shawn Bailey

Apple's New MacBook: Favorable Price Comparison to Dell

Hey sleeper, don't worry, I'm not letting the admiration for Apple skew my pov. They didn't HAVE to release leopard, but it keeps with their development schedules. 10.4, Tiger was more than stable and even outdid Vista on quite a few things. The 10.3, .4, .5 stuff isn't "fixing" or "servicing" the systems, they're updating and adding features. SP2 made XP more stable and fixed bugs, it didn't add anything new worth paying for - this is also why Apple charges for the .4, .5, etc. and why SP2 was free. I don't think I dissed XP in my comment, I do use it every day (because my job's system only runs on IE because of VBScript). It's a good system.

And, 10.5 can be used for business. Except for IE, I do everything for my job at a software company on my Mac - mail, spreadsheets, documents, PDFs, etc. I don't know where people get this idea that Macs can't run businesses or do specific things.

I also see what you're saying about the laptop comparisons as well. But, Apple doesn't make a "mass" laptop. They have three models. You have to compare something with similar specs right? Would you put a Civic against a CLK? Probably not.

OK, I don't have much else, I'm off to work again! Have a good day.

Apple's New MacBook: Favorable Price Comparison to Dell

@Biggy

I'm user 157077 and I decided to check this again and saw your wonderfully incoherent reply!!!

First off, I wasn't trying to bring up the "MACs are more expensive..." argument. The user I pointed out did. Basically saying that this XPS should be compared to the top of the line model at Apple just to prove a price point. That's wrong. As you can CLEARLY see here, Sparky, the prices don't differ much for machines spec'd out similarly. Apple sells higher end models (even the entry-level) than do HP and Dell. You think Apple would EVER sell a model with a Centrino chip in it? Now? Like Dell still does? Compaq? HP? Those are bargain basement machines and get bargain basement parts.

OS X vs Vista - no contest dude. OS X wipes the floor with it. Even PC Magazine says it. There have NO overtly positive reviews for Vista since it came out and NO compelling reason to upgrade (or downgrade depending on your perspective). OS X has far better integration with its programs than Vista does and it's known a fact. Apple builds with the user in mind and Vista copies what others do and expects people to figure it out. I guarantee that the iLife stuff works far better than the amalgamation of programs MS decided to throw into the system.

Really? Fingerprint reader? Is this what people think matters? No. Normal, everyday consumers have no need for that. It's just a worthless feature that was added to add "value" to the system. It's not worth anything. Card reader? Well, some people find it helpful. I personally have a card reader from my Windows Dungeon days and it works fine on both OS X and XP for me. So, I think I'm OK without that "feature" too.

And finally, SP1 is to make Vista USABLE! It's to fix the crap they didn't get right the first time. 10.5 is essentially a new version of OS X. They didn't just fix some bugs and call it a new system. There were complete system underpinnings revamped, three or four new features that add value to the system added, and some logical progression. It's not just some excuse to gather money. BTW - while OS X has had 5 iterations now, each with their own merits and foundations to build on, Windows has struggled with 2 service packs and an operating system pushed back for years and stripped of the features that were supposed to make it amazing. Who exactly is behind the curve here? And, they're talking about Win7 because nobody wants Vista!!! Why is Dell offering Ubuntu? Why are companies offering XP downgrades? Get a clue!!!!!

Apple's New MacBook: Favorable Price Comparison to Dell

hahaha @ user 157072!

Good try with the whole getting your "macs are more expensive" argument ground into mush. Dude, look around and do some research. If you spec out similar Macs and Dell, HPs, etc., you'll see that they price is always pretty similar. And, as you see here, sometimes the commodity box builder versions are more expensive. The reason for the "more expensive" argument is because those guys sell junk for $400 while Apple has made it clear they won't ship cheap, bottom of the bin junk.

And no, the XPS shouldn't be compared to the MBP just so you can have a mini-victory. They're not in the same segment. Just like the MBA isn't in the XPS segment, that's in a completely different segment. The comparison above is extremely accurate and relevant. You're just upset about your our grapes.

And, Vista is a bomb - why else would they already be talking about "Windows 7" with Vista only being out for a year or so? Yeah, must be a blockbuster of a system... It's not, I've used it.