Has anyone gone from a Windows 7 machine to an Apple and thought OMG...

[halik]

orly? I think anand himself debunked this myth. A macpro is a professional product in a btx form factor with xeon cpu's. You will not build that for $500.

Well ballpark similar specs - it's been a while, but I don't recall two die dual core xeons being that much faster than than quad core single die core 2 quad. In any case, I could've put together something similar / xeon based for relatively cheap as well.

 

[mrCide]

I've always been a PC person, nearly 20 years now. I went MBP (17" unibody) a bit ago and I really fell in love. Unfortunately I decided I want a desktop instead of a laptop so I sold it 6 months later (for nearly what I paid) and bought a 27" iMac. I still use Win7 on my HTPC but I will not go back to using a PC. Arguments have already gone back and forth. You do pay a premium for an Apple but you do get something for the premium, in addition to the ability to run Windows if you want to. I really miss the MBP and plan on getting a 13" or an air when money allows, I currently use a Dell laptop at home and it's such a piece of shit in comparison.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I actually bought my first Mac (a C2D white MacBook) because, after killing two Dell laptops fairly quickly and hating the Thinkpad T60 I bought to replace my second Dell, I concluded it was the best-built machine for the money to run Windows at the time. I never really intended to run OSX, but found that I liked it and have used Macs at home ever since. I now use a 13" unibody MBP, and I don't think there's another laptop on the market that represents such a perfect combination of features, form factor, build quality, and excellent design. Moreover, when the time comes to move on to the next machine, (some years from now), I will be able to resell my MBP for real money, whereas pretty much any Windows PC would be worthless after a few years, and most of them would have self-destructed through hard use. My MBP (which dual-boots Snow Leopard and Windows 7) is a year and a half old and looks brand new. The Dell Latitude I use at work has been subjected to FAR less use and it's already looking worn. It's also ergonomically unpleasant to use, unlike my MBP.

The bottom line: to each his own. I just don't think there's a better hardware design firm out there than Apple - the fact that their machines run OSX perfectly is just a bonus in that respect. To me the "Apple tax" (which is paid back upon resale) is more than worthwhile. It's the same reason I drive a BMW when I could just as easily drive a Camry - I just prefer the experience of using it and I can afford it. If your priorities are different, use your PC in good health!

 

[Acanthus]

Well ballpark similar specs - it's been a while, but I don't recall two die dual core xeons being that much faster than than quad core single die core 2 quad. In any case, I could've put together something similar / xeon based for relatively cheap as well.

Look at my uber expensive "workstation" in sig

 

[Acanthus]

A bike can get me from point A to point B just like a car can. It actually costs thousands less than a car too. Your argument is retarded.

I want to come home, take my laptop out of my room and use it for a full night on my couch comfortably. Will a netbook do that?

Hell no, the trackpads are terrible on it and I would have to use a mouse. The screen is not nearly as high quality and it will be harder on my eyes to read. Will a 17" HP envy do that? Probably, but it will last about 1/3 of the time the macbook will.

And its NOT just aesthetics. The chiclet keyboard makes the TASK of typing easier for me. The trackpad makes the TASK of surfing the internet much easier than a netbook. The design keeps the laptop cooler than most netbooks, where youtube (or hell, anything flash) will easily strain out the ATOM on a netbook and run hot as hell compared to the MBP. The task of actually using the laptop as a LAPTOP is gone. Shall I continue? Quit arguing semantics and realize that your argument is DEAD WRONG. There is no $300 laptop (netbook or otherwise) that will compare apples to apples to a $1K MBP.

Are you going to bring up again how the world would be fucked if windows dissipated overnight? That's a bulletproof argument! Maybe we should delve into how stupid that logic is...

Look at my posts, i haven't mentioned OSX once.

Keep justifying to me why you flushed your money down the toilet.

Apple themselves declare they use a 40-60% markup on all products.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Sometimes I think I could switch, but I just can't.

 

[halik]

Look at my uber expensive "workstation" in sig

Heh not sure how much real world performance difference is there for the stuff that I do at home between my 2 year old computer and some water-cooled-flux-capacitor craziness.

We've got a 16-way xeon machine at work for destroying numbers and I'd never get my money back in terms of time saved to have anything like that in my office. Ram is the only thing that I really need.

 

[MrX8503]

I like how you cite their lowest markup laptop to rationalize a generalization about the whole line. Nice! Try to dodge the topic on semantics again.

I like how you use a netbook to rationalize the nonexistent $700 markup of a laptop (MBP).

Nice!

"That laptop is overpriced! I can get a netbook for $700 less!" You know how insane that sounds?

 

[bfdd]

Errm... Why is one operating system essential in a computer purchase and one isnt?! Now who's being "quite frankly annoying" I don't buy Mac's because they're shiney, I buy them because I prefer them to windows machines...



That's fair enough, it's not exactly the wow factor that interests me in a Mac, it's the fact that I prefer the operating system to windows.

neckarb, you're misunderstanding me. I'm not saying Windows is essential to your purchase. I am saying that OSX is a shiny bauble, just like paying extra for the unibody aluminum frame, backlit keyboard, etc. In a "grand scheme of things" kind of way.

 

[bfdd]

I like how you use a netbook to rationalize the nonexistent $700 markup of a laptop (MBP).

Nice!

"That laptop is overpriced! I can get a netbook for $700 less!" You know how insane that sounds?

I linked a 15.6" Lenovo on Newegg that was 399.99. It had 4 gb of ram, an LED backlit LCD capable of 720p, a quick little dual core and a 320gb harddrive. The equiv from Apple is quite a bit more, around 700 dollar markup.

 

[Ns1]

I linked a 15.6" Lenovo on Newegg that was 399.99. It had 4 gb of ram, an LED backlit LCD capable of 720p, a quick little dual core and a 320gb harddrive. The equiv from Apple is quite a bit more, around 700 dollar markup.

they are somewhat comparable but not completely.

we're still making honda vs bmw comparisons.

people don't need $700 angel eye HID's but I'd pay for those in a heartbeat.

 

[bfdd]

they are somewhat comparable but not completely.

we're still making honda vs bmw comparisons.

people don't need $700 angel eye HID's but I'd pay for those in a heartbeat.

obviously, the whole point I'm trying to make is Apple is for people who want a shiny bauble. There is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, I just get so fucking annoyed by people acting like there's more.

 

[Ns1]

obviously, the whole point I'm trying to make is Apple is for people who want a shiny bauble. There is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, I just get so fucking annoyed by people acting like there's more.

well I'm going to have to disagree with you there.

 

[halik]

obviously, the whole point I'm trying to make is Apple is for people who want a shiny bauble. There is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, I just get so fucking annoyed by people acting like there's more.

There's a large contingent of people that find OSX to be far superior to windows, myself included.

 

[cheezy321]

Look at my posts, i haven't mentioned OSX once.

Keep justifying to me why you flushed your money down the toilet.

Apple themselves declare they use a 40-60% markup on all products.

http://ycharts.com/companies/AAPL/profit_margin

Apple has a profit margin company wide of 21%. About 1/2 to 1/3 of what you state.

Again, nobody is arguing that you pay a slight premium when you buy an apple. Its not a ridiculous $700 like you state. Actually its not even close to that. I have pulled real actual numbers. You are still pulling numbers out of your ass.

The true question: Is the premium worth it?

In my experience, HELL YES. I am insanely happy with my purchase. My current MBP has lasted longer than all of the following laptops (Either my friends or my own personal experience):

HP 15" lappy
Dell m1330
Sony Vaio 15" lappy
12" ACER netbook

So really, who is the idiot? The windows user who has to replace their laptop every year or so, or the macbook user who pays a premium (I never said once you don't pay a premium, but its not the 40-60% your dumbass states) and keeps their laptop as long as the same windows user goes thru 2+ of them.

I am not even going to dive into the resale of my MBP, but I know right now i can sell my ~2 year old macbook pro for about 400 less than what I paid for it. Pretty damn good right? Try selling a 2 year old windows laptop and tell me what you get for it.

1 macbook pro, kept for 2+ years = ~1,100

2+ windows laptops, kept for 1 year each = ~1,300

Thats just my personal experience, but I am sure so many others just like me realize the value of Apple computer.

 

[allthatisman]

I can't believe that this thread has gone on this long! I knew the Mac/Apple hate was strong on AT, but I had no idea it would go for 12 pages+!! I have read through most of the posts, and I am going to borrow my buddy's MBP this weekend and see if my wife finds it easier to use than the PC I built for her running Win 7 64 Ultimate.

I want a 17" MBP, but at Best Buy over the weekend I was checking one out, and at $2300... that is VERY tough to swallow. Honestly, I have never had to finance a computer before, but I might have to if I want a 17" MBP, lol. At least it's 0%...

 

[halik]

http://ycharts.com/companies/AAPL/profit_margin

Apple has a profit margin company wide of 21%. About 1/2 to 1/3 of what you state.

Again, nobody is arguing that you pay a slight premium when you buy an apple. Its not a ridiculous $700 like you state. Actually its not even close to that. I have pulled real actual numbers. You are still pulling numbers out of your ass.

The true question: Is the premium worth it?

In my experience, HELL YES. I am insanely happy with my purchase. My current MBP has lasted longer than all of the following laptops (Either my friends or my own personal experience):

HP 15" lappy
Dell m1330
Sony Vaio 15" lappy
12" ACER netbook

So really, who is the idiot? The windows user who has to replace their laptop every year or so, or the macbook user who pays a premium (I never said once you don't pay a premium, but its not the 40-60% your dumbass states) and keeps their laptop as long as the same windows user goes thru 2+ of them.

I am not even going to dive into the resale of my MBP, but I know right now i can sell my ~2 year old macbook pro for about 400 less than what I paid for it. Pretty damn good right? Try selling a 2 year old windows laptop and tell me what you get for it.

1 macbook pro, kept for 2+ years = ~1,100

2+ windows laptops, kept for 1 year each = ~1,300

Thats just my personal experience, but I am sure so many others just like me realize the value of Apple computer.

The residual value is even crazier for desktops - I sold the 6 years old G5 powermac for ~$1G in early 2009. There isn't a PC out there that holds its value this much.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

90% of laptops, including crapbooks, are made in the same factory in Taiwan.

 

[Ns1]

90% of laptops, including crapbooks, are made in the same factory in Taiwan.

toyota and lexus are made from the same factory yet the corolla is a POS compared to an LS430.

 

[HeXen]

I thought OMFG when i used Linux 10.10. Freaking amazing compared to W7 aside from some certain applications and drivers. W7 always slows down for me after so much of installing/uninstalling stuff, sometimes after a WU or driver...everything feels so random, like something, anything can happen at any time, too many poorly coded 3rd party crap imo.

Yes, I thought "OMG I cant believe I paid so much money for this PoS just so I fit in at Starbucks!"

lol, what loser tries to fit in at Starbucks.
i see people with all kinds of PC's there, but if it were otherwise, anyone trying to fit in must be a real tosser who hasn't discovered themselves. lol
i go there with my PSP sometimes, i dont give a ***

 

[Puddle Jumper]

hp17 = gas guzzling domestic with 400hp
MBP = toyota prius

That's exactly why the HP is better. Who wouldn't take a Mustang GT (400hp V8 domestic) over a soulless POS like the Prius?

 

[Ns1]

That's exactly why the HP is better. Who wouldn't take a Mustang GT (400hp V8 domestic) over a soulless POS like Prius?

I don't know, a guy like me who wants 42mpg and has no use for 400hp?


(i actually want a cooper S)

I hope the mustang interior has gotten better since the late 90's, cuz that shit used to be a plastic POS.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

toyota and lexus are made from the same factory yet the corolla is a POS compared to an LS430.

Well this would be more like Chevy, Ford, BMW, Audi, Lexus, Maseratti, Chrysler, Infiniti, Honda, Mitsubishi, GMC, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Jeep, Suzuki, Kia, Subaru, Land Rover, Mercedes, Ferarri, and Toyota are all made in the same factory, using the same parts except the bodies.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I don't know, a guy like me who wants 42mpg and has no use for 400hp?


(i actually want a cooper S)

I hope the mustang interior has gotten better since the late 90's, cuz that shit used to be a plastic POS.

Those of us who still have a pulse wouldn't be caught dead in a rolling appliance like a Prius. Sure the GT gets worse gas mileage but the power and handling more than make up for it.

 

[HAL9000]

neckarb, you're misunderstanding me. I'm not saying Windows is essential to your purchase. I am saying that OSX is a shiny bauble, just like paying extra for the unibody aluminum frame, backlit keyboard, etc. In a "grand scheme of things" kind of way.

It's not that it's shiney it's that its better, I pay extra to use, what I consider to be, a far superior operating system, stop assuming that I'm paying money for something shiney IDGAS that it's shiney.

There's a large contingent of people that find OSX to be far superior to windows, myself included.

This.

That's exactly why the HP is better. Who wouldn't take a Mustang GT (400hp V8 domestic) over a soulless POS like the Prius?

I think a better comparison would be:

PC = Ford Mustang, powerful, american box with the potential for loads of power.
Mac= Aston Martin... Amazing, exceptionally fast, refined, beautiful, made by craftsmen for one purpose.