Thread

It’s looking like I can go to Dell.com and get a configured similarly to a new $1600 MacBook for about $1450 with ~$500 of “instant savings”, whatever that means.

Feature             Macbook 13in             Dell XPS M1530
Processor           Intel C2D 2.4ghz         Intel C2D 2.4ghz
Memory              2GB DDR3                 4GB DDR2                
Storage             250GB 5400RPM Drive      250GB 7200RPM Drive
Graphics            nVidia 9400M 256MB       nVidia 8600M GT
Weight              4.5lbs                   5.78lbs
Battery             5 hrs                    unclear
Cost                $1599                    $1449

So, for $150 less, you can get something that significantly edges out the MacBook in terms of performance: the “GT” line of mobile GPUs are significantly more muscular than the non GT—the 8600M GT is 20% faster than the 9400M in synthetic tests. The increased standard memory size and faster spinning disk also make it more suitable for performance tasks.

If you’re willing to sacrifice a little performance, you can drop down into the sub-$1200 range, which gets you a 2.1GHz processor but a worse graphics card. Also, note that the XPS M1530 was released for Christmas last year.

The takeaway from this is that there is an Apple Tax, but it’s shrunk significantly since the PowerPC days. Also, the Apple Tax creeps up as their models age. For instance, the Mac Pros are extraordinarily expensive for their parts at the moment, simply because they haven’t increased the specs or dropped prices very recently.

thurting you have found “a” laptop that is cheaper than the MacBook Pro, you’ve not linked to a laptop that is in the same class.  Where’s the LED display, the DDR3 memory?  Your configured HP is a closer tech match to the $1600 MacBook, and I’d still rather have the MacBook on basis of the quality of the display, the touchpad, the backlit keyboard, the size, weight, and ability to run real OS X alongside any other OSes I might need.

Nick, same points.  It’s not a “tax” to get a LED vs. LCD display.  The two aren’t even in the same class.  It’s also larger, made out of less durable materials, and does not have an input device that compares to Apple’s new glass trackpads.  It’s fine to say that there are cheaper computers than Apple, but you’re fooling yourself if you think that these differences are insignificant or irrelevant to the price.  Find me a vendor that is shipping a laptop with anything that’s even a copycat of these features.  You’ll likely end up looking at Sony to get close, and spending more than you would with Apple.  And in two years, your laptop will still be worth less than the Apple.

@Derek

LED display and DDR3 are icing: DDR3 isn’t significantly faster than dual-channel DDR2, and LED backlights aren’t higher quality than standard tech, just better for the environment. How much value do you derive from a backlit keyboard—most people I talk to don’t use it very often? Or the glass touchpad, is it really a feature instead of a perk?

What I’m saying is that there are people who buy computers and there are people who buy Apple computers. Just like there are people who buy gin, and there are people who buy Hendricks. Some people buy rum, some people buy Rhum Clement and Rhum Barbancourt. I buy Apple computers. I also buy Hendricks and Rhum Barbancourt. It all depends on what you want and how much you’re willing to give up to get it.

I’m fine with that choice, Nick, some of those features don’t mean squat to some people.  And in that case, Apple doesn’t offer a computer in line with the class of machine that would satisfy that user’s needs.  What I take issue with is people claiming that the price is exorbitantly higher when compared to similarly classed computers from other manufacturers.  As your own analogy gives credence: any extra money spent is not simply tossed into the fire.  You’re getting value for your dollar whether you spend it at Apple or on another manufacturer’s device.  Whether you are fine with Heaven Hill instead of Grey Goose is another matter for personal taste, but you cannot make the argument that Heaven Hill is comparable to Grey Goose.

Incidentally, LED/LCD arguments aside, I think Apple’s displays are consistently better than the average display.  I even felt that this was a myth myself until spending half a month with a non-Apple displays this summer.

And I’ll exit this thread having made the points I wished to, with a link for thought.
http://technologizer.com/2008/08/14/are-macs-more-expensive-lets-do-the-math-once-and-for-all/

I’m fine with that choice, Nick, some of those features don’t mean squat to some people.  And in that case, Apple doesn’t offer a computer in line with the class of machine that would satisfy that user’s needs.  What I take issue with is people claiming that the price is exorbitantly higher when compared to similarly classed computers from other manufacturers.  As your own analogy gives credence: any extra money spent is not simply tossed into the fire.  You’re getting value for your dollar whether you spend it at Apple or on another manufacturer’s device.  Whether you are fine with Heaven Hill instead of Grey Goose is another matter for personal taste, but you cannot make the argument that Heaven Hill is comparable to Grey Goose.

I’d just like to add that I completely agree with you. If I had the money, I would’ve gone for the Macbook with Bootcamp/VMWare. The fact is that I’m a mere student and don’t have a lot of money. Not the money for a macbook anyway. So in that case, the Dell was a better choice. In line with Husher’s analogy, I bought an XPS and not a Studio, because I knew build quality would be better.

thurting you have found “a” laptop that is cheaper than the MacBook Pro, you’ve not linked to a laptop that is in the same class.  Where’s the LED display, the DDR3 memory?  Your configured HP is a closer tech match to the $1600 MacBook, and I’d still rather have the MacBook on basis of the quality of the display, the touchpad, the backlit keyboard, the size, weight, and ability to run real OS X alongside any other OSes I might need.

You’re right.  If you are editing videos on your notebook then the Mac is for you.

FYI, the displays on the HPs are very nice.  But who needs it?  It’s a 15.4” screen.  IMO, the monitor they announced is sexier than the notebook.