280 replies to this topic

[~pcwiz]

Hi,

I saw a Future Shop Flyer the other day and I compared to laptops, a MacBook and a PC Laptop

MacBook
13.3" Screen
2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive
80GB SATA HD
AirPort Express and WiFi 802.11b (I think)
Mac OS X 10.4.10
Intel GMA950 Graphics
Price: $1134

PC Laptop (HP/Compaq, Acer, Lenovo, or something. Don't remember)
15.4" Screen
2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
SuperMulti Drive (DVD-RW/DVD+RW)
120GB SATA HD
5 in 1 Card Reader
802.11g (I think)
Windows Vista Home Premium
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
Price: $899

***

Compare the specs and the prices. No wonder why people choose PCs over Macs. If Apple were to lower their prices to compete with PCs, then they would be ruling right now.

[cbmkgd]

Uh-oh, here we go again...

Duck and cover!!

[A Nonny Moose]

Macs are not more expensive (post #11)

[unix]

With all respect, it's hard to take seriously any such claim where specs are reported wrong (wireless) and there is no mention of something basic like RAM.

Regardless, there are many budget PCs available that get the job done, and for less than a Mac (or a Vaio) it is certainly true. It's all been said before, so no need for me to go there - it all boils down to stuff that people value differently.

[A Nonny Moose]

They were not reported wrong as of the day of that writing.

If wireless got added, then Dell added it.

[sarahbau]

A Nonny Moose, on Sep 30 2007, 08:19 AM, said:

They were not reported wrong as of the day of that writing.

If wireless got added, then Dell added it.

I think he's referring to the OP claiming the MacBook has 802.11b, which is just ridiculous since Macs have been using g for over 4 years (at least the PowerBooks - can't remember exactly when the iBooks started).

[Headrush69]

pcwiz, on Sep 30 2007, 12:57 AM, said:

Compare the specs and the prices. No wonder why people choose PCs over Macs. If Apple were to lower their prices to compete with PCs, then they would be ruling right now.

No they wouldn't.
Sure it might increase sales, but currently Macs and OS X not being the dominant platform has a lot more to do with other factors other than just price.

P.S. I'm looking at the latest Future Shop flyer and their web site and don't see that system. Got a link or a scan of the ad?
Sounds like a nice system but if it is no longer available it could have been an inventory close out reduction and in that case the comparison is a little unfair.

All the systems I see in that range are slower 1.8Ghz range T5250 and have Intel integrated video acceleration. (Or not Core 2)

Edit: This is the closest I see: http://www.futuresho...i...0568&catid=

[~pcwiz]

I guess I got mixed up with 802.11g and 802.11b (switch around with the Mac and the PC). I read that post #11 and I see you've included the software costs too. I'm saying this based on hardware...

Headrush,

That laptop in the link is not the one I saw...The one I saw was glossy black.

[Headrush69]

pcwiz, on Sep 30 2007, 01:06 PM, said:

Headrush,

That laptop in the link is not the one I saw...The one I saw was glossy black.

I know and never suggested it was.

I'm asking you for more info on it. My sister is looking for a PC and if those stats are true that is a good deal.
(Like I said I have yet to see one with both a Core 2 Duo and a decent video option for that price.)

pcwiz, on Sep 30 2007, 01:06 PM, said:

I'm saying this based on hardware...

When you buy a system you are buying much more than just hardware and I think one of biggest downfalls of how people compare systems these days. A computer is a tool that should last most people many years and price shouldn't be the only consideration.
($300 over 3 years is hardly a remarkable difference)

[justvisiting]

A Nonny Moose, on Sep 30 2007, 05:55 AM, said:

Macs are not more expensive (post #11)

I've seen you refer back to your post a # of times and without wanting to start another long thread: in my opinion, I disagree with some of the factors you've used to make the other computer come out costlier than the mac.  

looking at the # of people here who ask for help on hackintoshes, an educated guess would be:  there is a price factor involved.  The time you spent trying to make a hackintosh work is also a reflection on price.  I would much rather do something else with my time than try to find OSX images, download and burn them and then the often strenuous exercise of making it work on non-approved hardware. ( jas?  uphuck? v1.4? v1.4r1? v1.4r3? )

And i even like doing that kind of stuff.

For myself, I was able to price out a generic machine that was far cheaper than a mac pro.  I would have preferred to by the mac pro.

the only way i can support the apple eco system is to buy the software i use.    And i try to do so.

Thanks.

[zurk]

1. macs are much more expensive.
2. apple keeps em that way since they have an image to maintain
3. see my sig for a $500 laptop and $300 desktop better than any apple at twice the price

you either by a lexus (apple) with everything working or you buy a toyota (PC) and modify it with leather interior and fancy trim to give you an equivalent to one.
internally they both are the same. the trick is to make one look like the other while avoiding the high sticker price. and no, apple would be really stupid to reduce the price to below $1000-$2000. their image would be lost in a second.

[Headrush69]

zurk, on Sep 30 2007, 01:52 PM, said:

3. see my sig for a $500 laptop and $300 desktop better than any apple at twice the price

Terrible comparison.
Argue all you want that $100-$200 difference for a desktop is overpriced or not, but comparing custom boxes to pre-made systems is wrong.
You could also say Dell, Acer, HP are all over priced too then, which also means your number 2 argument is wrong.

[zurk]

neither box is custom. my shuttle is an xpc barebones from newegg with shuttles recommended ram and cpu and my laptop is off the shelf wednesday special at circuitcity.

[glassJAw]

Next time please compare a 13.3 to a 13.3.

[Headrush69]

zurk, on Sep 30 2007, 02:38 PM, said:

neither box is custom. my shuttle is an xpc barebones from newegg with shuttles recommended ram and cpu and my laptop is off the shelf wednesday special at circuitcity.

That is still considered a custom box. Its not an end-user complete system with an OS. (not talking about the laptop)

I'm not one for arguing that you can't find cheaper PC systems, but I absolutely hate these comparisons that are overly misleading.
Just like the Intel E2xxx series processor is not the same as the CPUs in the iMacs.
It is perfectly fine to argue that the 10% drop in performance due to the smaller L2 cache doesn't mean much or matter much to most people, but if the only factor people want to argue is price than you can't compare dissimilar systems.

Saying you can get similar functionality cheaper, fine, but at that point its not a true price comparison.

[~pcwiz]

glassJAw, on Sep 30 2007, 11:47 AM, said:

Next time please compare a 13.3 to a 13.3.

Thats the whole point. Theres 15.4" PC laptop with better specs that is better than the MacBook. The 15.4" costs almost half less than the MacBook with the 13.3 screen.

[Headrush69]

pcwiz, on Sep 30 2007, 03:00 PM, said:

Thats the whole point. Theres 15.4" PC laptop with better specs that is better than the MacBook. The 15.4" costs almost half less than the MacBook with the 13.3 screen.

Still waiting for proof.

[~pcwiz]

The proof is the specs

Just a warning, don't start another thing about Vista being slow as hell..We all know. If you don't like the Vista on the PC Laptop, just install OS X or some other OS on it

pcwiz

[Headrush69]

pcwiz, on Sep 30 2007, 03:41 PM, said:

The proof is the specs

That sure helps my sister.

I think the little "computer shop" on the corner is advertising Dual Core, 2GB RAM, 20" LCD, 500GB HD with a Geforce 8800GTX for $399 too.

pcwiz, on Sep 30 2007, 03:41 PM, said:

Just a warning, don't start another thing about Vista being slow as hell..We all know. If you don't like the Vista on the PC Laptop, just install OS X or some other OS on it

Huh?

[~pcwiz]

Sorry about my rant about Vista....some people tend to say, comparing OS X and Vista, that the OS is an argument to justify the price.

BTW, about that computer shop on the corner, you're joking right?