Comments on: How Dell ruined the industry with $500 PCs and why Apple won’t

By: Big D.

Big D. — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:37:56 +0000

To those that think Windows is much better than Mac.

I do not agree with the statement. You can’t just compare the two Graphical User Interfaces and the Aluminum Unibody. Think about it, why would Steve Jobs put down a high price for a computer that can:

*has a multi-trackpad
*faster in ram and rom
*larger space of memory
*lightest computer in the world (macbook Air)
*Mac OSX
*99% of Anti- Virus.
and trust me, there’s lots more.

I have a MacBook Air and it’s incredibly amazing. Steve Jobs is smart. I’m not saying that Bill gates isn’t smart, but Jobs’s better, in fact! He thought of life, to make it easier.

“If you’re good at using Windows, then, you’re a champ in using Mac.”
-My point is that Mac is basically easier than Windows.

Trust me guys! Apple’s system or software is much much better than Windows.

By: Dan S.

Dan S. — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:27:23 +0000

Doesn’t it seem like some of the comments on here are missing the point of the post? This has turned into a slugfest over whether Macs or Pcs are better. Really the original idea at least from what I got out of it is that Apple purposely doesn’t make products for the cheap segment of the market. So all of you people who saying that there’s a place for thse cheap computers are just proving the point. Apple doesn’t care about you. They don’t want you as a customer because you don’t appreciate what they do, thherefore there’s no profit to be made from you. Nobody said Macs were meant for everybody.

By: Conor

Conor — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:11:29 +0000

Okay… Well this is an interesting article but that sad part is that it was written on a MAC site… Of course its going to favor mac if it didnt it wouldnt be posted on the website.. And also i have this strong feeling that the author of the article has very much a loyalty to mac as u can clearly pick up in the article. All tho a well made arguement this kinda seems like a bumch of kids fighting over whos toy is better… In this time and place there is no supieor. Both styles have their pros and cons.. get used to it is life.. their will never be a hands down winner

By: Nick

Nick — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:42:56 +0000

Um, Chester… that RAM Apple is selling for $1000 when you claim its only $200 is actually DDR3 memory. In other words, its higher performance RAM and therefore more expensive. Even on a site like Newegg.com two 4GB sticks of DDR3 RAM are like $750 minimum. Maybe it’s you who should be checking your facts before commenting.

By: Robert Codey

Robert Codey — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:04:36 +0000

I have to agree with those who say Apple hardware is not better.

I’m a System Admin as well, and although the XServe is a remarkably stable product, Mac’s laptops have had significant hardware problems, and by no means are they superior. I’ve worked in dual platorm organizations, and although I prefer Mac, from my experience there are more issues with Apple hardware than there are with PC hardware.

You are paying for the brand and the excellent overall product that Apple brings to the consumer. But to pretend that Apple hardware is better in execution is just wrong.

By: Chester

Chester — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:05:12 +0000

Ok, here is where Macs have an advantage: (based on your article)
1. Unibody Aircraft-Grade Aluminum- Ok cool its all one piece of extra expensive aluminum, good thing my laptop is also my airplane.
2. Mac OSX vCatSpecies – Ooh look iLife! It has all the same basic things that comes with Windows, just presented in a different GUI. Yay!
3. More Expensive because we think were better. YAY! I’m supporting being different becuase I am following the belief than I can only use the few limited programs that come with my mac or a few extra ones, and the small applets that are also made for linux/Winows Woot.

Here is my issues with your arguments.
1. Your comparing a $1000+ hardware’d computer vs a $400 hardware’d computer? Why don’t you compare the equal models for both companies and you’d find that Windows systems generally have better hardware at a cheaper price. As for those 400 and 500 dollar computers, their hardware specifications are, OMG This can’t be real, better than the precious Macs that you proclaim are better.
2. Mac OSX isn’t amazing because it can dual boot. My laptop is dual booting Windows and Linux as it is right now. Dual booting is not new, and its not that great. I have windows installed on my iMac, and really I only use the windows. I rarely use the OSX software because of its limiting nature and its “close-mindedness” towards other programs I run and use.
3. Your comparing cars to computers? And you still don’t understand why the prices are different? You are paying for a label, thats it with mercedes and bmw. Also there is a thing called technological advancement, where competition brings out cheaper prices for better goods. Since Apple will not let others run OSX they create a monopoly, and therefore keep their prices higher and paying more for a product that simply isn’t worth it. Ex: Add $1000.00 to a macbook pro for an addition 4 gigs of ram. 4 gigs to 8 gigs, $1000? really? the real cost of that upgrade is about $200, so they are just charging for their monopolistic control and they make it all right by making you “think different.” So good job, keep supporting a company that doesn’t encourage competition, and enjoy paying incredibly steep prices for computers that are sub par with their windows counterparts. (Hardware based of course, the OS is completely more subjective in my opinion since they basically out of the box host the same things, but windows still is more customizable.) So think different and learn you’re “facts” before you write an opinionated and completely subjective article.

By: ravinder

ravinder — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:42:26 +0000

go to dell or any other maker and price a computer with the same specs as a mac and i think you will all be surprised. they are usually cheaper. they just refuse to sell a watered down product.

By: Buddy L Moore

Buddy L Moore — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:14:48 +0000

Sorry but the BMW/Mercedes analogy is flawed and therefore so are contentions and conclusions based thereon. It completely ignores the European market for starters where small entry-level vehicles from both makers along with Audi et al are available for a very reasonable price. Second, BMW and Mercedes have both experienced a significant number of quality control issues in their lines. Mercedes in particular has taken an absolute shelling in the UK press over their QC problems and their market share and public perception have suffered accordingly.

I realize this is a puff piece meant to reinforce the same old Apple-is-great-and-different-therefore-so-is-its-user-base argument but as someone once said facts are stubborn things.

By: Travis

Travis — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:55:23 +0000

”
Notice that the only real differences against a pc models with the same hardware are:
- Mac OSX – 129$
- Unibody (exclusive case)
”

When you buy an Apple, you support the progress of innovation. You pay for things like the unibody, the clever mag-safe adaptor, the battery life indicator, the unmatched aesthetic appeal, and the FAR superior OSX platform that is continually evolving to set the standard for how you operate a computer. Sure, you can compare hard drive size, processor speed, ram and video cards to find a PC equivalent, but you’re missing the point if you don’t put significant weight on the “little” things that only Apple computers offer.

By: Ant

Ant — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:37:28 +0000

It’s great to see everyone’s feedback – I’m glad this is opening up a discussion about this topic. I would like to point out that it’s very easy to understate the differences between PCs and Macs when you’re trying to directly compare prices on hardware specs alone. There are other benefits of using a Mac that people often overlook. Not to mention the fact that most PCs don’t come with components like gigabit ethernet, bluetooth, n-wireless, etc. by default in most cases. In a future article (probably this weekend), I’ll explain more about what I mean.

UPDATE: A new follow-up article has been posted – Are Macs really worth it? Selling points for choosing Mac vs. PC

By: n0ta

n0ta — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:24:49 +0000

Hi there.

Interesting article, but I think you´ve missed an important point about this case. Since 3 years ago, computers´s prices have been going down for the simple reason that computer components have been doing as well.

Add the fact that, since the intel-chips change, Apple computers more than ever (except the new aluminiun unibody models) are pc alikes. If you check the components in a Mac, are exactly the same than you can find in mid-range pcs.

Notice that the only real differences against a pc models with the same hardware are:
- Mac OSX – 129$
- Unibody (exclusive case)

And that´s all folks. The diference in prices (up to 600$) is completely absurd. Make numbers and tell mi if you are not paying (in big part) nothing but the brand.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:50:13 +0000

I am a sustem admin for a network that houses many macs. They are good machines but many of them have serious hardware failures all the time. I dont see how you can call it supperior to something else. Basically if it doesent brake its superior and I have windows 2k machines that have been running for 10 years without any issues. Macs are super over prices and could be made much cheaper. Then there would be nothing left for that hefty marketing budget.

By: Namro

Namro — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:58:06 +0000

Though you do raise some valid points, I have to disagree with the general direction of the article. For too long the personal computer market has been seeing extraordinarily high prices across almost all makers. Until about three years ago, the average price that consumers would expect to pay in the US for a computer was around $1500. That same average consumer would primarily use the $1500 computer for web browsing, word processing, and email. This is akin to buying a Ferrari to use for commuting. I do believe in the addage ‘you get what you pay for’ – the problem is that in most cases the people are paying for stuff that they don’t need or want. I find that the ultra-cheap computers such as the eeepc leave their users happier than the more expensive products in most cases, and with more money in their wallets too. I enjoy the features and innovation that Apple and other high end makers are creating by pushing the industry forward, but I feel that it makes technology inaccessible to those who can’t afford high end machines. Bring the prices down and get the whole world on the ‘net.

By: Ant

Ant — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 03:26:52 +0000

Excellent point, Craig. The amount of junk preloaded on PCs is embarrassing and really dillutes the user experience.

By: Craig Potz

Craig Potz — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:25:32 +0000

Another reason for low prices on PCs is that the manufacturers are subsidized by those for whom they place “crapware” and trialware on their machines. It always takes me half a day to delete the junk from PCs. But my iMac came clean as delivered.