I think that apple wants to remain a high end brand. Dell might be turning a larger profit, but they are low quality, and they don't turn as much profit per computer. For example, I will use cars to make my ideas easier to understand. Lets say a dell is a 19,000 toyota camry, and a macbook base is a bmw 530. You immediatly see the difference. If bmw sold their 5 series for 20,000, they would lose their reputation as a high end brand. They would be maybe a fancy toyota. Where's the value in that? Apple would rather be elite than turn a large profit. If you want an ugly, cheap, slow, economical car, you buy the toyota. If you want a fancy car that hugs the road and has great acceleration and is comfortable to drive you pay the german premium and buy the bmw. People who see the value in paying a premium for something they'll enjoy, they buy macs. People who want something to get the job done, painfully I might add, they buy the toyota. Thats the way it has been, and that's the way it will be. If no one else has noticed apple has been raising their prices over the past few years, I think in an attempt to separate more from windows, by offering only higher end equipment. A few years ago you could buy a mac based laptop for 999. now the cheapest is 1200. The previous gen imac base model was 999. now the cheapest is 1200.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Why you didnt see an $800 MacBook: The Dell Comparison
- Thread starter riz78612
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I think that apple wants to remain a high end brand. Dell might be turning a larger profit, but they are low quality, and they don't turn as much profit per computer. For example, I will use cars to make my ideas easier to understand. Lets say a dell is a 19,000 toyota camry, and a macbook base is a bmw 530. You immediatly see the difference. If bmw sold their 5 series for 20,000, they would lose their reputation as a high end brand. They would be maybe a fancy toyota. Where's the value in that? Apple would rather be elite than turn a large profit. If you want an ugly, cheap, slow, economical car, you buy the toyota. If you want a fancy car that hugs the road and has great acceleration and is comfortable to drive you pay the german premium and buy the bmw. People who see the value in paying a premium for something they'll enjoy, they buy macs. People who want something to get the job done, painfully I might add, they buy the toyota. Thats the way it has been, and that's the way it will be. If no one else has noticed apple has been raising their prices over the past few years, I think in an attempt to separate more from windows, by offering only higher end equipment. A few years ago you could buy a mac based laptop for 999. now the cheapest is 1200. The previous gen imac base model was 999. now the cheapest is 1200.
you do know toyota has the best build quality of cars lol
i have friends with dell laptops that have had 0 prolems from 2003 whearas mt mb from 06 has had numerous issues....
you pay for the design anf osx. thats it really
i have friends with dell laptops that have had 0 prolems from 2003 whearas mt mb from 06 has had numerous issues....
you pay for the design anf osx. thats it really
WTF, where did anyone say that $999 is cheap in this thread? They did say that the original article doesn't compare like for like but that's correct. The argument is whether or not Apple want or need to drop the cost, whether of existing models or by introducing a new unit, to compete with commodity pricing from the likes of Dell. All the evidence up to this point is that this is a totally unsupported argument, usually made by internet dwellers wanting cheaper hardware, while Apple continue to increase their market share selling at premium prices. They'd be crazy to drop prices until they see a major drop in their sales, although I'm sure there's a contingency plan in place for just such an eventuality. Until then though it's just whining for no damn reason, end of.
I think apple is doing everything perfectly..... to an extent
most people in the $800 market wont buy a mac, they don't give a dam about the computer as long as it is easy to use and does what they want it to do.
i think no one has the right to complain about apples computer prices
you get what you pay for...
most people in the $800 market wont buy a mac, they don't give a dam about the computer as long as it is easy to use and does what they want it to do.
i think no one has the right to complain about apples computer prices
you get what you pay for...
I don't understand your point. Why do you want a mac? If they don't make anything that is up to your standards...why do you want one?
I don't understand your point. Why do you want a mac? If they don't make anything that is up to your standards...why do you want one?
Oh Snap!!!!!
Apple doesn't make their products tailored to Windows users. They make them as a ecosystem. If you don't like it, don't buy it. But do not go around trashing it because Apple didn't spend billions in R&D just for you as an individual. You could easily buy a used PowerMac tower... Apple also cares for build quality, hence the unibody architecture vs. some cheap plastic on Dells. That costs extra money no? Backlit keys, glass screen, Apple is a quality product and an innovative company. Dell and all the other PC vendors copy off of Apple and make things worse but have the same look.
This is the biggest thing of bs i have seen.
First off look at the percentages of people switching to apple. Notice how many people are switching even with the price difference? If macs where that cheep everyone would own one.
Honestly think of it. not even discussing os here
A BEAUTIFUL labtop. these things are very nice looking and apple really takes the time to innovate on them. I can almost guarantee for the same price some would pick a mac over a pc(again no os included here) because macs just look better. Same product, but one looks better, and probly will last longer in the long run.
Know we could argue for hours on os. i prefer os x but thats just me.
First off look at the percentages of people switching to apple. Notice how many people are switching even with the price difference? If macs where that cheep everyone would own one.
Honestly think of it. not even discussing os here
A BEAUTIFUL labtop. these things are very nice looking and apple really takes the time to innovate on them. I can almost guarantee for the same price some would pick a mac over a pc(again no os included here) because macs just look better. Same product, but one looks better, and probly will last longer in the long run.
Know we could argue for hours on os. i prefer os x but thats just me.
Such BUNK! The people saying they would like to own a Mac but can't afford one. Yeah I'll bet many of those same people have a hybrid plasma screen mounted on their wall and/or a PS3 or Nintendo Wii. Couple that with an expensive DV cam. Yeah don't lie, at least one of you here complaining about the price of a Mac fits this bill.
My thing is, if some of you that don't even own a Mac and have no intention of buying one because of Apple's high prices then why the heck are you on a Mac forum, this particularly foes for the OP.
My thing is, if some of you that don't even own a Mac and have no intention of buying one because of Apple's high prices then why the heck are you on a Mac forum, this particularly foes for the OP.
everyone on this forum must have some curiosity about macs. thats how i started and now what do you know i'm getting my first mac the aluminum macbook
Please tell me you are not in business
Seriously though what business can make any portion of their product line sustain at 0-5% margins? Very very few even as a loss leader. You'd need to have costs less than 1% of revenue to run the entire company and there are very few business aside from perhaps brokers or traders of commodities that can run any business for that low of a cost structure ( well, legal businesses at any rate)Market share gained at the cost of killing your profits, impacting your investors and pummeling your stock price is a very risky gamble at best. You'd be better off at the roulette wheels in Vegas.
They can definitely stand to make less money at the low end, but not that much less. Gross margins need to be 35-50% and net margins after expenses at least 15%. Otherwise throw the cash in the bank or invest it in bonds because at least you will not be putting it in a pile and incinerating it.
I definitely hear you though, on the low end they should be pushing the envelope on margins in order to make the entry level more affordable for the masses.
Now, please keep in mind I'm typing this on my Macbook Pro (Aug 06), and I don't intend to go back to Windows anytime soon (if ever), but Dell does a great job of getting computers out there. They sell consumer computers at consumer price points. I love the new Macbook (got to play with it today), but the fact is, the new Macbooks are consumer notebooks that aren't at consumer price points. The lowest new Macbook is at 1299? I'll admit the Macbook Pros are much more within reach for people than they were. The low end Macbook though, should not be more expensive than the previous low end Macbook, at least if Apple wants to keep selling them to consumers (and more importantly, switchers). Some, like myself and many here are willing to pay a bit more, but the lack of a sub $1000 Macbook is a HUGE reason why a lot of people don't switch to the Mac.
I really hope they can get a price cut in the not too distant future though. Maybe once the manufacturing process isn't as expensive?
I really hope they can get a price cut in the not too distant future though. Maybe once the manufacturing process isn't as expensive?