Mac Vs. Dell Price

SISO · #1 10-14-2008, 10:47 PM

Are Macs More Expensive?

I did a little research and compared Dell's most comparable model to Apple's new Mac Book pro.

Dell Studio 17
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5Ghz 899Mhz FSB
17 inch WLED display
3GB Memory
250GB HD @ 5400RPM
256MB ATI RADEON HD 3650
CD/DVD Burner
4 USB 2.0 Ports
Ethernet
8-1 Media Card Reader
HDMI Port
Dual headphone jacks and Mic

Backlit Keyboard
Windows Vista Home Premium

TOTAL: $1399

Macbook Pro

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 1066Mhz FSB
15 Inch LED scren
2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x1GB (memory)
250GB HD @ 5400
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M +9600M GT with 256MB
SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Ethernet/Firewire
2 USBS 2.0 ports
Mini Display Port
Express Card/34
Audio In/Out
Backlit keyboard
Mac OSX

TOTAL $1999

Bottom line:

The Dell is $600 cheaper and you both loose and gain things. You loose some processing and graphics power (maybe not a noticeable amount, depends on what you're doing) but you can a bigger screen and several ports. You also have to put up with Windows haha. But, $600 isn't chump change. So, Macs it would seem, are a bit overpriced for what you get.

CPT. Badmotherfarker · #2 10-14-2008, 11:03 PM

I can build a PC for under what you're talking. Way, way under.

**DAB** · #3 10-15-2008, 01:30 AM

I use to build desktops myself, but with the prices today it isn't worth it. We use HP business machines at the office, but they come with 3 year warranties with next day repair service.

Do you build laptops Bad? I've built many desktops over the years, but never a lappy.

DaJoker · #4 10-15-2008, 08:33 PM

Asus allows you to "build your own" with their white book lines. I have the Z71V provided through work, though it is now a "hackintosh" ;-)

Fergz99 · #5 10-15-2008, 11:55 PM

I used to be one of the people saying the price of a Mac just isn't worth it, but after playing around with a friends macbook i am going with a mac in the near future.

Not having to use windows really is worth the extra money.

MM · #6 10-16-2008, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fergz99

I

Not having to use windows really is worth the extra money.

And not having to worry about viruses, etc... is a good thing.

Deacon · #7 10-16-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MM

And not having to worry about viruses, etc... is a good thing.

I never got the whole 'no viruses' thing with a mac. I have been using a pc for ~20 years and have gotten maybe 2 viruses in all that time. Keep in mind that I have surfed many questionable sites (porn, hacker sites, freeware/shareware, gaming sites, etc)...and that is on top of the fact that the majority of virus writers are writing for Windows.

Anyone have a good explanation, or am I just in the minority?

limegrass69 · #8 10-16-2008, 08:28 AM

I like the idea of the Mac. They look pretty cool, and a few friends of mine love them. The times I played around with them, I found them to be pretty intuitive and I like the interface.
My problem is that some of the things I need for work (like a Bloomberg) do not work on a Mac. So, that more or less knocks me out of the box.

DaJoker · #9 10-16-2008, 08:50 AM

Ah, but they DO work on a Mac. Just get VMWare Fusion or Parallels and run a copy of XP alongside OSX. It will allow you access to those windows applications somewhat natively right in OSX. No rebooting into windows like with Bootcamp. It works GREAT. I have to have IE to test websites at work, and I use VMWare Fusion all the time for this. There really is no excuse for not switching to a Mac these days.

limegrass69 · #10 10-16-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaJoker

Ah, but they DO work on a Mac. Just get VMWare Fusion or Parallels and run a copy of XP alongside OSX. It will allow you access to those windows applications somewhat natively right in OSX. No rebooting into windows like with Bootcamp. It works GREAT. I have to have IE to test websites at work, and I use VMWare Fusion all the time for this. There really is no excuse for not switching to a Mac these days.

Hmmm...good thought. Maybe I'll give that a shot. If I can't get what I want out of it for work, I can always give it to my wife to use. Although, I have a feeling she'll commandeer the computer if I were to get a Mac.