While the graphics cards in Macs aren't the best, they're certainly more than adequate -- and by no means does that make our computers "mediocre", as you say. Macs have many great features and always use top-of-the-line components; you'll never see a Mac with an Intel Celeron processor, because they suck. Plenty of PC manufactures will put it in there though to drive down the cost of their machines and try to attract average consumers based on the cost.
Apple does it the other way, however. They use top-of-the-line components which, when showed off to the average consumer, will make the differences between a Mac and a PC like night and day. Most average customers don't need a super powerful graphics card to do their basic work, but they do need a good processor so that everything loads quickly (i.e. Intel Core 2 Duo). And that's what the average computer user is looking for.
Any consumer who even knows how a graphics card works isn't who Apple is targeting. They're targeting the people who just want a machine that will run well, and because Apple makes the computer, the operating system, and the applications, they're all literally made for each other.
That's what makes the Mac so appealing.
Do you really truly believe that Macs, other than Mac Pro, use top-of-the-line components?
Are you lying to me or yourself?
I know that I am paying a lot of money for external design and innovation. I am paying a lot for Mac OS X. I definitely know the internal components that drive the computer are NOT where my money is being spent.
MacMini - two years old and even the rumored is outdated and not high-end.
iMac - competing against PCs that are using Quad-Core CPUs and even Core i7 CPUs? Even the rumored NEW iMacs feature NO FASTER CPUs.
MB - same CPU speed for two years. Slightly faster RAM. Much nicer GPU. Real improvement is aluminum and not the computing speed.
MBP - less than 20% CPU speed gain over 30 months. ($2499 model, was 2.33 GHz 30 months ago to 2.53 GHz current). Graphics barely faster in most performance benchmarks over two years.
BUT, do any of these compete with the speed changes on the PC side?
I know I am paying a TON of money for the design, the aluminum, the glass trackpad with multi touch and etc... but really are the components that are driving ALL Mac computers TOP-OF-THE-LINE?
Buying the Apple design and innovation is great. Using OS X is much better than the PC... but Apple is limiting us on the hardware side by wowing us with design and innovation... NOT by providing us with superior or anywhere near top-of-the-line computing components.
Be truthful to yourself, we are paying a premium because Apple is the only game in town if we want to use Mac OS X. So, Apple will continue to update and provide lower-grade components than the PC counterparts because it doesn't have to use high-end components as we buy anyways.
I can be truthful to myself. I paid a hell of a lot of money for innovation and design and got a much slower Mac than the same money would get me on the PC side.
