[Swordmaker]

I strongly disagree with the author's assertion that Macs are twice as expensive as PCs with similar speed processors.

Fortune Magazine agrees with me.

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Oppenheimer: New iMac a better deal than Dell, HP

In reviewing Apple’s (AAPL) new desktops Tuesday, some analysts chided the company for not setting “more aggressive price points,” as Kaufman Bros.’s Shaw Wu put it, given today’s “tough macroeconomic environment.”

But not Oppenheimer’s Yair Reiner. He did a spec-by-spec comparisons with comparable Dell (DEL) and Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) machines. His surprising conclusion, given Apple’s reputation for premium pricing: he found the new iMacs to be “a better value than competing Windows-based products.” Specifically…

“A side-by-side comparison suggests the new iMacs match up favorably against Dell and HP’s All-in-One’s on a price-to-performance basis. For example, the $1,499 model has a faster CPU and RAM with better or comparable graphics, and is still $100-$250 cheaper (though it lacks a TV Tuner, ~$60-$100 upgrade).”

To get a feel for what he’s seeing, I’ve pasted one of his charts below:

[Swordmaker]

Apple the innovator, Microsoft the monopolist. PING!

Mac Innovator Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Tempest]

It’s kind of funny, because if you really think about Apple is actually the monopoly.

[LifeComesFirst]

Neither of them have a monopoly on anything other than their own intellectual properties.

As an econ nerd, hearing a non-monopoly referred to as a monopoly is like claws on chalkboard.

[sten]

hilariously funny

the monopolist would be apple, as they REQUIRE you to use THEIR hardware

the innovator would be microsoft, without whom apple would have vanished in the late 90s

what is really funny is just how accurate the 1984 commercial was. of course, what we didn’t realize back then was that the audience members were all mac-o-philes that will attack any microsoft product at the drop of a hat.

don’t think apple promotes conformity and uniformity? walk into any apple lab or store and you will seen all the exact same hardware from all the same vendor.

and yes, you can get a similarly equipped PC for about $600. of course, if microsoft installed all that free software on the box, like apple does, then there would be nonstop complaints about anti-competitive practices

[dennisw]

Dell beats Apple any day of the week with its 400$ computer packages that do what your average consumer wants to do. I assemble my own computers BUT.....

If I needed one a cheapo Dell $400 desktop+LCD would be just fine. The only *perhaps* upgrades would be for a DVI video card and more memory. And depending on what the current Dell deals are the DVI and memory might be included anyhow

[ezo4]

They forgot to mention macs are for liberal pussys

- Sent from my iPhone

[paulycy]

The only computer I ever use is my trusty portable.

[Biggirl]

But, the beauty of the Macs is that Macs are attacked MUCH LESS by viruses.

[Biggirl]

Heard also about a new PC virus going around.

[phoenix0468]

As an example, the user doesn't even need an anti-virus software on his or her Mac.

This is a silly myth among ignorant Apple users. Please don't flame me for using the word ignorant, I did not say stupid. Ignorance is actually more dangerous than stupidity because it implies a lack of education or knowledge not the inability to acquire it. Therefore, be aware of the fact that an Apple IS vulnerable to malicious attacks when not protected by firewalls or anti-virus software.

[RachelFaith]

Swordmaker, you are soooo right!!

Every time I see that same lie perpetuated I wanna scream!!

Third, fat margins. A Mac normally costs twice as much as a PC with similar processing power.

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

Not true!

Countless PC articles, on line blogs (Tom Hardware et al) have totally dismissed this on a line by line case.

Macs and PCs for actual hardware comparison, MAC is LESS than PC costs.

And then you get the BONUS of adding in resale value, ease of use and total cost of ownership.

PCs are only the bargain deal when you compare the same idea to buying a cheap car and stretching the payments out beyond the life of the car. Not a real bargain, but because you do not layout the cash all at once, you can lie to yourself about how cheap the car cost.

GGGGGRRRRRRRRR !!

[McGruff]

Let's see. You can buy a PC from Dell, HP, ... how many vendors sell Macs?

Wanna play you ITunes on something other than an IPod? BWAHH!

Now who's the monopolist?