Eric C Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 I wish I had a MacBook. I think they're the nicest looking laptops on the market today. But I will not buy a MacBook, not any Apple for that matter, anytime in the forseeable future for one reason. They are ABSURDLY overpriced. Even if I sold my current laptop, which has better hardware then the base model MacBook and only cost $1000, it would take several months of saving to afford one. Just for fun I started to look into the possibility of building a "hackintosh". Just by using the HCL on the OS x86 wiki I found a motherboard, CPU, RAM, and hard drive that supposedly would be 100% compatable with OS x86 for about $250! Can it be true? I have a case, power supply, monitor, keyboard, and mouse already. Can I really run OS X for $250? All legal issues aside, I'm just trying to make a point about Apple pricing. I decided to take it one step further and add a few more things to my shopping cart. I added a dual layer dvd burner, 19" LCD, wireless keyboard and mouse combo, and an aluminum case, in other words, everything one would need to build a new computer. The final cost? $625 Add about $200 for OS X, $100 for support, and another $100 for other software that comes with a Mac, and there's a final cost of just over $1000. It just seems to me that Mac is ignoring a HUGE market by not producing budget computers. The machine I fictionally created above uses an MSI motherboard, Celeron D CPU, 1GB RAM, and Intel GM900 graphics. This is PERFECT for the casual internet user, or college student on a budget. Mac's are great and I'd love to own one, but it just seems like their attitude is "we're better, and we make you pay for it!". As much as i'd love to see it happen, it just doesn't seem like Apple will take a chunck out of the PC market until they can compete with some of the $400 PCs out there that look very attractive to those on a limited budget. What do you all think? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swad Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Welcome to the forum, Eric C. Yeah, you can build a homebrew for pretty cheap, but also keep in mind that the MacBook is a laptop, which are always more expensive (and they're not too bad compared to others in the market). If you like the MacBook and want to seriously get into Macs, go with the MacBook - while you can build a great Hackintosh, the true Macs are much easier to deal with (easy updates, etc). Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-158849 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgrimes80 Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 In my experiences, you get what you pay for... heck, in my line of work (mechanical design + marketing) I've paid for more 1 piece of software than the price of a fully tricked Macbook. e.g. UGS/ Mathematica/ Final Cut etc. These laptops can run both OSX and XP flawlessly. Personally, I have a MBP, technical problems aside, I think even they are VERY attractively priced. I understand that if you don't have a use for a powerful laptop, there's no need to pay for it's features.... but at Apple it's not about affordability, it's about what people are willing to pay. Save a few hundred bucks and watch the "Apple Certified" refurbished models list ...build a hackintosh because I don't see their prices coming down much anytime soon or pick a straight PC. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-158908 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSMatt Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 My guess is because Apple's 5% market share happens to be the rich creative professional market who can easily pay that amount of money. That's also why Apple computers and the Mac OS make cameo appearances in TV and movies. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-159154 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyrana Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 Well, if you compare Apple computers to other name brands like IBM, Lenovo, Sony, etc., and then keep things like the physical size of everything the same I don't think they're that overpriced. Sure, you can build super cheap boxes at a {censored} store, but Apple obviously doesn't care, or they'd offer something similar. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-159163 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ampTK Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 specially if you consider the industrial design, or compare it to a similarly stylized computer. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-159172 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric C Posted August 9, 2006 Author Share Posted August 9, 2006 I think it's safe to say a mac lies in my future, but it's the interim that's rough. lol Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-159738 Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Nonny Moose Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 I think the expense comes from ideas like not using Celery processors. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-159766 Share on other sites More sharing options...
vbtwo31984 Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I compared the price of the Macbook with the price of a Sony laptop, and the Macbook came out to be about $400 cheaper than the Sony with the same stuff in it. I compared it to a Sony, as I think it's one of the few companies that actually makes laptops that could be compared to a Mac, as they're also very thin and nice looking. Here's the comparison: Apple Macbook - start with middle configuration. Add 1GB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive Total: $1449 Sony SZ240 - also 13.3" screen, about same size Add Camera & Bluetooth, 2GHz Core Duo, 1GB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, DVD-writer (you gotta add all of those to make it the same like the Macbook) Total: $1820 All this might prove though is that Sony is even more overpriced that the Mac Obviously, you can get a Dell laptop that would be cheaper than a Macbook with better hardware in it, but it would not be as thin, is uglier, etc. A lot of the price of the Mac is not just for hardware, it is for the design of the machine itself. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-160764 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwhsh8r Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I compared the price of the Macbook with the price of a Sony laptop, and the Macbook came out to be about $400 cheaper than the Sony with the same stuff in it. I compared it to a Sony, as I think it's one of the few companies that actually makes laptops that could be compared to a Mac, as they're also very thin and nice looking. Here's the comparison: Apple Macbook - start with middle configuration. Add 1GB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive Total: $1449 Sony SZ240 - also 13.3" screen, about same size Add Camera & Bluetooth, 2GHz Core Duo, 1GB RAM, 80GB Hard Drive, DVD-writer (you gotta add all of those to make it the same like the Macbook) Total: $1820 All this might prove though is that Sony is even more overpriced that the Mac Obviously, you can get a Dell laptop that would be cheaper than a Macbook with better hardware in it, but it would not be as thin, is uglier, etc. A lot of the price of the Mac is not just for hardware, it is for the design of the machine itself. And that little apple logo on top thats where the price is sony does the same thing tho.... max Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-160778 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weebs Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I'm not sure about about the Macbook Pro, but I know that the Mac Pro is cheaper than a dell equivelent as well as that the iMac is cheaper than the Alienware equivelent (There is no dell equivelent for the iMac) Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-160884 Share on other sites More sharing options...
glassJAw Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 You can build a ASUS S96J for about 1,200 dollars and it would slaugher the macbook. I think Sony sucks in general. You could also build a Dell that would slaughter the mac too for the same price. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-161057 Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazylikeastraw Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 apple's outlandish designs and sexy minimalism are what garner the high price tag. not that the engineering put forth warrant's such a cost, but apple knows what people want in a consumer electronic, and know they'll pay for it (whatever the cost may be). also, CSMat hit the mark there with his comment. every movie and tv show i see (that ha a shot of a computer) shows a brand new mac. take inside man for example, with the very sexy 30-inch monitor behind the equally sexy jodie foster Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-161106 Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddicus Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 yes you can buy a cheap {censored} box and run OS X on it, I've done it, it's a novelty but it's not the same as my G5 or my MacBook. The problem with people thinking that Macs are overpriced is comparing an industrial machine or high quality consumer machine to bargan basement boxes of poo. Today I priced out a comparable machine (to a Mac Pro) built from parts from Newegg, to compare to the standard configuration -dual 2.66 Xeon, the price came to $2,399. $100 difference unassebled! Keep in mind that is no firewire 800, a crapier case, and a motherboard that didn't have 4 PCIe slots with 1 double wide. Plus all the bennefits of having a machine that is 100% ready to go and working and workstation quality. Compare a Mac Pro or and iMac to a celeron box! of course you can make it cheaper but you're getting 1/10th, 1/6th the machine. We don't evaluate a chevy lumina based on how it compares to a BMW they're not made with the same quality. My MacBook is the best laptop I've ever used, and I it wows everyone I let try it out. I've had IBM, I've had Dell, and there is just no comparision. The others were clunky and not dependable. The IBM was a brick and dell was so flimsy fingers often made dents in the back of the screen. apple could make cheap computers with yesterday's technology but they don't and they won't and that's why I love them. COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES! (pun intended) then we'll talk about being overpriced. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-161116 Share on other sites More sharing options...
embries Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 I work for a rather prominent law firm as the MIS. Our laptops are split about 50/50 between Dell and IBM based on the Attorney's preference. We have to use Windoze simply because of specialized software that is only available on the Windows platform. (and this isn't the thread to debate ways to get around that or ways to get them to switch). I routinely buy $2200-$2500 IBM laptops that are nowhere near the quality of machine that I could get for the same money from Apple. I know they're not as durable, I know they're not as powerful, I know they lack many of the features, and for the most part they come with a standard 15" 4:3 screen. To say that Apple is overpriced is to not consider the REAL alternatives, it is to consider a subset of the alternatives. When comparing a pre-boxed, warrantied, similar-sized vendor to Apple you'll find that Apple is very competitve if not better priced. Now when you throw in dual-boot options, (if you buy a legitimate Windows license) you're increasing your flexibility for the money. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-161883 Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Nonny Moose Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 I actually just Mythbusted this Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-163577 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric C Posted August 14, 2006 Author Share Posted August 14, 2006 After doing a little research and comparison shopping of my own I see that you are correct. Mac's really aren't overpriced for what they are! I guess what I really want, in a perfect world, is to buy some new parts, use alot of what I already have, buy OS X and just install like I would Windows or Linux. That way i wouldn't have to buy an entire new system. I've also found that the reason I thought Apple's were overpriced was due to the fact that Apple only uses relatively high end hardware that just plain costs that much. My current laptop has a Turion 64 CPU with the ATI Xpress 200M chipset. This was a relatively inexpensive ($900) computer, even when upgrading to 1GB RAM and a dual layer dvd burner. This computer runs Ubuntu Linux (quite well I might add) and I see no reason to need to revert to Windows. Although it probably won't happen and I fully understand Apple's reasoning for NOT doing so, it would be very nice to have the freedom to use Apple software and not be required to use expensive hardware. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-165457 Share on other sites More sharing options...
retroz Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 After doing a little research and comparison shopping of my own I see that you are correct. Mac's really aren't overpriced for what they are! I guess what I really want, in a perfect world, is to buy some new parts, use alot of what I already have, buy OS X and just install like I would Windows or Linux. That way i wouldn't have to buy an entire new system. I've also found that the reason I thought Apple's were overpriced was due to the fact that Apple only uses relatively high end hardware that just plain costs that much. My current laptop has a Turion 64 CPU with the ATI Xpress 200M chipset. This was a relatively inexpensive ($900) computer, even when upgrading to 1GB RAM and a dual layer dvd burner. This computer runs Ubuntu Linux (quite well I might add) and I see no reason to need to revert to Windows. Although it probably won't happen and I fully understand Apple's reasoning for NOT doing so, it would be very nice to have the freedom to use Apple software and not be required to use expensive hardware. True, but you have to consider the heat problems in the MB and MBP, until they get newer chips, they will still run hot under load (Final Cut, Logic), in addition, for $1000 (MB) you can get a winDoze machine for less that will have a dedicated GPU that allows the playing of say UNREAL 2004. Try that on a MB and forget it, let alone the new UNREAL scheduled to come out soon. I think, or as rumors have it, Apple will be changing their chips sooner rather than later, however, this does not address the dedicated GPU and still, those dedicated GPU's are still underclocked. On another subject, the MacPro uses a Nvidia 73xx card and the keynote showed the DELL being more expensive, well the Dell machine had a QUADRO GPU which is more powerful for design work, so pick your poison. In addition, its still interesting that Mac Pro won't allow you to buy 3rd party cards (GPU) and install them, at least to my knowledge, you have to buy it from apple. = more $$$$ Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/23913-the-price-of-an-apple/#findComment-165661 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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