| Author | Message | ||
     sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 12712 Registered: 10-2001  |
Dell is at it again with some crazy deals on PCs, laptops and other goodies. Go to this Slickdeals thread and find the best Dell coupons for what you want to buy. http://slickdeals.net/forums/t54792.html?&page=1&pp=15 and go to this link for extra savings... http://eppholiday.rjk.com/ | ||
| Earlster Citizen Username: Earlster Post Number: 722 Registered: 8-2003  |
$350 off an Inspiron Notebook at $1999 or more Code: $BF3X8HDW6KS9T | ||
| Analog01 Citizen Username: Analog01 Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2004 |
Get an Apple. | ||
| Dego Diva Citizen Username: Fmingione Post Number: 147 Registered: 12-2003 |
Yes, get an Apple!! | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 4587 Registered: 1-2003  |
It's computer buying time, and I am sorely tempted to buy an Apple. Apples are superior in every way. It used to be that Apples were for people who don't care about technology, they just wanted to get a job done. Apples did the job well, because their hardware was conceived, designed, implemented and tested well. Besides the fact that the designs were superior, they tested the shinola out of their stuff, and that's a cultural difference between the Apple world and the PC world, not a technical difference. Along came OS X, based on UNIX, which is my first love. Now, techies like me love Apples just as much as the appliance users. And who could argue with that? I never owned an Apple, though. Always used PC's. At work, I used UNIX workstations, because they are more comfortable than Windows, for me. Somewhere along the line, I gave in to the dark side and got more comfortable with Windows on the desktop. It doesn't suck as much as it used to. I've tried Linux, and it's OK, but there are always dozens of niggling problems, and the sources of the fixes are too far flung, even for me, and I'm a system administrator by trade! I use Linux as a server at work, but I don't love it as a desktop OS. It's computer buying time for the family. I think I can get along with the fact that some applications are written only for Windows. What I can't get over is the price difference. I'm not saying Apple overcharge. I'm saying it's hard to say that I'm getting 2.5 times the functionality of a Windows system, and I believe that is the price differential. But please, convince me. | ||
| Dave Citizen Username: Dave Post Number: 597 Registered: 4-1998  |
Total cost of ownership for PCs and Macs is about the same when you factor in a lot of things that come standard with a Mac that you pay extra for on a PC, eg. ability to create a PDF from any document, font management software, dvd creation software, Garage Band, and iPhoto. Macs are more intuitive in every way and a lot more fun, especially with unix running the show. And of course the other reasons: http://www.apple.com/switch/whyswitch/ | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 4590 Registered: 1-2003 |
Your assumption that I would buy that software is faulty. That web page has some good reasons, and I'm on the brink of agreeing with you, but the cost factor still looms. | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4569 Registered: 4-1998 |
Which of the reasons on the Apple site do you find appealing? | ||
| Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 4593 Registered: 1-2003 |
1 and 2, for starters. Also, that it doesn't suck and isn't Microsoft dominated. Also, I'll be able to get in under the hood. I'd be able to hook up a wheelie mouse, right? Can't live without that. | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4570 Registered: 4-1998 |
Yes to wheelie. Under the hood at the moment on my G4 PowerBook:  | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 12726 Registered: 10-2001 |
Apple is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay overpriced. | ||
| AlleyGater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2004 |
I think the most compelling reason to switch from PC to Mac is the total and utter lack of viruses, security holes in the OS, and internet spyware, adware and popup windows. The biggest complaints by most users of MS Windows users are these problems. With a Mac right out of the box, you avoid the worst PC related issues. I would also mention that Apple is not in the under $1,000 market. If your looking for the cheapest, lowest priced machine, well then go PC. But if your looking for a more sophisticated (above $1,000) machine well then I think you will find that Apple makes extremely competitive machines. SERIOUSLY. The argument that Macs are more expensive is an old myth. Take a look at the bottom of the line new white G5 imac. $1299 gets you A LOT OF BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html Gather all those features and put them into a PC and I doubt HIGHLY that it will cost less. And even if it did, I am sure it wouldn't be nearly as well designed. Whether you like the look of that machine or not, you can't help admiring the sheer beauty of the engineering and design. Apple definitely does something REALLY RIGHT. Fortunately for us, the OS is rock solid and the hardware is affordable. | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4577 Registered: 4-1998 |
Bingo. If your time is worthless, go for a PC. Speaking as a business owner, the downtime I experienced in my PC days would probably cost me a few thousand dollars a year today. The total cost of ownership of a Mac is lower for me. It's a simple value proposition. | ||
| sbenois Citizen Username: Sbenois Post Number: 12727 Registered: 10-2001 |
Most of the viruses and spyware issues you mention can be handled very simply - by moving to Firefox or other FREE browsers. And Dave, when exactly were your PC days? XP is enormously stable. I rarely have any kind of problem. And for $1299, I can buy a PC that gives me more bang for the buck than anything I can get from Apple. | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4578 Registered: 4-1998 |
I use XP Pro now on a Dell desktop for stats software I sometimes need to use. Maybe you should buy a Mac so you have a basis for comparison.  | ||
| Mayor McCheese Citizen Username: Mayor_mccheese Post Number: 52 Registered: 7-2004  |
I believe the reason that macs are so overpriced is because they all come from apple. I believe that just about all the hardware if it is not being sold by apple has to go though apple to be sold. On the flipside, there are lots of companies selling PCs, more competition means lower prices. Also, Mac people are very loyal, and will pay extra to not have to use a PC running the dreadful windows. Personally I use a PC. While it may not be as good hardware-wise, there are many more options for it, and the prices are unbelievable. I built a computer last year, and just bought a new one a few days ago. For $250 how can you go wrong? | ||
| monster Citizen Username: Monster Post Number: 393 Registered: 7-2002  |
Yes Apple computers are a little overpriced, even on the MacCentric forums I visit on a regular basis that seems to be the general consensus. The cost out of your pocket seems a little high when you purchase a new one, but if you decide to sell it...you will get back more than you would with a pc. If you are comparing what you get for the price of a new Mac VERSUS what you would have to spend on a pc to equal that, the cost is equal to or greater on the pc. In most cases it is greater, at least if you buy your software for the pc. So are they really overpriced? Seems to be a personal opinion, my opinion is that they are not. I use both platforms also, along with a little Linux and Unix on occasion. If told I could have and use only one, I would go for the Mac. Some more links: http://www.g4techtv.com/techtvvault/features/31407/Judgment_Call_Mac_vs_PC_pg1.h tml http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Systems/Apple/Macintosh/Advocacy_and_E vangelism/?il=1 http://www.macinstein.com/ http://www.macvspc.info/ http://www.macnj.org/ http://www.macoszone.com/files.php?id=738 http://www.macwindows.com/ Run OS X on your XBox, http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~ranma1/mac_install.html yadda-yadda-yadda...blah-blah-woof-woof just get what you get, because you got what you got. | ||
| DeborahG Citizen Username: Deborahg Post Number: 1087 Registered: 5-2001  |
I am thinking about a Mac laptop...especially if anyone has one they could sell me cheap! Then if I like the laptop, I would make the move to dump the PC.... | ||
| monster Citizen Username: Monster Post Number: 396 Registered: 7-2002 |
You could always go to the Apple online store, http://www.apple.com/store/ , and then scroll down and click on the red "SAVE" tag, this will take you to the refurb page where you can get some pretty good deals, and they come with a full Apple warranty. You need to check it out at least onece a day as the items sell out very quickly. Right now they have several eMacs and a few Powerbooks. While you are there, don't forget to check out the sale, promo, and rebate links also. | ||
| Dave Moderator Username: Dave Post Number: 4594 Registered: 4-1998 |
Good place for "previously owned" Macs http://www.macofalltrades.com/ |
