Is it really worth paying double $$ for mac and what for?

Consider for a moment the fact that despite Apples' premium pricing and the destroyed economy and recession we're going through, Apple is the only OEM making money and increasing market share. I would say every other OEM should be in the "wrong" too if that's what's to be achieved.

Btw, doh123 hit it spot on earlier. Apple's pricing and model structure is hard to understand when compared to the typical PC OEM structure. I have to say many people buy Macs for the wrong reasons and for those who are unwilling to learn OSX or even after attempting to learn they still can't let go of windows, they should really stick to PCs; just my opinion.

 

I just love how the PC fans try and make it SEEM like Macs are "overpriced" by basing it soley on specs alone. That's been the world of PC's for years, they look good based on the obvious specs (hard disk, CPU, ram, GPU, the usual crap that makes PC's SEEM like a good deal), but what isn't good about them are the little things and all I can do is laugh at the PC fans who think they are getting something "good" when it's just a big joke to me.
I just love how Sony touts the FW series notebook with Blu-Ray and an "Xbrite Full HD" screen, when that screen is so horribly washed out, has limited view angles and very poor blacks. What's the point of watching a Blu-Ray or HD movie on a washed out screen? The same goes for Asus's medium priced PC's that seem like your paying less for more. The Dell's, HP's and the medium priced Lenovo's all have washed out screens. When I say "medium priced" I'm talking about PC notebooks costing around $1000 U.S.

For me it's the little things on Macs that most PC's don't have unless you pay way up in the $$$ which ends up being more than a Mac.
I like the little things like a ambient light sensor to automatically adjust my screen when the lighting conditions change. Also my keyboard is backlit with the ambient light sensor. Magsafe power connector is only on Macbooks. That has saved me, I have stumbled on my power cords many times and knocked my old PC laptops off the table.
Firewire 800 is great for my external hard drives. Multi-touch trackpad which greatly increases my productivity. Slot load drive, still rare on PC's costing $$$, I hate those cheapo pop-out drives.
Of course the bigger stuff too on Mac is still better than a PC, the screens on the MBP's kick the crap out of all of those so-called PC's for hundreds less and the construction of a Macbook Pro is very professional and sturdy.

So you PC fans, go ahead and enjoy those specs that make you think your getting something good. The small things on a Mac increase my productivity way more than your standard specs. There's nothing special about a PC outside of the obvious specs.

 

HLdan, if you didn't hate PC's so much, you could have summed up your post much more quickly, and without sounding like an illogical Mac fanboy in the process. No offense meant, just the impression and tone your post made.

With a PC, you typically receive better specifications related to the performance of the computer and it's related processing power at a lower price point to a Mac. Much more linear and straightforward. However, attention to other areas may be lacking (style, extra features and innovation, such as the magnetic power cord, ect).

With a Mac, you have a relatively set configuration at a higher price that may not match the PC in spec to price ratio. However, you will tend to have enough in other aspects that make up for that, such as style, general build quality, and of course, the privilege of using the exclusive OS X Operating System. This favors the creative mind I feel.

Let me know what you think about this. These are aspects of each camp I have observed many times over. I tried to be as honest as possible. Overall, I think both PC's and Mac's have their respective places, and can be great choices depending on your needs.

I have to say one thing though. Your signature is dead wrong.

 

it's getting tiring ... all these tit for tat wise a** comments! ... fan-boys ... haters ... the whole lot ...

I think Angelic has summed things up in a nice manner, and as far as HLdans signature, I couldn't disagree more! ... but hey, to each his own.

 

You probably haven't been reading the WSJ. Acer HAS been making tons of money. HP as usual. Lenovo as well. The economy doesn't just exist in North America.

Companies talk about how they have to market their products differently in the developing countries. Price, portability, and ease of use is most important to the developing countries. Oddly enough, they are all buying PCs. Not because they look pretty, but because they are affordable and they work.

Interesting how people talk about the market like it only exists in the Western Hemisphere. The rest of the world clearly shows that when money isn't a luxury, they buy a PC. When you want a piece of jewelry, you get whatever you want. When you actually want to make money, you get a PC.

This is great. Dell never claims any formal test results relating the Adamo to toughness. They make the claim this laptop is "tough." Reminds me of Apple's claims.

You realize you just shot yourself in the foot?

It just goes to show how desperate this topic has gotten. People have lost track of where they are.

Edit:

I still can't believe this is considered a proper counter argument. Maybe you never sized up your situation. Or got a clear grasp of the premise laid before you. We, obviously, play at two different levels.

 

Sure the default screen on pcs might not be that great, but most offer upgrades to users who need a better screen. For example, the 15inch lenovo w500 offers a 1920x1200 screen with LED back light (+$200). A w500 can be had for $1150, with the upgraded screen it has significantly better colors, blacks, and resolution than the 15inch macbook pro. Also mag-safe and an ambient light censor are kind of gimmicks. These are trivial features that may be convenient to some, but useless to others. However Macbooks lack many features pcs offer, like the 15inch macbook still doesn't offer an HD screen or blu-ray. I like to use my pc laptop as a portable media player so to me those missing features are huge, much more important than a magnetic power cable or an light censor.

 

There are way too many threads like these. It seems no one bothers to use the search function anymore. Too many similar threads with the same questions/debates.

IMO, if someone's buying a mac to strictly use it with windows (as good as bootcamp is) I think they're buying a mac for the wrong reason(s) and should stick to PCs; bootcamp was merely a means for windows users to contemplate, and smooth, the transition to macs, that's all. And if they want to use strictly OSX, or both OSX and windows well the choice is kinda limited to a mac.

Anytime we take the OS out of the equation we end up with these endless flamebait and troll-filled threads. They bring out all the genius economists that condem Apple's business model and seem so bent out of shape at Apple's pricing and model structure. Here's a news flash; no one here can justify to a stranger why they should spend a certain amount of money for a mac. And if you have advice for Apple and/or not happy with the way things are then contact Apple directly; I'm sure they'd love to hear from you.

 

Just because a product makes money for a company doesn't correlate to a product being good, but rather how good the marketing team is. Simply put most consumers don't know much about laptop specs and when they see something expensive (Monster cable anyone?), they tend to think it's better.

I'm not saying that the MBP isn't a good laptop, because it does excel in certain areas, but it's not perfect and that's why we have a "what notebook should I buy forum" to determine what would be optimal for the uninformed person who is lucky or wise enough to have stumbled onto this site.

The OP had his question answered a while ago and now this topic has degenerated OT. Thread should be closed.

 

Yea close this thread please.

 

I bought my first mac out of curiosity and I was extremely skeptical about the switch. I even kept using my other four PCs in my house and always kept on comparing my work flow using each. To say that all of us are using macs because we fell for the mac ads as you so eloquently insinuate is arrogant and insulting.

I agree on one thing; this thread should be closed.

 

Awwww, I was having so much fun.....

These thread provide me entertainment. Everyone is so serious and wound like springs. Debates like these are what helps us forward ourselves in management. Debates, competitions, sports, etc. Half the fun is separating the contenders from the pretenders.

And you can learn so much from threads like these. It gives you a peak into the psyche of the human mind.

Edit:

Why so serious?

No one is condemning anyone. There, there. They don't all hate you.

There never is anything wrong with choosing form over functionality.

Now people do react harshly when presented with the other perspective. Often this reaction is due to the brought on emotions of doubt and insecurity when exposed to a revelation. It can be tough when someone knows your side better than you do. We all experience it everyday. Just like the guy who wears white jeans. Or the guy who invests in vinyls.