Guest Editorial: Apple "MehBooks" and the Future of Macs

by Perry Longinotti

It's taken me a few days to shake off the disappointment and post about how bad these new Apple notebooks are. In particular I feel an obligation to point out the poor value compared to their predecessors.

Maybe it was the talk of lower margins in Q3 (you remember, during Apple's August investor conference call) that had me primed for a value-priced Mac portable. Clearly neither of these two new notebooks is going to deliver Macs to the masses. Even worse, the remaining last-gen units on the Apple store are barely marketed down and this is more than a little insulting.

MacBook

The new form factor is great - it's like a metal HP DV5. Metal always trumps plastic in durability. But more importantly aluminum is a good conductor of heat. Apple's notebooks of the past eight years are extremely poor at handling heat. I base this on ownership of about five different aluminum and six plastic Apple notebooks since 2000. My lap can attest to the heat they generate – 55 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius is not uncommon.

A chipset update for the MacBook was overdue as Intel’s crusty old X3100 was no fun at all. Nvidia's new solution seems to offer all the benefits of Intel's new Montevina platform along with a better GPU. Better is the fact that all the chipset’s functionality is delivered in a single chip (versus the Intel alternative’s North and South bridges). This enables Apple to create a smaller mainboard and the benefit of this is a smaller form factor or more room for heat dissipating materials. In terms of performance, from what I have read this 9400m IGP is at least twice as powerful as Intel's GMA 4500MHD often more-so. But in many games we are talking about the difference between not at all playable (4500MHD) versus barely playable (9400m).

If it seem like I am being harsh just remember that notebooks with very capable GPU’s like the 9600m and 9800m can be has for less than the MacBook. Despite the misleading and vague claims on Apple's site this is by no means a gaming powerhouse. You are looking at a best case scenario 3DMark06 score of 2500 points. That is about half what is needed to make today's games playable at decent settings. If games are important to you then why would you pay $1,300.00 to run games at 30 fps using SVGA resolution and low detail settings? Casual titles like Spore will run nicely.

It seems the T7350 2.0 GHz CPU is being used on the base model and this is a Penryn core with 1066 FSB - in other words the latest and greatest mid-range mobile CPU. This is pretty good, but not worth paying a premium when cheaper processors work just as well. Many better equipped notebooks in this same price range have the faster P8400 chip.

No Blu-Ray is a shame, but without HDMI or a 1080P screen how much do you really need it? Dell offers lots of Blu-Ray equipped models such as the Inspiron 1525 for much less money than the MacBook.

So far this spec sheet is a long list of "meh." The true outrage is the skimpy RAM and storage.

Equipping a premium notebook with 2 GB of RAM is unforgivable in 2008. Even the budget notebooks in the $599 price range have 4 GB of DDR2 these days. And Gateway provides 4 GB of DDR3 in a much more powerful gaming notebook that routinely sells for less than the base MacBook.

Likewise, the tiny 160 GB HDD is pathetic at this price point. Sure, a 320 GB HDD can be bought for less than $100 these days but why should you have to do this? A $1,300 notebook should have a 320 GB HDD standard.

The MacBook costs twice as much as a Windows notebook pitched at the same home user/student market. What do I mean when I say Windows notebook? I am thinking of notebooks from HP, Dell, Acer, Gateway, and Toshiba with 14" screens, T5750 CPU at 2 GHz, 4 GB RAM and 320 GB HDD that can easily be had for $600-650 on any given weekend.

Sure, the average consumer Windows machine is not as solid - the chassis materials are just plastic. But it has twice the RAM and twice the HDD. To most users, even Apple lovers like me, the extra RAM and HDD are more important than a slightly faster CPU and new chipset platform. Take a look at the MacBook versus a Dell Inspiron 13 (keeping in mind that even cheaper deals are out there).

	MacBook	Dell Inspiron 13
Price	$1,299	$599
CPU	2GHz	2GHz
RAM	2GB	2GB
Video	Nvidia 9400M	Intel X3100
Screen	13"	13"
HDD	160GB	160GB
Optical	DVDR-DL	DVDR-DL

You folks are smart. You know the Mac has higher FSB, more level two cache, faster (although still weak) IGP and an LED backlight. But how important are those things to you? Are they worth $700? Not to most conusmers.

In these times a product with same or more functionality that also allows me to keep $700 in the bank is probably going to win 9 out of 10 times. But Apple is happy (and profitable) with its 5-10% share so who am I to judge?

MacBook Pro

Is hybrid SLI (now confirmed to be absent) supposed to blind me to the fact that similarly spec'ed machines can be had from all of Apple's rivals for half the price? Has no one noticed that except for the 9600M GT GPU the specification of this Pro machine is pretty darn close to the Macbook?

You get to pay a $1,000 premium for Apple's Pro machine. The same meager 2GB of RAM is present but at least you get a slightly more serviceable 250 GB HDD. But seriously, paying $2,000 and getting less storage than many budget notebooks is pretty funny - unless you actually bought the MacBook Pro.

	MacBook Pro	HP HDX16t
Price	$1,999	$1,175
CPU	2.4GHz	2.4GHz
RAM	2GB	3GB
Video	Nvidia 9600M	Nvidia 9600M
Screen	15"	16"
HDD	250GB	250GB
Optical	DVDR-DL	Blu-Ray

HP's HDX 16 looks very similar to the MBP for about $850 less. You get full a Centrino 2 package a nice Nvidia 9600m just like the MacBook Pro and more ports - including HDMI which is going to come in handy with the HP's included Blu-Ray drive. And how funny is it to see Firewire on an HP but not a Mac? Hey everyone, throw your high-end scanners, video cameras and storage devices away – Steve says we don’t need them anymore.

ASUS also has some comparable models for about $800 less than Apple's Pro notebook. But really, it takes zero effort and talent to find suitable MBP substitutes for much less money (how is that for modesty).

A Bunch Of Useless Opinion ... Or The Hard Truth?

I don't need to test the new Apple MacBook or MacBook Pro to know that these are poor values for average consumers. And if the value is not there, who the heck cares about anything else? Lots of other people will review them and many people will believe that a pretty aluminum shell is worth paying a large premium.

When the price differential was 20-30% you could make a case for Apple's build quality, OS, and application suite justifying a price premium. That still wouldn't be enough for many consumers, but the eventual realization of this fact might be painful for normal people who buy these new notebooks.

Apple quality can clearly be called into question, as any of their last five notebook introductions demonstrate. Vertical stripes, faulty power bricks, faulty batteries, faulty video chips, bad RAM sockets, strange sounds, discolored plastic, pitted aluminum, splotchy backlights and surface temperatures that are downright dangerous are just some of the issues with previous Macs. In most cases only after legal proceedings did Apple admit to the flaws and offer to repair them.

Apple's OS X is a masterpiece that just keeps getting better. However, if Apple isn't going to sell their operating system as a stand-alone for installation on generic PCs then they should at least put together a basic MacBook using cheaper components at a killer price. There is nothing wrong with DDR2. An Intel Core 2 Duo T5xx0 CPU is just fine. Folks can tolerate plastic construction (Apple knows this) and a bit more weight is OK.

Like OS X, iLife is wonderful. But with the discounts on Windows machines versus Apple’s notebooks you can easily buy Adobe's comparable consumer Photo/Video suite. Heck, you could also add the standard version of Office 2007 ($99 bundle special at most retailers) and still have $400 left over.

Has Apple lost touch with the consumer? I think so. Reckless spending and endless credit got us in to this economic mess but the nasty correction seems to have sobered people up.

Maybe overpriced notebooks like these would have been all the rage a year ago, but Apple probably missed their market by about six months worth of an economic downturn. My advice to the Apple faithful: Hit the Apple online outlet for the real deals.

 

I agree with you 100%. Infact, the one thing that keeps me from even trying a mac is the steep buy-in price. I mean, common. If you don't have a nice job, or generous relatives...who's gonna even give it a shot? Budget-tight College students, such as myself, are half and half.

Either a Mac is bought for you, or you buy a PC. Thats just how it is.

 

That MB vs Inspiron comparison is awesome. XD

btw should add more cons for MB: lack of ports.

 

You forgot that they only have 2 USB ports....

 

Another flame war thread...

 

I definately would like to give a Mac a whirl, but the price is extremely prohibitive. I was hoping they'd introduce finally some sub-$1000 laptops, but was wrong (the old-as-dirt leftover low-spec macbook at $999 doesn't count cuz it's awful specced)

For reference, my laptop is somewhere between a macbook and macbook pro in power. so to split the difference, lets say a macbook that'd cost roughly $1500

My laptop though only cost me $599. That's an ENOURMOUS difference

 

2 things-
1)why is this thread on NBR homepage?This never happened with any other notebook...
2)Go to apple forum,and tell all happy MacBook and MacBook Pro owners that their mac sucks...

 

Correction - Table above should show the Inspiron 13 as having the GMA X3100.

 

macs are really expensive

 

Not only that, but the customizations and upgrades features (in addition to the price) are severely limiting. I've eyed Macbooks for a while now, and ponder getting one down the line once I retire my Alienware m9750 (1-2 years from now).

Frankly, I think I'm in the camp that likes OSX more than I like the Apple hardware. The laptops are nice, but the aluminum aethetics feel rather "generic" to me. The OS is what macs the Mac... a Mac.

 

Excellent dose of straight talk. Much needed and much appreciated.

As for the worry of it turning into a "flame thread" bear in mind that flaming is generally a product of hearsay and gainsaying. This thread started off with factual comparisons and true economic realities. So if one wishes to contend the OP's post, to have any meaningful impact, they will have to produce a strong counter argument based on facts and figures. Not preferences and pep talk.

The internet is full of disinformation. Nice to see a post with substance.

 

It's an editorial. IMO Apple needs to make computers normal people could afford. When my mom bought me an Apple IIc twenty years ago it was $999 inclusive and came with everything I needed. Any other real computer at the time was too much money. That is how I became an Apple fan.

But I am tired of either:
a) feeling like a chump for paying full price for a Mac.
b) scrounging for deals whenever I need a new one.

I want a selection of Apple computers at fair prices. Fair to me is $100-200 more than a comparable WinTel PC (I don't mean the exact same guts either because some of Apple's choices are exotic for no good reason). This small premium (30% at the low end, less on more expensive machiens) is for the OS and iLife.

All of my serious computing - family photos, music, video is done on an Intel iMac.

 

Ok,then lets make others.F.E. 1 for Alienware,cos it is very pricey compared to Clevo and doesn't offer things that I want-like LED screen,DDR3,Montevina,ATI GPU,etc.

I am sorry,but you have an alternative in form of PC's....and don't you do the same with others?

And I want a 50000$ Bentley...

this is the point,by making such threads you wont make apple to change their way.

lewdvig,you are great ,and I really enjoy your reviews,but I hate threads like this.

Again,I think that this should be removed from homepage!

 

i also question the necessity of this thread. though i own a mac, i bought one knowing the price was steep and that the specs weren'tt super high - which is more like "mine's bigger than yours" than anything truly useful these days.

at any rate, if you haven't realized this yet, apple isn't going to be changing their prices. they aren't going to be adding a low cost option. apple is a premium brand that has a dedicated following and people who need/want a mac will get a mac. it really is this simple: if you want one, get one. if not, there's plenty of options out there.

 

So basically you want Apple to have a price structure similar to what they used to have back in the late 90s and early 2000s: a reasonable price premium over PCs rather than a 100% (or more) premium over similar Windows machines.

I personally agree, but Apple seems to be making money with their current price structure. I suppose that things won't change as long as enough people buy their products.

I'm a serious photographer and years ago I invested in some Leica cameras and lenses ... when I realized I could get identical (or in some cases better) results for MUCH less money I sold that gear and stuck with other cameras and lenses.

Still, Leica and Apple both remain successful companies ... even if I'm not in their target audience anymore.

 

1)Because every single brand have bad things and no one jumps on and defends for those brands tirelessly. However, that happens when Apple is brought up.
There is nothing different between a Mac and a PC (Hardware wise!) except for the OS, which is not relevant at all. Ironically, Mac is a Personal Computer too. The distinction Apple makes is just plain ridiculous IMO.
2)They do suck, I tell them many times.
Ok, let's not start a war.

I welcome any negative comment about the Macbook (Pro)

You're the man Lewdvig

 

Missed the point entirely, no offense.

The point of this thread is, "what do you get for the price premium?" So what do you get?

There is a LOT of Apple hype and Apple appears to know this by recently offering even less for the money. As if people will simply buy it because it's a MAC. That's all well and good. But what are you getting for the money?

 

Interesting post. As a relatively new Mac owner, and a complete non-techie, I think, to a degree, I represent a portion of Apple's target market for these machines.

In my area Apple stores, at least the three that I have visited lately, it is nearly impossible to get a salesperson as the stores are packed. Granted, these were weekend visits. People are standing around these new notebooks drooling. In one recent 10 minute visit, I saw two customers buying Macbooks, and more waiting near them for salesperson. According to one salesperson, they are 'flying out the door.' For a lot of people the aluminum iMac was a 'gateway drug', even more so than the ipod. The cold white plastic was a deal breaker for many people, and the success of the iMac obviously played a role in the design, and target audience for these new machines. Many, if not most of Apple's new target audience, are not interested in 'the Holy Church of Apple' mentality, and could just as easily buy a PC. It's really about the machine, and what they're getting for their money. For me, the $2000.00+ I spent on my new Macbook, averaged out over a minimum of three years, is worth it for everything I'm getting.

I think it's always difficult for existing customers when a Company decides to expand their current audience. I'm sure Apple knows that as it gains a wider audience, it will lose a portion of it's longtime customers. Growth can be painful, but Apple will always go where the money is, and right now that's the consumer market.

 

Ok,Mac sucks and you get nothing for your money...can we now close this thread?

 

As many people would say...
Mac's are unique in a number of ways.. You cant compare these two products.

Its like a very expensive label purse worth $500 vs the cheaper one from a market for $5. They are the same quality. The same materials. And both very well made. But you wouldn't challenge the $500 one just because its expensive. People will still buy it regardless.

This ,with apple in the equation instead of purse manufactures, is that the products are genuinely better made, And more perfected then alot of other devices..

 

Agree 100% with OP, Would love to try mac but they're prices are ridiculous, they kept the old white plastic macbook in the UK and now its a year old put the price up by £20 from £699 to ?£719 , Pathetic.

 

I do not often comment on these things, but I have to say this seems to me to be one of the most biased and subjective "editorials" I've seen on notebookreview.com, and personally I would be ashamed of this if I had anything to do with it.

Keep in mind that I'm a PC user, and have never owned a MacBook. I've always preferred PCs, but I always keep an open mind and when I see an article like this I wonder what the author was thinking.

Exactly, here's what you get (as far as I can tell):
- Sturdy all aluminum body
- All glass display panel (you don't have to worry about touching/scratching/bending your laptop's display any more)
- LED backlight (better battery life)
- Generously large, innovative (IMO) touchpad
- Backlit keyboard

Just because a $600 piece of junk from Dell has similar specs as Apple's $1300 MacBook doesn't mean Apple's MacBook is shamefully overpriced as the article states. Consider that some people actually prefer durability, easy of use, convenience, portability, and something that just works (and won't fall apart at the seams) over specs.

Personally I'd much rather buy a 2 GHz quality notebook for $2000 than a 3 GHz "consumer" toy for $500.

 

1)and why none of them is posted on NBR homepage?
2)You can say that they suck,but it wont stop them from enjoying thiir products...will you stop liking your HP if I say that HP's business line is rubbish and overpriced?

 

All the computers are made in some factories in China, either by Quanta or Compals or some other ODMs.
And no, they are not genuiely better made (as which lots of fanboys want to believe).
"More perfected"?? yeah right! Look at all the specs and compatible capabilities between a "Personal Computer" Mac and a PC.

And that not to mention the previous Macbook generation was just crap in terms of build quality compared to other brands, and still is.

1) Because there are HPs, Dells, Lenovos, Asuss, Sonys, Toshibas, Acers...which all make Personal Computer and none of them makes the distinction like Apple does.
2) Many people enjoy their Acers, which is totally crap, and there is nothing wrong with that. The point is, the build quality difference is clear between an Acer and a sony. That's the same case for Macbooks.

come on, where is Sam???

 

You know, so far there hasn't been any real flame warring. What's so wrong with assessing the relative value of a product by comparison? Isn't that what reviews on here do? This may help someone who is deciding between a Mac or a PC or between different Macs. It may help them overcome peer or social pressure or even misconceptions and give them the ammunition to do so.

I don't mean to harsh on you. But let the thread develop a little more first.

 

After alittle thought, what some people love arent really MACs, but OSX, it is simple to use and easy to maintain which means that new computer users can get the hang of it easily. Its only selling so well due to OSX, design, and marketing. Its a shame that the only way people are going to get hold of OSX in a legal way right now is by using a MAC.

Summed up my thoughts on this article. Yes this is an editorial/article not a forum post/thread.
That said I am a windows user all the way but I can certainly understand why so many would prefer OSX, people who just want something that works out of the box. And Apple provide that in a very nice box indeed. I could have bought a MBP myself back in July but then realised my notebook just suit my needs better in everyway. I paid more than I would have paid for a MBP, but it has a better and longer warranty, BR writer, HDMI, the list goes on. Not to mention the workstation GPU.

No its not that simple, it is...''If you want one and can afford one get one.''

If MS doesnt screw up their next job and PC companies continues to make half decent looking notebooks (HP+Dell...etc), then maybe ......................

 

I agree with a lot of what's said in the editorial here, but I actually think Apple will do okay in terms of sales and making $$$, though certainly won't sell near as many laptops had they come out with the rumored $800 Mac. They'll have a healthy profit margin on the current MacBooks so no need to sell a large volume.

IDG had said Apple would have 30 - 40% of the computer market by 2012 (not just education, that's the entire market) and if they are to get there it will definitely involve something that costs under $1,000. I hope next year Apple does bring something slightly lower end in terms of notebooks to make the OS X platform more accessible.

The two USB ports doesn't turn me off, that's all I need. Not having a media card reader or expansion port does remove this as an option for my needs. Plus I just always buy business oriented PCs for various reasons, I'm just not the target market for Apple.

 

Kind of disappointed to see this rather biased article on the NBR homepage

I wouldn't get into the rather overdone Mac vs PC debate

But If at all the author wanted the article to at least look objective, he should have done the price to specs comparison between say a XPS 1330 and the Macbook and not the Inspiron

Comparing the Inspiron with the Macbook is to use a cliche, comparing apples to oranges (no pun intended) or a Kia to a Volkswagen (since Kia vs Porsche would again veer to the other extreme, which I am accusing the OP of)

 

I think also to some degree people get frustrated that even if they want to try OSX or use it, or even try out a Mac in general for the style factor and chic factory, Apple controls all of it and charges a premium price of entry.

You can't customize a macbook, not really. And the limited options (usually 2 per SKU) exclude a lot of nearing mainstream options (no HDMI? really? still?)

It's just a disservice I believe to those who don't have anything against a macbook. They're undoubtedly some of the trendiest and sexiest laptops available. However I think Apple should

A) Lower their prices so it's only a 30% premium over comparable PC's give or take

B) Adopt a more HP or Dell like business model of allowing customers to customize what size HDD, graphics card, speed of CPU, etc they want in their laptop. So people aren't stuck paying for things they dont necessarily want

C) Sell OSX seperately that'll work on any other manufacturer's PC

I would bet money that if Apple did these 3 things, Microsoft would be beyond screwed. I'd wager within 5 years you'd see nearly a 50/50 split marketplace then, and a real competition

Apple though seems content on catering to only the super-high-end consumers and a small chunk of the market

 

But the comparison was preferenced with "average user." That makes all the difference. Average user may think the MAC is better by default do to their (Apple's) misinforming commecrials about Vista problems.

XPS is a Dell premuim that an average user doesn't or may not need, like a Macbook or HP HDX.

One of the reasons why netbooks are selling so well. Average user realizes his needs and has started to question why he/she needs to pay so much for something that does what or more than they need it to do.

 

@ lewdvig, you say "2 GB of RAM is unforgivable in 2008".

In my experience OS X runs fine with 2GB. It's comparable to 3GB in Vista.

 

One major thing that upsets me about this is the fact that they included this minidisplay port and boast about it being the latest greatest thing on earth. But I feel it is the latest greatest head ache. All I wish to do along with millions of others is to hook up my bloody computer to an hdmi tv, and a lot if not all the nice flat panels have hdmi now.

With this machine I am screwed, I need two converters and an alternative way to get audio. that is a disgusting mess if you ask me. I thought Apple always advertises about being user friendly and easier to use. The exact opposite. And no blue ray because of licensing or something, what a crock of you know what. To some I may be nit picking, but this is a deal breaker, along with no eSATA, no higher resolution screen.

 

...so basically, people have since forever been saying that you get a computer with better hardware for less money if you buy a PC than if you buy a Mac, but now suddenly this is newsworthy? Did it come as a chock to you that you can get a better specced PC for less money? Why are you so obsessed with getting what you can not afford in the first place when there are so many alternatives?

All I hear is "Apple sucks, not worth what they cost, bla bla bla bla bla bla, I want to give my money to Apple by buying a cheap computer". Thanks for the info, really useful to me - wait, no it isn't! Who exactly was supposed to find this news post helpful?

Why do you think NBR readers are idiots who can not manage read a spec sheet for themselves?

 

The point is,that we had this same conversation 100000000000...... times ...

And cos there are too much mac "haters",people might get wrong impression on apple.

I myself was a PC man and had a bad allergy on apple,but once I accidentally got one,I changed...

 

I feel bad for you - someone must have a gun to your head to make you read this thread. If you don't like it, don't post here and don't read it.

 

I still don't get it
Apple does not want to enter the rather overcrowded entry level notebook market at this point of time

Maybe because they don't want to lose their brand equity, maybe they feel it makes no business sense from their POV
Whatever it may be, it's their decision to make and it really doesnt make any sense to accuse apple of trying to cheat the average Joe if they don't release an entry level machine

Which also does not change the fact that the comparison in the OP isn't a fair one

Macbook vs a Vaio Z, fair
Macbook vs the XPS 1330, fair again
Macbook vs the Inspiron (not to say Inspirons are bad), grossly unfair

 

The conversation is not limited to NBR members, but rather the whole population, which is filled with many idiots and fanboys who believe in hypes of commercial ads and in other idiots.

Keep it down guys, we don't want this thread to be closed

 

...so it's just the general people who visit NBR who should be treated as idiots? Gotcha

 

I don't like it,but i ll post in it to prove my point

 

Pc 1-0 Mac ?

 

I agree totally with your post, however how is it any different than previous version of macbooks? They were always overpriced.

 

I wasn't referring to anyone who reads this thread, you misunderstood something I corrected it. And the point of this thread is not referring to any individual. The OP was talking about Macs, which is not related to any NBR members.
Thanks for misunderstanding again

Keep it down guys, keep it down

 

The reason many, I don't this is the case with users here, I am talking men in the 40's that are non-tech are getting mac's in the same way they get a Mercedes or a Rolex, they want it because it shows something else than a Dell...and that is why Apple will sell them flying out the window. The represent identity and make a statement more then this is so good I am willing to may so much more for it..

 

1) It's called paying premium for the brand.
2) You get luxuries like backlit keyboard and the ability to experience to experience a powerful chipset first. Yes, adopting technology early does cost you.

I'm kinda disappointed... I thought you would know better than to type up a rant about Apple bring pricey...

 

There is a difference. The engine in a Mercedes is clearly better than, say, a Huyndai. However, there is no difference hardware wise between a Mac and a PC, except for the OS, which doesn't justify the price.

 

We will see how recession proof their busienss model is over the next two quarters. People can live without iPod, iPhones and premium Macs.

I'll always advocate for better deals for consumers and that's nothing I plan on apologizing for.

 

"Perceived" quality and actual quality may differ. Consumers may perceive a certain quality from a product, and this perception may be influenced and altered to a large extent by a company's marketing strategies and its resulting overall brand strength and reputation. In this sense, a consumer may be willing to pay more for a product that they "perceive" to be better than it actually is, which is essentially the topic of discussion in this thread.

Based on substantiative, factual evidence provided by the OP, it is evident that Macs offer little in terms of tangible benefits (or at least, not enough to justify the price premium) for their price. The key here is that this DOES NOT MEAN Macs are overpriced, as frequently cited in various flame threads over the net. This merely means that there are some unique, intangible features of Macs that its consumers are willing to pay extra for. What these unique features are, of course, a subject of an entirely different discussion and something that we will never truly be able to comprehend rationally.

Furthermore, this "irrationality" on the part of Apple consumers cannot be considered or equated as "foolish", since irrationality is at the core of human emotions and judgement. As such, the fact that Apple, trying to maximize shareholder value, can price their products at such a high price premium merely means that it is exploiting irrationality on the part of its consumers.

 

(source: http://www.appleinsider.com/article...ngs_profits_and_cash_embarrass_microsoft.html )

I am going to repeat myself:If apple is that bad,why do apple's sales/profits grow like insane?even with this econ. crisis?

 

I was on the verge of buying an Imac. In my opinion, there's no comparable all-in-one unit on the market. And the price for that unit, IMHO, is proper.

However, I went with something else for a number of reasons related to my needs, though I paid about the same as I would for an iMAC. had there been no alternative and no true assessment of my needs, I would now be the owner of an iMAC. And it's still on my short list in the future.

Will people get the wrong impression of Apple from this thread? Not sure how that would be possible since it's about economics. The correct impression is that MACs cost more than a spec comparable PC. What needs to be ferreted out is why? And is it worth the premium? It may be for some and not others.

Best to let the individual decide with unabashed facts. Apple doesn't need "defending" against detractors per se. Just justification - like any other company.

So while there have been anti-Apple posts a bazzilion times, at least this one starts with hard economic facts and calls into question the price premium that people will face not knowing of the truth of viable alternatives considering their needs. Some of the "I'm a PC and I'm a MAC" commercials, while highly entertaining, are perhaps some of the worst examples of disinformation I've seen in a while by a company to promote their own product. I'm actually surprised such a necessarily and historically innovative company such as APPLE would resort to such low brow tactics. It worries me.

 

@ levdwig:

are you crazy to compare crap with mac's ?

i can see you have no idea (feeling) at all.

stay with your hp's and so on and be happy !