Apple punts on lower-cost MacBook
By not coughing up a low-cost MacBook, as some had expected, Apple has ceded a potentially huge market to PC makers. But is this just all part of Apple's marketing genius?
$999 is as low as Apple will go.
(Credit: Apple)The announcement Tuesday of the $999 white polycarbonate MacBook was pretty ho-hum as product refreshes go (same price, same color as before) but the implication was important: Apple is surrendering a large, emerging laptop market to Microsoft and its coterie of PC makers.
Not that it's necessarily a bad strategy. Market researcher Gartner said recently that Apple's shipments in the U.S. grew year-over-year by 6.8 percent to total 1.57 million during the third quarter, putting it right behind Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Acer. Comparatively, overall PC shipments in the U.S. grew by 3.5 percent from a year earlier.
But among those unimpressive overall PC numbers (HP's third-quarter shipments grew only 2.7 percent), was an impressive statistic for Acer: buoyed by Netbooks, Acer's shipments grew by 61.4 percent year-over-year, and it blew past Dell to become the No. 2 PC maker worldwide based on this growth.
Granted, Netbooks are a relatively low-profit segment (i.e., profit on a $400 Netbook is going to be a lot less than that on a $999 laptop). Nevertheless, they're a hot market. Intel CEO Paul Otellini has stated numerous times that Intel was able to create a market that grew faster than either the iPhone or Nintendo Wii. Case in point: Windows 7-based Acer Netbooks are now big on the Home Shopping Network--which claims to have sold more than 5,000 in one segment on Saturday.
And that's not the only market Apple is punting on. A new category of inexpensive, thin laptops has emerged with the roll-out of Windows 7 on Thursday. Like Netbooks, these laptops are light (typically 4 pounds) and don't include an optical drive. But they are relatively powerful and full featured. The 15.6-inch Acer Aspire Timeline, for example, with a 320GB hard disk drive and dual-core Intel processor is fairly well-endowed at only $500.
Apple is not receiving a lot kudos in the mainstream business press by sticking to its $999 guns. The Wall Street Journal said that users can get roughly equivalent laptops for a lot less at Dell and HP. And other publications have said that Apple is not just ignoring new market realities but, in fact, ignoring the Mac lineup as a whole in favor of the iPhone.
So, do consumers lose by not getting the chance to buy a competitive low-cost Apple MacBook? The short answer to that rhetorical questions is yes--because Apple offers no alternative to, for example, a thin, light $650 HP Pavilion dm3 laptop.
But an apples-to-apples (pun not intended) comparison shows that while Apple skimps on a couple of white MacBook features, it's not an egregiously bad deal for $999. Let's do a quick side-by-side of the cheapest MacBook with a mainstream HP laptop.
• For $999, you get white polycarbonate wrapped around a 13.3-inch 1280-by-800 LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, a 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, a 250GB (5400RPM) hard disk drive, an optical drive, and the standard wireless features. All in a 4.7-pound package.
• For $997, HP will sell you (online) an HP Pavilion dv3t series with a 13.3-inch 1280-by-800 LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of memory, a 500GB (5400RPM) hard disk drive, an optical drive, and the standard wireless features. Also, in 4.7-pound package.
Apple beats the HP by a hair in the processor category and loses in the memory and storage departments. If polycarbonate is, in fact, better than the plastics HP uses, then that aspect of the design would be a win for Apple.
The real win, though, is for Apple the company. It avoids the cut-throat sub-$900 laptop market and still sells--quite profitably--a lot of laptops. But will Apple be able to snub this growing market of inexpensive Windows 7 laptops indefinitely? We should know in about six months when Gartner reports first-quarter 2010 numbers.
Brooke Crothers has served as an editor at large at CNET News, an editor at Dow Jones' Asian Wall Street Journal Weekly, and a senior editor at InfoWorld. His CNET blog covers chip technology and computer systems, and how they define the computing experience. He also contributes to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. Follow Brooke on Twitter @mbrookec. 
and even if that rumour is false, look at Nintendo they are yet to drop the price of the Wii and still aren't having trouble selling them. I realise the Wii is cheaper than the rest, but the point is desirability. Apple clearly don't feel they have lost that yet.
From $249 to $199.
acer timeline 15.6" LED backlit screen full HD, less that 1" thick, with optical drive, 320GB hard drive standard, 3GB memory, 8+ hours of battery life, aluminum skin, dual core intel processor, about 4 pounds, has all the wireless options you could ask for, HD sound output, HD webcam, all of this standard for under $500. Oh and it runs windows 7.
you id(&s. Acer runs Intel's CULV processor where MacBook runs on full Core2!
no wireless N, Acer is not 13". (highly portable get it?)
[CNET editor's note: Offensive language deleted.]
Less than 1" thick IS highly portable. You asked a question that you thought you already knew the answer to and got an answer you didn't want to hear from someone who knows more than you. Face it. You lose.
"show me a windoze laptop that can provide 7 hrs battery life at this form factor "
umm..Acer Timeline 13". Smaller form factor and can provide 7 hours of battery life. End of discussion.
Apple has a run for their money with Windows 7 and the new crop of hardware that goes with it. They cannot punt for long. Eventually their growth will halt and by that time it may be too late to turn it around again.
Snow Leopard is nice but so is Windows 7 (I have both) so it'll come down to OS preference and if you want to pay the Apple tax.
I would'nt trade this hot computer for anything Apple makes.
You guys are running in circles chasing your tails if you really think Apple has a chance against Windows 7.
Your crazy.
Wow! :)
People should compare Mac and PC based on the OS (the mind) not the hardware (the brain).
I've really never seen 1. what the big hype about getting viruses is, because if you take care of your computer and run antivirus and antispyware (the best of which you can get for FREE, Jerrelbroo2), you shouldn't get them, and 2. what the big deal is with Macs and OS X. They're not anything special. OS X is vastly overmatched by Windows in the software department, and the hardware might be pretty, but it's also nothing special.
The bottom line is: Apple isn't going to get close to Microsoft in the OS market, just as Microsoft will never get close to Apple in the PMP market.
You may want to look up "downsampling", because that's what your laptop has to do (and will do until that screen gets built with a much higher rez. The best you can hope for is 720p). FWIW, the MacBooks work the same way, and can play the same files. :)
You can keep Street Fighter IV - I prefer rendering CG stills and movies on my gear, and having an audio suite that's actually worth a damn. :)
==
"Solution: Buy a PC and install OSX on it"
Funny, I'm typing this on one. :)
Actually when you connect a HDMI cable from a machine such as the HP Mini 311 to a LCD, it automatically switched to 1920X1080 when you turn the computer monitor off using the nifty Projector Utility in Windows 7.
1080p playing from a 13GB file and DTS digital all coming through an HDMI cable.
Sure quicktime didnt choke when I tried to play the same file on my iMac. Quicktime on a iMac with Core2 Duo just could not handle it. A $399 NETBOOK with a dual core ATOM did.
Both of you'll are absolutely right. Mac OS is far superior than Windows. No question about it. However, it's not the OS or the hardware that's the biggest selling point to anyone (with the exception of limited people). The only 2 selling points for everyone (especially businesses) is price and software compatibility.
Anything and everything works on Windows (including Mac softwares which you can run through emulators - not popular but available). How many Windows softwares & games do you think work on a Mac. Yes, the number is big, but NOT EVERY SOFTWARE which is a key difference.
In terms of price point, yes, PC is much more attractive than Mac since it's cheaper. However, the way I look at it is, with a PC you are not stuck with one company. YOU HAVE A CHOICE between HP, Dell, Acer, Toshiba, Sony, and even a Mac can run Windows. So unlike a Mac, windows is not limited to a specific hardware platform. And that drives competition, always an advantage for consumers.
When it comes to businesses, the hardware is not a priority. What's important is the price point and even more importantly backward compatibility. And 99% of Enterprise software is designed for Windows. Of course all new software is Web based, but even that a lot of software are designed exclusively for IE. On the other hand the Server side is still for Windows or UNIX. Yes. OS X is sort of a UNIX flavor but again coming back to the price point, why would I spend so much on a server which only does the number crunching when I can get the same thing on Linux where the OS is FREE and I am only paying for service contracts and it's 100% Open source - customizable specific to each enterprise requirements.
Anybody who has ever used a computer has used Windows at some point in their lives, either at work or home or both. How many people have ever even touched a Mac? Less than a billion (saying this based on the fact that Mac has less than 10% of the world computer market - with 7B population). I am not saying Mac is not as good. Mac definitely has it's users. I just find it interesting when people try to compare Mac to PC. It's not comparing apples-to-apples. Because it's not just the hardware you are buying. You are also buying the Operating System that comes along with that hardware which makes them completely different and no price can ever compare than.
In the end I see both have their plus and minuses. For a Mac, yes it's a great computer providing awesome experience but unreachable for an Avg joe due to the price point and unappealing due to limited enterprise penetration. Windows on the other hand, reaches everyone including the people who can barely make ends meet. it's widely used in Enterprise market which makes it even more appealing.
Just my personal opinion - Morally speaking I would rather have a cheap PC with a decent running OS. This way everyone in the world including people in poor countries in Asia and Africa can afford it rather than making an expensive computer with the best OS that is unreachable to the mass audience. And that's the difference between Microsoft and Apple.
WOW windows 7 does this? I have been running OS X Frontrow and Hulu desktop like this for over a year. WOW, M$ is really in the lead. My, like everyone's mac has a remote that comes with it. Should we talk about the built in webcam and iCat?
One would get better information from the 18-year old student who buys a MacBook over Dell and all the others. Unbiased by commodity-driven, 'How cheap can we get?' business models and marketing hype, she listens to all her happy Mac-owning friends and recognizes a better value when she sees one. Fortunately Apple follows such customers rather than CNET or the Wall Street Journal in developing its products.
AAPL's strategy today is to get them to buy an Touch or iPhone and get drawn into the Mac world via iTunes etc. Then, when they're not so price sensitive they'll migrate from a PC to an Apple. I think this strategy has driven much of AAPL's recent sales growth. However, I still find it a risky strategy to let your competition own the segment that is where tomorrow's customers begin......
1. Applecare ($249) and the HP warranty ($299) both 3 year warranties
2. One machine will come with Vista and tons of trial software with warnings of expiration
3. One will have Apple Care and one will have HP Customer Care(this is Laughable)
4. One will come with a good OS and one will come with Vista or Vista finished (7)
5. One will come with real software (ILife) and IWork($49.00) and one will come with Microsoft Works
When it is all done both machines will cost 1300.00 dollars.
The bottom line there is no comparison. I have been a windows users for 15 years now. There is no comparison. Apple is wining this argument.
2) Rather a moot point. Uninstall or do a clean install. My Mac Came with iTunes crapware. Still it's a fair point if it's worth not taking the time to uninstall it. I think companies charge about 50 bucks or less. Point to Apple 50 bucks.
3) Same as #1.
4) Both OS's are good. Some prefer one, some the other. No point to either.
5) I tried to figure out how to write a paper on a native Mac and failed. I don't like works but I can write a paper on it. Point to Windoze.
So your 699 HP is now a 1050 machine and your MacBook is now a 1250 machine. (Assuming you didn't pay apple to remove quicktime and itunes from infesting it like I do the PC side of the world).
HP still wins.
Of course I didn't buy my MacBook for those reasons. When you say there is no comparison, the realiy is, that there is. They can be compaired. For my use OS X is annoying, but I'm working with it to try and see if I can learn the shortcuts and such that may make it seem like a productive OS.
and besides, most computers come with windows 7 now and if your like me (gaming, video, multi-tasking) then you would love Window 7.
The machines come with Windows 7, and yeah, there's trial stuff. +1 Apple.
3. Same point as the first. -1 for you
4. This is a stupid argument. -1 for you
5. They don't include Microsoft Works, and iWork isn't free. iLife is equivalent to Windows Live Essentials, which it comes with. All the new iLife features were stolen from Live. -1 for you
So it's a tie, and you're a loser.
Yes. Apple is whining this argument.
miquonranger03 - The features that Apple has copied from MS in Garageband are?
I do not know anything about HPs warranties. I do know that when I have gone to get my macs serviced, the techs will often go beyond the minimum requirement to fix my MacBooks under the Extended Warranty. The store is a 10 minute drive from my house. When repairs are done, I often get it back w/in 24hours.
Where do you bring your HP to get repaired? Also, the idea that you buy a brand new computer and have to wipe the drive to do a clean install is no bother is flat out dumb unless you are a hobbyist and want to spend your time that way. Also, calling iTunes crapware is certainly your right. I find it great and it has changed the music business forever. If the the motion picture industry would just let Apple have their catalogs to sell and rent, it would be just great
The links below show the results of research on whether owners are happy with their pcs. Apple does well as you will notice.
Info on Customer Satisfaction with Apple:
http://theacsio.nexcess.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=157&c=Apple
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10222213-37.html
To uninstall a typical app (e.g. iTunes) on a Mac:
1) Go to Applications.
2) drag the application icon from that window to the Trash Can icon down on your dock.
3) done.
To uninstall a typical app on Windows:
1) Start -> Control Panel
2) If it's XP, "Add/Remove Programs". If it's Vista/7, "Programs" -> "Uninstall a program" (unless you're in classic view, in which case IIRC it lurks in "Programs and Features").
3) If it's a 3rd-party app, it should (well, maybe) show up in the list that pops up. Otherwise, if it's a Windows component, you have to click "Turn Windows features on or off" in the left-hand pane. If you want to ditch an update, select "View Installed Updates" in the left-hand pane. We'll stick with 3rd-party apps so that this list doesn't become a tree, so...
4) select the program, then click the "Uninstall" button that shows up above the list once you select an app.
5) Click "Yes" on the popup that comes up (no, it doesn't make sense, but...)
6) wait for the app's uninstall function to finish (and usually click "finish" in that popup window when it's done)
7) run a registry cleaner to get rid of the detritus that most apps leave behind in it.
8) note that this will probably not uninstall the crapware (e.g. Ask.com toolbar) that often comes with a lot of apps these days, so you may have to go back, get those, then clean up the registry again just to be sure.
9) Check to make sure the app you just uninstalled didn't leave behind file extension associations pointing to it. Now that it's gone, clicking on a file that is associated to it will bring a popup that asks you what else you want to open the file with.
"I tried to figure out how to write a paper on a native Mac and failed."
Open the app named "Text Edit" (it's in Applications, which by default can be opened from the dock). Save as .doc or .pdf, your pick. Same basic controls as "Works".
Dog! How "often" is it in the shop?
OpenOffice is available for OS X as well.
Yes, but the point he was making was that you dont need to pay for an office suite for Windows, even though it doesnt come with one like Macintosh.
Keynote > Powerpoint all day long.
A family pack of 5, iWork 09 is $84 on Amazon.
I am assuming you are using Numbers as a novice user. Learn to use to the true potentials of Excel and you will realize Numbers is just 1% as good as Excel. The biggest feature of Excel which is NOT available in Numbers is MACROS. In case you don't know what that is, if you are doing something repeatedly created Macros allows you to automate that task. Try finding that in Numbers.
Secondly, connected to Databases & OLAP applications (essential for Enterprise). Try connecting Numbers to SAP or Oracle Apps (the two largest Enterprise application vendors in the world).
For childs play yes Numbers does pretty much what a kid would do in Excel. Move over to the big league and you will see there's no use for Numbers.
There are tons of 3rd party apps for Excel. How many do you think are available for Numbers? Excel didn't just become the #1 enterprise tool for spreadsheet and data mining. Speak with anyone in Finance (any company) and I bet 90% of them use Excel for number crunching.
And here's the biggest example. Apple knows Numbers is nothing compared to Excel which is why they had to provide an option to "Save As Excel". If Numbers was that good, I wonder why Apple would provide that option. Do you see any option in iTunes to save as WMV?
For the PC or Mac.
FREE!
Pavilion dv3t
1) 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader
2) HDMI
3) eSATA port
You guys are ikidding right? How do you connect a Macbook to your HDTV? No card readers or eSata port but you want me to spend $999 for what?
Apple had it's chance with Vista, but Windows 7 domanance will be bigger than Windows XP.
You guys never mention GAMING and APPLICATIONS. Why you APple zeolots never mention these IMPORTANT areas of computing that drive sales. What do you Apple guys do all day? Just check email, and make a couple of documents iLife?
Maybe your uses for a computer are so simple it just doent warrent that you need real computing power of a Windows 7 machine?
Please share with us what are you actually getting done on your Mac SL that Windows 7 can't blow through without thinking. It sure isn't using a simple Paint program I tell you that.. oh what, I know, as a Mac user I should be using $400 Photoshop because Mac users are all rich.
FIND ME A MAC PAINT APP TP SIMPLY EDIT PICTURES? You guys don't even have that out the box.
http://www.versiontracker.com/php/qs.php?mode=basic&action=search&str=paint&srchArea=macosx&submit=Go
3 pages of them right there. Take your pick.
iPhoto and Preview are included with the Mac and provide various editing functions too.
My point is is this fair? Why should a new user of this uber expensive computer have to go looking for a simple Paint application. I bring this up becasue my Wife owns am iMac and the other day wanted to comp some simple ideas for a project she is working on. So she says "wheres the simple paint application in this Mac?". Her only otpion was to hog up time on my PC to get this task done. Sure Apple could make a killer stock Paint application, but their focus has always been too smug to provide what users need instead of what they want.
I just can't understand why even today Windows still can't index pdf.
Yeah, these days they put out more games for the Mac, but still, during my formative years a preference was made.
And these comparisons to Dells and HPs are moot. Most power users build their own PCs with the components they choose, from a wide variety of vendors. This was also something missing in the 80s and 90s. Shopping for Mac accessories was like a Soviet ballot. Take it or leave it, but don't ask for choice. And when that one accessory cost half as much as a comparable "PC" accessory, it got really annoying. And mind you, I remembered the vaunted Big Brother commercial, so this sales approach vexed me a lot during my idealistic college years.
You seem to be using 10-year-old arguments. Instead of naming an application (Paint? Really, you use that?) that you could've googled and seen plenty of free Mac equivalents (or if you're just touching up photos, the included iPhoto), how about pointing out some actual Windows software that has no equivalent on the Mac? It's possible, but not as easy anymore. And it's not like you can't run Windows software natively on a Mac if you really want to.
As an above poster points out, software actually makes the Mac a good deal. There's no equivalent to iPhoto or iMovie, which come free with new Macs, and several of Apple's productivity apps are cheaper and better than the Office equivalents.
eSata? for the market this MacBook is aimed at an eSata is pointless, FireWire makes more sense and Apple even chose to avoid that. FireWire is (mostly) for hard drives eSata is for hard drives - consumers buy USB hard drives.
Card reader - yes it lacks a card reader but come, really? I wouldn't really lose sleep over that. It's nice on the new iMacs and MacBook Pros but again would really care if it didn't come with one.
Now there are specs you'll find on the Macbook like DD3 RAM and 9400 GeForce that you won't get on the HP and it works both ways, but the biggest difference one if not the killer feature for a Notebook is battery - and the MacBook wins on this hands down.
So trust me Mac users are not as blind as you seem to think - but you're too BLIND to see that.
I think that most people would agree that if you want to do hard-core gaming, buy a Windows PC. I'm not a gamer, so that doesn't interest me.
WRT APPLICATIONS I truly believe that you can accomplish virtually any task on either Windows or OS X. There will always be some specialized programs specific to each platform, but you can get an equivalent on the other platform. You are correct that OS X doesn't come with a low-end Paint equivalent. However, if you compare the software on a new WIndows machine with a new Mac, I think you'll find that Apple provides a much more feature-rich set of applications. When that is pointed out, the Windows fanboys always jump in with "download Winamp or <fill in the great program name here>", but you are unwilling to download a single program for your wife's Mac?
And, no, I don't just "check email, and make a couple of documents iLife" <sic> on my Mac. I develop code for enterprise-class web sites. Depending on the customer I do the same thing using Windows XP (using their PC). I use the same software packages on both platforms because they are mostly open source and free. No, I do not have Windows installed on my Mac; I never found a need for it. Don't have MS Office either. I do have MS Office on an old XP box I have, since one of my clients occasionally wants MS Access work done. I prefer to develop on the Mac; it seems much more responsive to me than my customer's Windows box, even though they are roughly equivalent in terms of processor, member and drive speed.
Regarding games, not everyone is a gamer or have a console for that. If you like desktop/notebook gaming then sure Windows is the best platform for that. But you have to remember, I said Windows platform NOT Wintel platform because you can install Windows on your Mac for gaming should you choose to do so.
Paint? Your argument is Paint! Are you for real. Believe me if you want to talk about PC's strength over the Mac, bundled software is NOT where you want to go.
Windows 7 does it. I can look for search strings inside any file. Windows 7 is awesome. Just try it for 30 days.
Love my iTouch, now this is a genius device.
Why are they holding on to this old smug troll mindset when it comes to anything with OSX on it? The iPhyone and iTouch has sold 17X more volume than actual Mac computers. A $600 laptop from Apple would gain a ton of ground. Now with Win7 out, they will have to eventually provide this machine or risk a total weipeout.
In other words: It is not worth the effort for Apple to sell cheap computers - the profit is minuscule. If the likes of Dell and HP want to sell PCs at a $40 profit it is their business. Apple will rather use its profits to innovate and look to open some other segment where there is a better profit to be made.
Now, as a consumer, I would like a free computer ($0). At the same time I know that will not happen. So, what is the best deal for me? To me it is the computer system that saves me the most time overall, since I value my time. (Just ask yourself, how much is 10 houres of your time worth to you? If you could save that, how much cheaper would that computer now be to you?)
@cs2cdfan,
What do you mean, "go looking"? Preview and iPhoto are preinstalled on all Macs. One only has to open an image file and the options appear in the menu bar. It really can't get much easier.
These little corny things are what people need to do many times over.
Can you do all that with the software that comes with Windows? I ask because I am curious. But to answer your comment, have you never used Graphics Converter? I believe they still even offer a free version but the commercial version is only $35. I actually use it more than I do Adobe Photoshop Elements which costs more than twice as much. I seriously doubt you can do anything in Windows that I can't also do on my Mac. And the software I use on my Mac is usually quite a bit less expensive than the Windows based counterpart.
Apple has made it clear that they are not interested in the "race to the bottom". Even MS is hurt by this. How much is Acer paying them for W7 on the the $300 netbook? It's got to be less than the full-featured computer. If you don't want to spend more than $400 for a laptop, then don't buy an Apple. They won't shed any tears.
So does Apple. It is called a MacBook and it sells for $999 and the MacMini that sells for $600. :-)
JUST CHILL PEOPLE. Windows 7 is pretty legit. MAC OSX is great, but I still feel like I'm paying 500 dollars for a paint job.
After all Apple does not compete with others like PC maker's do. What PC makers need to do is stop with the low price margin computers like $300 netbooks and the same for desktops and go back to making computers that function well not barely. For the most part Apple Mac user's like their Mac's because their performance experience is good. Its not that they are really that much better in hardware. After all Mac's are almost the same as PC when it comes to hardware suppliers. My wife uses a higher end Dell laptop and it performs as well in experience as my MacBook. People need to realize that Apple has it good. It has great marketing, bottomless pocket consumers and no direct competition. Dell on the other hand has good hardware and unlimited choices in third party software and hardware. But it has steep competition which is bad for them. But great for consumers.
I'm not sure that the current PC components will let manufacturers create an inexpensive notebook with decent performance: perhaps in a year or two as Intel Atom improves. We have seen this in netbooks: strong sales yet extremely high return rates as customers are not satified with their purchases.
Thanks again to the Apple management team for increasing shareholder value and not mindlessly chasing all your competitors. If/when/where you are ready to fight, please continue to kick the sh*t out of your competitors.
BTW, Microsoft is also a software company.
In terms of their other devices, except for the iPod Touch they don't even charge for the software, even though it is generally considered better than the competition.
Apple has an advantage over many of their competitors in that they control much of the ecosystem (product design, operating system, software packages such as iLife, content delivery system), but they are definitely a hardware company.
If Apple can deliver a $400 laptop, $1000 less than a MBP then they win.
The problem is that with things like the NVIDIA ION, what Apple delivers in $1400 MBP are delivered in $300 netbooks/nettops now (with an HDMI port and 5-1 card readers).
I think your point is made. Replying to every single comment in the thread tends to make you lose face.
Yes. The engine in a C-class is superior to a Hyundai Accent. But the processor in a MacBook is the same exact processor you'll find in any Windows laptop."
There is more in there than just the processor, not to mention that the PC uses that horrid Windows OS.
When the cell phone first arrived I paid nearly $600 for a Motorola "Brick". Now cell phones are given away to everyone with a service agreement. I see the same thing happening to laptops.
The expectation, now, is that laptops are a necessary tool just like cell phones and that, going forward, they will be cheap . Since the average laptop life is only 3-4 years I don't know why anyone would pay double, triple or quadruple for a Mac--except to say they own one. These are probably the same people who claim to tell the difference between Chateau Le Pin Pomerol 1999 and a bottle of Corbet Canyon. I, for one, can not.
If you equip both computers roughly the same, including upping the memory and HD on the Mac at Apple's high prices, it is CHEAPER than the HP.
The author failed to make them equal:
Stuck with windows HOME, which is not equivalent to OS X.
DIdn't include Wireless-N or bluetooth (only wireless G).
Didn't include little things like DVD restore disks.
And of course, didn't upgrade the processor to 2.26 1066FSB even though it was an option at HP. The 2.0G 800FSB is slower.
He also failed to mention that the RAM and HD were the free upgrades, which are TEMPORARY at HP and Dell, and could disappear tomorrow. They are based simply on what surplus parts HP has on hand at the time (in other words, they are low on 1GB sticks, so they offer "free" upgrade to 2GB until they get their shipment in). Yes it benefits the consumer, but it's basically comparing a limited sale price to an MSRP on the Apple. You can get similar discounts on the Apple with upgraded HD and RAM by going through a third party, so if the author actually wants to be fair (ha), he'd note that.
Go to a company like Expercom, configure the Mac like the HP he lists, include the 3-year warranty, and the Mac comes out LESS, despite the HP free discounts and $150 "instant rebate" which also goes away at random.
That's reality. There is no Apple tax on the MacBook, only poor journalism and lazy people. ;)
First thing you left out--RAM type. HP's are all using old DDR2 while all Macs are using DDR3. There's another reason for the price difference.
Second, video card. Mac is using Nvidia 9400M. What is the HP using--A 512MB NVIDIA GeForce G 105M? The 105M is basically a shrunk, glorified 8400GS....the 9400M (integrated) is faster despite being integrated. No surprise Apple stuck w/ the 9400M.
Third, battery, and battery life. The Mac will go 7 hours and doesn't need a new battery for up to 5 years. .
There's your differences in a nutshell.
I will stick with buying a $40 battery and changing it myself thanks.
just use what you like it! period!! I don't give a damn! peace with you guys!
PS: to the guy who said HP only uses DDR2 and 105M. they've DDR3 and ATI HD cards. 7 hours straight? try to run multplei apps and moving your mousepad around and you'll see!
- by rsfinn October 25, 2009 8:39 AM PDT
- "The Wall Street Journal said that users can get roughly equivalent laptops for a lot less at Dell and HP."
- Like this Reply to this comment
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- by Renegade Knight October 25, 2009 10:00 AM PDT
- The article is accurate on this point. Even a MacBook which has the least apple tax of the laptops costs more than a comprably equipped PC. However in a point to Apple I'm not aware of a Windows Laptop that's comprable in both Quality and Price. The MacBook is better than the HP and Dell Machines they are comparing it too.
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Showing 1 of 6 pages (282 Comments)Correction: if you follow the link the exact quote is: "You can pay much less for laptops and desktops from competitors like Dell (DELL) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ)." Nothing about "roughly equivalent". As noted previously, a roughly equivalent notebook from HP is about the same price as the MacBook.