How much would you pay for a MBP with ONLY microsoft windows ?

Suppose Apple tomorrow came out with MBPs, with an option of only microsoft windows. Say these MBPs are priced lower than MBPs with OS X.
How much lower would the price need to be for you to consider it.
Say we are talking about the 15" MBPs (which normally retail for $2000 USD).

The microsoft only MBPs will be supported by Apple.

If you would NOT consider an MBP without OSX, choose more than $500 in the poll (this for example corresponds to you willing to only pay $400 for a windows only MBP)

Assume you will never be able to install OS X on the MBP

 

I'd say $300, at least. OSX is definitely a superior OS to the current iteration of Windows (Vista), and you lose a lot of other things when you lose OSX. One of the biggest losses is iLife, and I think it's safe to say that the OSX+iLife combo is one of the major reasons people buy a Mac.

Besides, making it a Windows laptop makes it just like any other laptop on the market, so it can no longer command the price premium it currently does.

 

Myself, the only reason I'd buy a Macbook is to run OS X. Without OS X, it's another Windows machine, and I'd compare it against other Windows machines. Even though it's nice hardware, the price would have to be a good bit lower, because I like higher resolutions, and the 15.4" macbook only comes in 1440x900.

 

Interesting.... 3 people have voted that they dont care for OS X

 

I would buy a Thinkpad if I wanted Windows.

 

I wouldn't consider windows at any cost difference. The marginal cost of anger management simply outweighs the marginal benefit of buying a cheaper machine.

 

No way I would buy a Mac with Windows only without there being a SERIOUS price difference. And even then, the only reason would be so that I could immediately wipe off Windows and install either OS X or Linux and use the money to either buy OS X or peripherals.

Besides, it wouldn't work anyway. The new Macs use EFI instead of BIOS, and Windows is the only current OS that doesn't work with EFI (Linux and OS X both work). This is why BootCamp is required currently.

 

I would only buy a MBP in a situation like that if I can install OS X on it later. So, if Apple released a MBP that comes without OS X, but with bootcamped XP or Vista by default, then I would definitely consider it, especially if the version of Windows isn't OEM. In case you're wondering why, it's because I could just eBay the Windows for more than the £80 (excl. discounts, which I qualify for) I would need for OS X.

 

If you would NOT consider an MBP without OSX, choose more than $500

 

well macbook without OSx is however crippled does have the good looks too
where else wold you get a fashion statement as well as a real well built laptop

 

The whole reason that Apple's machines cost so much is not because of what they have, you could get that for about $700 less, you are paying for OSX and the Apple brand name... I wouldn't even buy an Apple if they only ran MS. Might as well just buy a good system for cheaper.

 

2n2is5, so what you're saying is that a windows only MBP would have to be discounted more than$500 for you to consider it ?

 

That is a hard question.
I'd say $400 or so. There really aren't any notebooks that are a whole lot cheaper with the same hardware and form factor.
I'm assuming you're asking about getting it with XP only and being able to buy OS X and add it on there? Or do you mean not being able to add OS X on there ever. If I couldn't put OS X on it at all, I wouldn't even bother.

 

Surely you would buy a windows only MBP at $400 ?

Assume you can never install OS X on it.

 

if there is windows on it, i dont waste my time with it.

OSX/Linux user for good.

 

Personally, a Mac without OSX isn't a Mac at all. It's just not the same.

 

If you remove OS X, then it's really just about the chassis, which is nice, but, frankly, my $1250 Dell E1505 runs windows just as good as my $2400 Macbook, so, it's really how much would you pay for a pretty thin, pretty good looking laptop with a lower res screen?

There's a greater than $1000 price difference there.

Apple can only get away with it since they are a relative monopoly within their space. You want OS X, you want the style? You pay more.

EDIT: Based on Steve Jobs legendary comment about windows having no style or class, which I largely agree with, I've never cared what my Windows PCs looked like. I've always been happy to pay 50% less for PC hardware at the tradeoff of it looking like poo. My E1505 certainly looks like poo.

And when PC makers go for style (alienware or Dell XPS) it still looks like poo.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: More than $500, by a long shot. $1000 is more like it.

 

why buy a MBP for windows...IT ONLY HAS ONE MOUSE BUTTON!

seriously though..windows is pure garbage.

 

To answer your question Weare, yes, the whole reason that Macs cost so much is because you are paying for the name and OS X. If I could buy something like the Sager NP5760 with OS X, I would just say "screw Apple their prices are too high." So, yes.

I currently have the 2.33Ghz 15.4" MBP.

 

Just a little tidbit in case people didn't know. Apple creates software to sell hardware. Its the same with Macs and OSX as it is with iPods and iTunes. Thus, rememember that Apple is first, foremost, and always wil be a hardware company. Better software just sells more hardware.

*which means that deep down, they don't really care what Microsoft does*

 

Well, I wasn't thinking that much of an extreme. I'd buy almost any laptop with this hardware in it for $400. As long as the mouse works the same in XP, then I would beokay with getting one to run just XP/Vista on.

 

Have to disagree with that.

In the Windows Hardware world size, weight and looks all command a price premium.

Compare the Sony lineup to the Dell lineup. I'm sure you could find an equivelant Dell that runs Windows just as well for every model in the Sony lineup. But the Sony laptop would still command a price premium for exactly the same reasons the MBP would as a Windows only machine.

I've always gone for the 11¨ - 13¨ form factor previously, as it suited my needs best. However, for the forseeable future I needed a WUXGA machine, which meant I had to go to a 15¨ machine. I was happy to pay the premium for a 15¨ MBP because it was the smallest 15¨ machine I could find. (I'm going to swap out the screen for a WUXGA myself).

Aesthetic appeal was another factor I was prepared to pay more for. And thats not because I consider it some sort of fashion accessory. Its because firstly I spend alot of time looking at and using my laptop. I would prefer it to be something attractive to my eye. And secondly (more importantly) there is the first impression it conveys to clients. In my opinion, standing out from the crowd of Dells and Acers has more then covered the price premiums I have payed for my machines over the years.

OSX is a bonus, but as a Windows only machine (assuming they fixed stuff like the keyboard map and added a second mouse button) the MBP has enough going for it to command a healthy price premium. At the very least it could sell for a similar price as the equivelant Sony's.

http://vaio.sony.co.uk/view/ShowPro..._cons&pageType=Overview&category=VN+FE+Series
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/6454042/wo/hw5HUXmNu4Ib3Tk77Wu1xuNr8NV/2.?p=0

Which as you can see is not too far from where the MBP is now.

I think it would need to drop about 10% to come in line with equivelant Windows offerings. And also compensate for the fact the MBP would be moving closer to the mainstream if it came with Windows pre-installed.

 

Why call it a "Mac" Book Pro if it was Windows only. My computing life has been a lot less complicated and much more fun since I switched to the Mac. I don't depend on Windows and I gave up long ago with Gates' promises of trying to make Windows work with low maintenance. So at this point no price for Apple hardware is low enough for me to switch back. Thank goodness for Apple that there is an alternative otherwise we would be slave to Gates' Windows forever. If I have to pay a premium for Mac OSX I will. People pay a premium to get what they really want everyday of the week.

 

i wouldnt pay any extra for a Windows only mac casing. Not unless they changed their thinking about connectivity and add more usbs, card readers and everything else thats similarly available on most notebooks.

Its rumoured that the reason Mac only has 2 usbs is because they refuse to have more than their own firewire ports. So when we finally see 3 firewire ports then maybe well see 3 usbs

 

Like many, I would never want to think of Windows once I am in the Mac world. One of the primary reasons I want to move my whole family over to Mac is so that I can rid myself of the nightmares associated with Windows. I never want to see, hear, or think of this OS once I start making the move.

 

Whether you like Windows or not doesn't mean you have to brainwash your whole family into using Mac. The fact is the majority use Windows and you should know how to use Windows because people pretty much use Windows everyday at work and school. A lot of companies that hire people, expect you to be familiar with Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Quickbooks, etc., unless if your working with a fashion company.

 

I like that term "brainwash" .. but I have to disagree with you ... since I foot the bill, I do so with what I see fit! If I choose not to want Windows computers at my home then that is my choice.

True, work does expect us to know the ins and outs of Office etc., and that is a different issue all together. As for the majority who use Windows, that's their choice and just because they do so doesn't mean that I have to go along with them! Things like Word, Excel, Powerpoit are all available under the Mac OS.

 

Bingo. Exactly right.

 

One of the reasons I'll be buying a MBP this summer, is for OS X.

 

Yup, OS X sure sounds tempting .. but I am not currently in a possition to upgrade / switch. I am waiting until 64 bit of "everything" is out and fine .... now that we have 64 bit CPU, bus, etc. the only thing pending is Leopard .... so, hopefully October / November would be my time to swtich.

Mind you, I am aching to go over!