets, but the people touting Open Computer (if there really is such a thing, I think it's a phishing scam) aren't taking into account a few major things. First, you will probably be stuck with 10.5.2 for a long while. Second, you will never have official Apple support if anything goes haywire. Third, Psystar only lists a 1 year parts warranty... which means even if you got a machine from them(unlikely, back to the phishing theory), you would have to self diagnose exactly what part broke and mail it to them in order to receive a new part. So if anything broke, you'd be up the creek without a paddle until that process was complete... and with 10-12 day build times for a single Open Computer... I doubt their warranty department is on top of their game.

Or you pay more for a supported Mac, with a real warranty, the option of AppleCare, and the ability to upgrade your OS! Believe me, when my iMac's power supply failed at 2 1/2 years old I was more than happy to have an Apple certified technician come to my house and replace it with my AppleCare warranty.

However if you really trust a questionable company with your credit card, who has yet to turn out a real product to anyone, who also can't even process secure transactions on their website, go ahead. Oh and while your at it, check your mail, you could get $1,000,000 from Nigeria!!!
 
The user base of the Macbooks would increase 10 fold if the users could install windows, directX 10, and run high end games.

I find it a curious assumption that people feel that there's "enough demand" out there for a headless Mac with decent graphics. Whilst I think this in an excellent idea myself*, "a bunch of people on the interent" do not represent the bulk of the market. Sorry.

Every high school/college kid would have one. From a Macbook Pro POV, I see no reason (even with a iMac/Mac Pro) NO reason what so ever to buy a PC and the irony is, the last PC I built was for a Hack N Tosh and good thing as using the hack made me buy a Mac Book Pro.

I'm afraid that's pure fantasy.


Really, I think a lot of Mac fanatics LIKE being a small "elitist" clique just like certain Linux fans (only without the actual computer knowledge most Linux fans have and most Mac fanboys do not have).

I'm confused. So, Mac Fanatics do have computer knowledge? Double negatives confuse me so.

Personally, I care more about what's on the INSIDE of a computer than its external appearance.

This is a fair point that's been made over and over again. Maybe Apple should licence their OS to be run on Hax0rtoshes. Maybe. Whatever the case Apple are, as has been pointed out before, under no obligation to do so. You (and I'm not addressing the OP here) can't always get a croissant, as they say.

* Though xMac is horrible name, almost on par with "Open Computer" - why would I want my computer opened? It would just get dusty on the insides, and I certainly would never purchase a Mac that I'd already broken up with. Sometimes you just have to let them go, hun.
 
I think the entire quote by Johnahan Ive was Bull crap.

"Its a shocking statement for a CEO to say publicly, as Steve has, that the goal of a company(Apple) isn't to make money, its to make great products"

Why not let Leopard run on any machine, if the person buys the disk? Dell said it would love to sell computers with 10.5 on it. For a company to charge $20 for a software update to an ipod doen't sound like its all about the product and not about the profit. Why is it ok to run windows on a mac and not 10.5 on any computer you want.

Let's not be naive. It is every company's goal to make money. They have to. They have an obligation to their shareholders to do so.
 
Don't you get it? You are not ALLOWED to ask that question to Mac Fanboys because they will always defend Apple's draconian methods no matter what. So what if you want a decent graphics card but don't NEED a MacPro or it's $2400+ graphics card price tag. Too darn bad! Apple knows best! If you don't agree, you should go buy a PC. LOL. Really, I think a lot of Mac fanatics LIKE being a small "elitist" clique just like certain Linux fans (only without the actual computer knowledge most Linux fans have and most Mac fanboys do not have). Really, it's a shame that Apple has such a superior operating system to Windows yet it can't admit that its hardware currently is just generic PC stuff with a pretty case around it. Worse yet, it's mostly LAPTOP hardware with a pretty case around it pretending to be desktop hardware (iMac and MacMini).

Unfortunately that's the way it works now. The Mac platform has been hijacked by the cult of Jobs. For most low to medium end consumers, there's nothing wrong with the iMac save Apple starting the models a bit too high end for the intended audience. In fact there is no computer I would recommend stronger for my parents. However, it has a very low growth ceiling.
 
...Or you pay more for a supported Mac, with a real warranty, the option of AppleCare, and the ability to upgrade your OS! Believe me, when my iMac's power supply failed at 2 1/2 years old I was more than happy to have an Apple certified technician come to my house and replace it with my AppleCare warranty...

Guess what? It's not a major ordeal to replace a power supply on a beige box pc like it is on a imac or a mini. That's one of the strengths of the platform and its design (asthetics not included); it's easy to access, replace and or upgrade components.

Like you, I'm to the point of my life where I don't want to fool with opening a case unless I'm upgrading ram. But I'm not going to ignore the fact that apple's designs, while visually pleasing, make self maintainance difficult to the point of almost being impossible.
 
Guess what? It's not a major ordeal to replace a power supply on a beige box pc like it is on a imac or a mini. That's one of the strengths of the platform and its design (asthetics not included); it's easy to access, replace and or upgrade components.
Awhile back, a friend of mine had a power supply die on him (his own fault for choosing a cheaper one), so we went to Micro Center, picked out a nice solid Thermaltake unit, stuck it in, and bam, problem solved. ATX standardization in the PC world is what made this possible. Far beyond your average user, but on the very basic end of tasks for anyone that's technologically literate.

With the iMac or Mac Mini, this would of course be out of the question. The mentality of some people is either (1) that we are wrong for wanting to do this, or (2) that Apple just doesn't support self-maintenance and we should all damn well learn to live with it. This policy hurts more users than it serves. There is enormous precedent for being able to do this kind of work - it's well within reason to ask of any computer manufacturer. Even Dell, notorious for inconveniencing users with proprietary components, recently moved over to standard ATX. There's no reason, none at all, that Apple can't have an ATX form factor computer that's just as user-serviceable as any PC; quality hardware is quality hardware, and something doesn't become magically 100% reliable just because it's proprietary. And the external appearance which is so important to some Mac fans doesn't have to suffer at all (as I've said before, if you fear that it would, you underestimate Apple's design talent).

Locking down things so that they're only serviceable by Apple benefits only one party: Apple. "But there's less worry for the user!" Is there some reason that Apple can't make something out of quality ATX parts and still implore its users to take the machine to an official technician rather than fooling around with it themselves? Aren't Mac users more likely to do that anyway?
 
Awhile back, a friend of mine had a power supply die on him (his own fault for choosing a cheaper one), so we went to Micro Center, picked out a nice solid Thermaltake unit, stuck it in, and bam, problem solved. ATX standardization in the PC world is what made this possible. Far beyond your average user, but on the very basic end of tasks for anyone that's technologically literate.

With the iMac or Mac Mini, this would of course be out of the question.

Maybe you're talking about something else, but my mini's power supply is integrated into the power cord. A pretty easy fix if it fails.
 
Bah, unless your my ex-wife demanding more child support, me not afraid. LOL :eek:

I speak of a power greater than anyone or any collection of mortals. The Great Google Itself, the true-born Son of the Great and Wonderful Collective. For it is written: From all that was, which was nothing; null, has come all that is, and all that shall ever be. Amen.
 
I speak of a power greater than anyone or any collection of mortals. The Great Google Itself, the true-born son of the Great and Wonderful Collective. For it is written: From all that was, which was nothing; null, has come all that is, and all that shall ever be. Amen.

You don't have to preach google to me paster. I embrace the google.
 
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