[mysterio]

If Apple wants to really bring down Microsoft, they should drop the price of a mac.

Until they do that, Microsoft will still have an overwhelming market share and the commercials will accomplish little more than allowing mac fanboys another chance to high five each other.

Anyone knows I'm not a huge fan of Microsoft and their tattleware products. I'm just stating the situation here in the cheap seats. If I need a new computer and one is $500 and the other $2,000, I'm going to have to get the $500 one.

[dennisw]

Until they do that, Microsoft will still have an overwhelming market share and the commercials will accomplish little more than allowing mac fanboys another chance to high five each other.

MacWorld  --  The planet's largest mutual admiration society

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Yup, as bad as Mac continues to tell us PC is, PC still continues to out sell Mac by embarrassing numbers.

[purpleraine]

I wouldn't write their obit just yet:

Apple has since leapt to gold. The ACSI report for the second quarter of 2008 ranks Apple at 85, indisputably above silver medalist Dell, at 75. Apple scored 11 points above the computer-maker industry average, which slipped 1% during the quarter to 74. Apple's rating is also an all-time high for the computer industry.

Rivals continue to struggle with consumer dissatisfaction over the Microsoft Vista upgrade. But spurred by the popularity of its iPhone and iPod, Apple is winning over more users than ever before in its history.

Between fiscal years 1998 and 2002, Apple computer sales grew at an average annual rate of 1.6%. Between 2003 and 2007, that figure shot up to 23.6%.

[MrLee]

You get what you pay for. Buy a Mac!

[ccmay]

I'm just stating the situation here in the cheap seats. If I need a new computer and one is $500 and the other $2,000, I'm going to have to get the $500 one.

The cost differential is nowhere near that much anymore. Apple costs about 20% more for the same hardware. My time is worth enough to make up the difference the very first time I don't have to wipe and reinstall Windows, which used to happen two or three times a year.

[mass55th]

"If Apple wants to really bring down Microsoft, they should drop the price of a mac."

Apple computers start at $599 for the Mac Mini. I've owned only Apple computers. Bought my first one from my oldest son many years ago. When you buy a Mac, you are getting a better quality machine. For the time and money wasted on PC fixes, upgrades, etc., you could have owned a Mac and been trouble-free (and virus free) for many years. Apple computers get good money on resale as well. I've had my present iBook since 2004 or 2005, and have not had any problems with it. I purchased Apple Care with it and have never had to use it.

[Spktyr]

Hm, let’s play a little with that statement. Take it back in time, oh, 20 years.

“If Toyota really wants to bring down GM, they should drop the price of a Corolla.”

Yeah... Toyota didn’t, and now GM is the #2 maker in the world.

[TheBattman]

If Apple wants to really bring down Microsoft, they should drop the price of a mac.

While I understand what you are trying to say, Apple is gaining (slowly) market share without lowering prices. But the big deal - Quality Control. Some Apple prices are indeed higher, but there is more to that higher price than a name and pretty machine. Engineering goes beyond typical OEM PC builds. Apple doesn't simply get the cheapest commodity components that appear to have similar specs and slap together hardware. Apple does far more R&D, and codes for said combinations of hardware. This leads to a much more stable and reliable piece of hardware. Apple's OS is only one component of the typical Macintosh stability. Tight hardware controls makes a big difference as well - but also adds some to the price.

Combine that with a margin higher than the industry average, you get a company with some leeway to keep the quality flowing.

[TheBattman]

If I need a new computer and one is $500 and the other $2,000, I'm going to have to get the $500 one.

I don't know of a single "PC" for $500 that compares in any way to a $2000 Apple product.

Pro-line machines, Apple actually comes in less expensive than comparable PC hardware.

Consumer line - a $500 machine comes closest to the $599 Mac Mini in features. Of course the Mini does not come with a monitor. You might get a low-end PC with a monitor for $500.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

If Apple wants to really bring down Microsoft, they should drop the price of a mac.

And that is all that really needs to be said.

I would buy a Mac book tomorrow if I could get one for the same price as the Dell laptop I bought that runs XP Pro.

[rmlew]

I am not a Mac owner, but the the equivalent of a $500 PC is a $600 Mac, the Mac Mini.

Of course, if that's the argument, I've got a gaming rig for $600, my PS3. I picked up a keyboard, mouse and YellowDog Linux for another $150.
You can get a Shuttle PC, running Linux for $200. And if you are really, cheap, you can get a Pentium 4 or an Athlon 64 processor and XP Home or Pro for under $100 second hand.