SillyDog701

[Al]

I disaggree. Apple should do this, each verison is like a new verison. I think Apple need the money, keep up the good work!

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[Andrew T.]

While the upgrades from Mac OS X 10.1 to 10.2 to 10.3 aren't cheap and did come in surprisingly close succession, I do think that the upgrades are more than justified by the number of changes and improvements to the operating system. For example, Mac OS X 10.2 and 10.3 added better network support, improved searching, Apple Rendezvous networking, Quartz Extreme technology, Fast User Switching, Exposé, file labels, and support for new programs and accessories such as Safari and iChat, and other improvements. By contrast, aside from better USB support and longer "support" timeframes, I do not consider there to be any compelling improvements in Windows 98 and ME over Windows 95 OSR2.

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[izanbardprince]

OK, aside from just "looking cool" and costing at LEAST $1000 more than my PC, what does an Apple system do that mine can't?

I think Apple would do better as a software company, just porting Mac OS to PC platform.

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[Antony]

Just read the first few pages of this thread, and you will get plenty of idea.

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[izanbardprince]

Let me show you some pictures...


And now, presenting the iMac.

People don't just say "Wow! It's a Mac!" because of small market share, but for some damn good reasons.

Does the Imac there allow you to expand it with devices not embedded?

And wouldn't it be just as much of a mess as the PC pictured, if I wanted to hook up a real stereo to it, or a decent webcam, and what happens if the monitor component fails? can you still use the computer and just replace the monitor for $100? no?

Likewise, what happens when you go to get a new one and don't want to pay for a monitor?

From that ad campaign it looks like they're priding themselves on being non-expandable and failure prone.

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[Mandrake]

Let me show you some pictures...


And now, presenting the iMac.

People don't just say "Wow! It's a Mac!" because of small market share, but for some damn good reasons.

That PC has all kinds of peripherals attached to it while the Mac has only a keyboard and mouse.

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[izanbardprince]

So like I said, if you wanted to do the same things with it, it would be almost just as cluttered with wires as the PC?

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[Antony]

Does the Imac there allow you to expand it with devices not embedded?

It allows you to upgrade, but not expand.

Or adding any USB (or later Firewire) devices that's a lot easier than PC counterpart.

To expand, get PowerMac.

and what happens if the monitor component fails? can you still use the computer and just replace the monitor for $100? no?

You can replace the monitor if it fails. As for pricing, I have no idea.

Likewise, what happens when you go to get a new one and don't want to pay for a monitor?

Than ask for a third party to do so.

From that ad campaign it looks like they're priding themselves on being non-expandable and failure prone.

It was not a failure, it was a huge success.

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[Mandrake]

Just out of interest, I took a look at the latest prices at the Apple Store (Australia), and found the cheapest PowerMac for $2,699 AUD.

The specifications included:

• 1.8Ghz PPC G5 Processor w/ 900mhz FSB
• 256MB DDR400 SDRAM (PC3200) - 2x128
• 80GB Serial ATA - 7200rpm
• 8x SuperDrive (CD-RW/DVD-R)
• NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra w/64MB DDR SDRAM
• 56K V.92 internal modem
• Apple Keyboard + Apple Mouse
• Mac OS X [default]

Since it's a well known fact that Mac OS X uses a lot of ram (just like Windows XP), I'd say that at least another 256mb of ram is needed to make this system usable. You'd also need a purchase a monitor to use with the system.

Meanwhile, I also took a look at Dell's website. I looked for a Dell Dimension PC that cost roughly $2,700 AUD. I found a PC that met this budget, and it has some impressive specifications:

• Pentium(R) 4 530 w/HT Desktop (3.0GHz, 1 MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB, Intel(R) 925XE Chipset)
• Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Professional (English)
• 1GB(2x512) NECC Dual Channel DDR2 533Mhz SDRAM Memory [4x more than the PowerMac, and the memory is 533mhz DDR2, as opposed to the older DDR 400mhz ram used in the Mac]
• Dell(TM) Wireless Keyboard and Optical Mouse
• 160GB SATA (7200RPM) Hard Drive [Double the size of the HD in the Mac]
• 16X DVD +/- RW with Dual Layer Write Capabilities
• 256MB PCIe(TM) x16 nVidia(R) GeForce(TM) 6800 [Much faster video card than the entry level GeForce FX card the PowerMac comes with]
• 17" (16.0"v.i.s) CRT Monitor [There is no monitor included with the Mac]

Grand total is: $2,696 AUD

For $3 cheaper than the PowerMac you end up with a system that has four times the memory, double the storage capabilities, and it has a much faster video card. There is also a monitor included with the Dell, whereas there is none include with the Mac.

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[Antony]

Mandrake,
As I've mentioned before, compare them in the same category...
That's you should not compare professional series of computers from Apple to a computer designed for average use from Dell.

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[izanbardprince]

Mandrake,
As I've mentioned before, compare them in the same category...
That's you should not compare professional series of computers from Apple to a computer designed for average use from Dell.

Average users PC right now would have a Celeron D in it, very nice processor for no more than it costs

I have mine running at 3.6 Ghz and it's still under 50 degrees Celsius, I do have a nice fan/heatsink on it though.

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[Mandrake]

Mandrake,
As I've mentioned before, compare them in the same category...
That's you should not compare professional series of computers from Apple to a computer designed for average use from Dell.

Apple has an interesting policy with their line of professional workstations, it seems.

Why do their "professional" line of computers come with GeForce or Radeon video cards in favour of FireGL and Quadro cards that are intend for use in professional workstations?

Why don't Apple's professional workstations have room for more than two hard disks or one optical drive? I'd expect far more expandability in a workstation.

Why can't you order a SCSI controller and SCSI hard disks with a machine from Apple?

Why are there no options for having your hard disks configured in some kind of RAID array when purchased from Apple?

I'd expect all of these features in a "professional" workstation, but Apple's PowerMac has none of them.

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[Antony]

Why do their "professional" line of computers come with GeForce or Radeon video cards in favour of FireGL and Quadro cards that are intend for use in professional workstations?

What's wrong with those video cards? "Professional" line of products are not necessary for graphic artists.

Why don't Apple's professional workstations have room for more than two hard disks or one optical drive? I'd expect far more expandability in a workstation.

All Apple's PowerMacs G4 have room for more than two HDDs and up to two internal optical drive.

Why can't you order a SCSI controller and SCSI hard disks with a machine from Apple?

Why do you need such old and hard-to-configure technology? Serial-ATA is the way to go.

Why are there no options for having your hard disks configured in some kind of RAID array when purchased from Apple?

You want RAID? then buy the Xserve RAID

I'd expect all of these features in a "professional" workstation, but Apple's PowerMac has none of them.

I guess you read the competitors' interpretation of Apple's offering...

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[DJGM]

Why don't Apple's professional workstations have room for more than two hard
disks or one optical drive? I'd expect far more expandability in a workstation.

All Apple's PowerMacs G4 have room for more than two HDDs and up to two internal optical drive.

That's Apple old line of PowerMac computers. What about the newer G5 based PowerMac systems?

Why are there no options for having your hard disks configured
in some kind of RAID array when purchased from Apple?

You want RAID? then buy the Xserve RAID . . .

But that's a server, not a workstation. It's not suitable for someone wanting a top end personal computer.

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[Don_HH2K]

Why are there no options for having your hard disks configured in some kind of RAID array when purchased from Apple?

You want RAID? then buy the Xserve RAID

I think the following speaks for itself:

XServe RAID is $6000, PC RAID controller, put in a decent x86 server, is sub-$1000. Even if you want a 64-bit server like the XServe, you're still talking less than $2000, or maybe even $1500.

Now you might say that the Apple model is 5.6TB at only $6000, but notice it says "Starts at $6000". That means there are probably specifications much lower than 5.6TB.

And yeah, that's 14 hot-swap drives, but when you calculate the total on a standard x86 server with seven of those RAID controllers, that comes out to be only a bit over $3000 dollars.

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