Do they forget about OSX! Apple computers are about OSX, so how can you even compare the two? Sure they have similar hardware but the software is what really matters.
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What is up with all the PC people whining about how expensive Macbook Pro's are??
- Thread starter DoNoHarm
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It's assume most PC folks are Windows users. Right or wrong, but most are...Linux is the minority. However, if I HAD to go back to a PC, I'd choose Linux. But I don't see that happening....EVER!..LOL...
Because of the Walmart comparison.
The main reason I got the MBP was to be able to develop apps for the iPhone.
I love my Macs, and know that what I spend is money well spent. Unbelievable design, great features, very simple machines to use. I've recommended dozens of Mac purchases to people I know.
One gripe about the Pro series lineup of Apple's notebooks. They shouldn't be doing things like selling you a $2K+ computer and not have things like a 7200RPM drive as standard. It's the little things that bug me that they nab you with as you check out. Or $300+ for a small processor bump. Of course they are geniuses for doing this as it nets good money, but I'm going to say it anyways!!!
Fingers crossed for Arrandale though!
One gripe about the Pro series lineup of Apple's notebooks. They shouldn't be doing things like selling you a $2K+ computer and not have things like a 7200RPM drive as standard. It's the little things that bug me that they nab you with as you check out. Or $300+ for a small processor bump. Of course they are geniuses for doing this as it nets good money, but I'm going to say it anyways!!!
Fingers crossed for Arrandale though!
Some PC laptops DO have multitouch and backlit keyboard. I am in the market for a laptop myself and there is no question that MBP's cost a lot more. The specs like RAM and HD offerings are pretty pathetic (2GB RAM and 160GB HD seriously?). I am waiting to see what Apple has to offer in next refresh for MBP's.
When I was in the market to upgrade my Sony Vaio back in 2007 a MacBook Pro with slightly better specs then the comparable Sony Vaio was actually cheaper than the Sony!
When you compare the specs of a PC to a Mac this cannot be done on paper alone you need to look at the quality of the specs you are comparing... Although Dell uses good screens and generally good components in their systems, the actual build quality is chalk and cheese how can you compare a Unibody Aluminum Construction to a few pieces of plastic screwed together and say they should cost the same price... Its like comparing a fully specced Hyundai to a similarly specced BMW same specs very different products.
When you compare the specs of a PC to a Mac this cannot be done on paper alone you need to look at the quality of the specs you are comparing... Although Dell uses good screens and generally good components in their systems, the actual build quality is chalk and cheese how can you compare a Unibody Aluminum Construction to a few pieces of plastic screwed together and say they should cost the same price... Its like comparing a fully specced Hyundai to a similarly specced BMW same specs very different products.
I used to be expensive and I have posted myself some treads about it. However things changed. First of all price went down for iMacs. Now you can buy 2 iMacs for the price I paid for 2006 iMac. Specifications got better and quality improved (my personal perception). Mac laptops remain with almost the same price tag however. But these days you get more and more with each generation. Quality improved too. I believe unibody is so much better design than the previous designs. Looking to M$ laptops you get totally different impression- cheapened quality, flashy, but not useful design and price tag of at least $900 - 1000 for something acceptable. At this price point I will take unibody white macbook anytime because M$ Windows 7 is a step backwards.
Has Apple patented the aluminum unibody construction? I can't for the life of me understand why HP/Dell haven't copied that yet.
HP have copied it -- check out the HP Envy (13'' and 15''). I could be a little off-the-mark, having never seen one 'in person', but from what images and reviews I've seen of it online, in sheer aesthetics it's almost an exact copy of the MBP.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Envy
Nothing about being made out of a solid block of metal. Maybe Apple has some unique genius of how to do it?
As I said earlier what would be the point? I bought a refurb to save a bit but I wanted a Mac so I paid for a Mac. When I want a more powerful laptop for games I buy an ASUS or Sony or whatever PC but I'll own 2 or three PCs during the time I have that MBP.
Cheers,
I'm about to buy a matte MBP15 for easy integration into my Linux work environment (I hope). The MBPs of similar configuration are a bit more expensive (20-30%) than the good Dell/Thinkpads.
The higher quality Thinkpads have traditionally used Mg alloys/carbon fiber, which are actually better engineering solutions than Al for the case.
I don't think I would buy a MBP at normal price. While I love my MBP to death, I bought it as a referb from Apple and saved around $1000.
AFAIC, current Mac's are worth every penny. OS X is a huge upside that needs to be factored in. Also, the strong retail presence (Apple stores) along with the support they provide all add value.
macs are great, but are way too expensive for the specs you actually get at the end of the day, I love my mac, but think that Apple could really improve everyones computer experience if their prices were just more competitive, so more people could justify spending the money on one. But i guess if i was a shareholder i wouldn't be complaining about how much cash there making!
The common mistake when comparing cost of Mac and Windows laptops is to look at all Windows systems manufacturers together. Some of them will buy components in massive quantities, throw them together in a cheap case, add an ok screen and a 15 minute battery and call it good.
Others provide a lot of added value by carefully designing the product. If you look at the Windows laptops with a lot of unique added value features or nice design, for example higher end Vaios, HP Elitebooks, ThinkPads, basically anything where the purchasing decision can be based on the laptop itself rather than the bits inside it, the price will likely not be much lower than Macs like-for-like. I am about to move to Mac from Windows and have researched this a bit - quality products cost more than the generic plastic irrespective of what software is installed. If anything, matching some MBP features in terms of usability will cost more.
To prove the point - engineering something like a MB Air will cost a lot more than just the components, which is why PC rivals (Dell Adamo, Thinkpad X301) are not cheaper at all. I remember the prices of some top configs of X300 being absurdly high when it first came out.
Others provide a lot of added value by carefully designing the product. If you look at the Windows laptops with a lot of unique added value features or nice design, for example higher end Vaios, HP Elitebooks, ThinkPads, basically anything where the purchasing decision can be based on the laptop itself rather than the bits inside it, the price will likely not be much lower than Macs like-for-like. I am about to move to Mac from Windows and have researched this a bit - quality products cost more than the generic plastic irrespective of what software is installed. If anything, matching some MBP features in terms of usability will cost more.
To prove the point - engineering something like a MB Air will cost a lot more than just the components, which is why PC rivals (Dell Adamo, Thinkpad X301) are not cheaper at all. I remember the prices of some top configs of X300 being absurdly high when it first came out.
I agree Ive pretty much gone along always thinking that buying the most expensive one is best, for that reason that it is expensive, however when I actually looked at what you get it didn't seem worth all the extra cash. However I used my brothers HP Vista (higher spec) the other day and relised that the specs arnt really that important to me, its that it turns on in a flash, does everything really quickly and just works all the time 
if you go to hp or dell and actually match the mbp specs, the mac will generally come out the same cost or cheaper.
don't forget the discrete gpu, backlit keyboard, integrated webcam, and the upgraded battery (that still won't give you as much battery time as the mac), etc.
the same thing with the mac pro. spec out a comparable professional workstation (with xeons, not i5/i7 desktop procs) from hp or dell and the mac will generally come out cheaper.
yeah, you can spec out a machine "almost" the same, but it's not exactly comparing apples, is it?
don't forget the discrete gpu, backlit keyboard, integrated webcam, and the upgraded battery (that still won't give you as much battery time as the mac), etc.
the same thing with the mac pro. spec out a comparable professional workstation (with xeons, not i5/i7 desktop procs) from hp or dell and the mac will generally come out cheaper.
yeah, you can spec out a machine "almost" the same, but it's not exactly comparing apples, is it?
I love the reliability. Before I get flamed, yes I know there are always issues but nowhere near the level I see and hear from my friends with the craptastic HPs and Dells that they complain about constantly.
My 12" Powerbook is still going strong and is still amazing looking given it's age. Show me a 4-5 year old pc laptop that looks anywhere near as cool and still chugs along without issue.
Not to mention that most are built with crappy plastic and are ugly as sin. I'm a visual artist and I really do appreciate the aesthetics and I'm willing to pay for them.
Oh year, and for the "x"teenth million time OSX!
My 12" Powerbook is still going strong and is still amazing looking given it's age. Show me a 4-5 year old pc laptop that looks anywhere near as cool and still chugs along without issue.
Not to mention that most are built with crappy plastic and are ugly as sin. I'm a visual artist and I really do appreciate the aesthetics and I'm willing to pay for them.
Oh year, and for the "x"teenth million time OSX!
I like Apple Hardware
This is heresy, but although I like OSX, the reason I buy Apple is the hardware, not the OS.
Go to Fry's and look at rows and rows of PC laptops. They look plasticky and junky, IMO. This is because the PC retail world has devolved into one non-stop price war. It's all about who can produce a computer for 50 cents less.
This has got to be driving Microsoft nuts. They make a fine OS--Win 7. Yet they see their masterpiece shoehorned into plastic looking machines with sharp edges. Every so often MS comes out with a concept PC that looks pretty cool. They're trying to get their licensees to churn out something a little nicer. There are exceptions, of course. Alienware make a top notch product...but they are priced right up there with Apple.
Just my two cents.
This is heresy, but although I like OSX, the reason I buy Apple is the hardware, not the OS.
Go to Fry's and look at rows and rows of PC laptops. They look plasticky and junky, IMO. This is because the PC retail world has devolved into one non-stop price war. It's all about who can produce a computer for 50 cents less.
This has got to be driving Microsoft nuts. They make a fine OS--Win 7. Yet they see their masterpiece shoehorned into plastic looking machines with sharp edges. Every so often MS comes out with a concept PC that looks pretty cool. They're trying to get their licensees to churn out something a little nicer. There are exceptions, of course. Alienware make a top notch product...but they are priced right up there with Apple.
Just my two cents.
True!
However, I say use what your comfortable with? I don't try to rationalize my purchases anymore, I feel like I will get more performance from my UNI, so that's what I bought, my wife on the other hand is quite content with an acer netbook? (I will never understand her)
Yup. I've seen $600 dollar laptops with similar "specs" as the macbook pro. What it also has is an overall ugly/clumsy appearance, short battery life, crappy panel, excessive bleed, pointless notification lights and plenty of"doohicky" buttons, just incase you really need a button dedicated to starting your favorite e-mail program and one for sending your freshly minted e-mail. I used to be a custom builder before I finally install OSX86 on one of my machines and fell in love. Then I realized how much (most) mac bashers are spec whores pimping dyno queens to make trotting along the internet ever so quick and don't really do any real computing other than prime95 and 3dmark runs.