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Psystar Demos 'Open Computer' on Video

nplima said:
Really, I can't imagine anything like this happen. The idea about the midmarket headless iMac is not changing the essential components of OS X, it's about using a different set of hardware components that are known to work elsewhere.

Changing from 2.5" SATA hard drives to 3.5" SATA hard drives impacts price, performance but not the way the hard disk controller sees the drive and how the OS sees the hard disk controller (remember what IDE stands for?)

Changing RAM from FB-DIMMs of the Mac Pro, or SO-DIMMS from a laptop to DDR2 SDRAM impacts price and performance, but not the workings of the thing.

Choosing to a graphics card that is already supported by OS X and putting it in a cheaper tower instead of just being able to do it on the Mac Pro wouldn't change anything about the way the OS and hardware work.

As for different motherboards, the OSX86 hardware compatibility list only shows something we should already know: If we pick high end motherboards from big name brands, we get a better result. Apple picks high end components from big hardware manufacturers and puts them together the same way that Dell, Lenovo, HP would - no magic there.
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I'm not talking about Apple making a mid-market headless iMac, I'm talking about fly-by-night companies making such a product, and Apple responding by bumping up the price of OS upgrades and introducing anti-piracy measures to compensate. Then we'll be wishing for the days when only Apple hardware ran OS X.
 
englishman said:
I apologise - I thought everybody knows this - just compare Dell and Apple - you'll see. You're right though - depending on what model you choose it might not be 100% difference - maybe 50% extra. I exaggerated.

MBP - $2000
Dell XPS 1530 - $1,500

That's apart from the flexibility you'll get with (say) Dell - Apple always over-specify the CPU. If you are happier with a lower end CPU etc you can get it for half - with a 8600MGT
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I did compare Apple to Dell. You are right, depending on the model, price difference may differ. Regardless, A majority of Apple models (both desktop and laptops) come no where near 50% jacked-up price you quoted the second time. In fact in several instances, the Dell model was more expensive. You need to compare spec to spec both hardware and software. OS, screen-resolution, battery size, networking (Apple has gigabit and 802.11n, Dell only has this as an upgrade option) FSB, cache, etc. Most people are surprised when they see the price after configuring each brand's model spec for spec.
 
zap2 said:
Its never 100%, at least when your looking at the same specs
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But, with Apple you can't get the same specs in certain markets. Compared to other workstations, the Mac Pro is an absolute steal. However, since they don't have a mid-to-high end desktop, many users have to move up to the MacPro to get expandability and credible graphics. When used as a desktop instead of a workstation, you're paying a hefty premium even over the more high end makers such as Velocity Micro.
 
englishman said:
MBP - $2000
Dell XPS 1530 - $1,500

That's apart from the flexibility you'll get with (say) Dell - Apple always over-specify the CPU. If you are happier with a lower end CPU etc you can get it for half - with a 8600MGT
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These are not equivalent computers if you upgrade the dell to meet the specs of the smallest macbook pro to include, hi res glossy led screen, blue tooth, 200gb HD and a 2.4 ghz processor you end up with a price od $2019 for the dell.
 
corinhorn said:
I did compare Apple to Dell. You are right, depending on the model, price difference may differ. Regardless, A majority of Apple models (both desktop and laptops) come no where near 50% jacked-up price you quoted the second time. In fact in several instances, the Dell model was more expensive. You need to compare spec to spec both hardware and software. OS, screen-resolution, battery size, networking (Apple has gigabit and 802.11n, Dell only has this as an upgrade option) FSB, cache, etc. Most people are surprised when they see the price after configuring each brand's model spec for spec.
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You're right at the moment - there is more of a difference when considering desktops - although I would agree the all-in-one iMac is a specialist product.

I tend to buy used machines always - and as a rule of thumb on Ebay there usually is a 100% difference in price.

I was surprised though how much Dell did charge for the higher end laptops - I stand corrected. I believed my own hype!
 
subsonix said:
These are not equivalent computers if you upgrade the dell to meet the specs of the smallest macbook pro to include, hi res glossy led screen, blue tooth, 200gb HD and a 2.4 ghz processor you end up with a price od $2019 for the dell.
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Yes, apologies, touche Subsonix. I was surprised too with my own error.
 
subsonix said:
These are not equivalent computers if you upgrade the dell to meet the specs of the smallest macbook pro to include, hi res glossy led screen, blue tooth, 200gb HD and a 2.4 ghz processor you end up with a price od $2019 for the dell.
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Thank you. Its nice to know I'm not the only one who knows this.
 
BenRoethig said:
But, with Apple you can't get the same specs in certain markets. Compared to other workstations, the Mac Pro is an absolute steal. However, since they don't have a mid-to-high end desktop, many users have to move up to the MacPro to get expandability and credible graphics. When used as a desktop instead of a workstation, you're paying a hefty premium even over the more high end makers such as Velocity Micro.
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You mean something between a core 2 duo 2.8 ghz and a singel xeon quad 2.8 ghz?

There isn´t such a big price difference here. And if you would speculate here I assume the next generation imac will have quad core c2d.
 
subsonix said:
These are not equivalent computers if you upgrade the dell to meet the specs of the smallest macbook pro to include, hi res glossy led screen, blue tooth, 200gb HD and a 2.4 ghz processor you end up with a price od $2019 for the dell.
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Not quite. That 200GB is 7200RPM, the one in the MBP is a slightly out of date 5400RPM. There's a $300 difference.
 
englishman said:
You're right at the moment - there is more of a difference when considering desktops - although I would agree the all-in-one iMac is a specialist product.

I tend to buy used machines always - and as a rule of thumb on Ebay there usually is a 100% difference in price.

I was surprised though how much Dell did charge for the higher end laptops - I stand corrected. I believed my own hype!
Click to expand...

Thank you for looking at it open-minded and being humble enough to apologize. That seems to be a rarity
 
BenRoethig said:
Not quite. That 200GB is 7200RPM, the one in the MBP is a slightly out of date 5400RPM. There's a $300 difference.
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Dude I just made the comparison. A stock dell ships with a 160gb drive. I know the basemodel mbp has a 5400 rpm drive. Then you cant forget the upgrade of vista to ultimate, it ships with home edition. Mac os don´t have such lame distinctions full version is all there is..
 
subsonix said:
You mean something between a core 2 duo 2.8 ghz and a singel xeon quad 2.8 ghz?

There isn´t such a big price difference here. And if you would speculate here I assume the next generation imac will have quad core c2d.
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There isn't that big a price difference between CPUs, but the CPU isn't the only factor. The 5400 chipset and FB-DIMMs are a package deal. Together they add $500 to the price. You also don't need a 1000w power supply with core 2, so you can save $100 or more there with something in the $500-750w range.
 
BenRoethig said:
There isn't that big a price difference between CPUs, but the CPU isn't the only factor. The 5400 chipset and FB-DIMMs are a package deal. Together they add $500 to the price. You also don't need a 1000w power supply with core 2, so you can save $100 there with something in the $500-750w range.
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No you misunderstand me I mean between a 24" imac 2.8 and a mac pro single xeon.
 
subsonix said:
No you misunderstand me I mean between a 24" imac 2.8 and a mac pro single xeon.
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There you get half the cores and all the flaws of the iMac. Being an actual owner of one, I can tell while the iMac is an excellent machine for a lot people, it is in no way, shape, or form an adequate replacement for a tower desktop.
 
BenRoethig said:
There you get half the cores and all the flaws of the iMac. Being an actual owner of one, I can tell while the iMac is an excellent machine for a lot people, it is in no way, shape, or form an adequate replacement for a tower desktop.
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Youre funny. There might something about a imac that feels lowly in terms of image but common the spec of the largest imac is pretty close to the smallest mac pro. Thats why I asked if you wanted something inbetween.

Just get a mac pro-.
 
subsonix said:
Youre funny. There might something about a imac that feels lowly in terms of image but common the spec of the largest imac is pretty close to the smallest mac pro. Thats why I asked if you wanted something inbetween.
The 2.8ghz iMac still has a $100 low to medium end graphics card and that cannot be changed in any configuration. In fact, it actually got worse from the last generation to the this one for esthetic reason.
the 2.8ghz iMac still can hold only one hard drive that is not user replaceable
the 2.8ghz iMac still has a 8x slot loading notebook drive that is not only unbearably slow, but incompatible with camcorder DVDs.
Any attempt to correct these or other deficiencies results in a cable/external device nightmare on and below my desk.

Just get a mac pro-.
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I can't pull three grand out of thin air like some of you think I can. I'm also not going to be force into a professional system out of principle. I'm a desktop user, not George Lucas. I'm also not a lower end user with a lot of money to burn. Unfortunately those seem to be the only places Apple plays these days.
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BenRoethig said:
I can't pull three grand out of thin air like some of you think I can. I'm also not going to be force into a professional system out of principle. I'm a desktop user, not George Lucas.
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A single xeon mac pro costs 2199, actually cheaper than a 24" imac. I think the way apple reasons is that an imac is a desktop in 2008.
 
BenRoethig said:
Not after display, speakers, wireless, and a graphics upgrade.
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Ok I thought you had a display.

Computer speakers are a joke anyway.

Edit: I still think this is the way it´s always been with the high end macs. A quadra 950 costed over 7 grand
 
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