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The future of PCs and Macs is expensive: The PC is a niche now
The Verge ^ | October 28, 2016 | Vlad Savov

Posted on 10/29/2016 1:59:49 PM PDT by EveningStar

The personal desktop computer used to once be an exclusive and expensive machine, though we now know it and its laptop counterpart as a mass-market commodity that most people can afford. This week, however, the companies that defined the personal computer, Microsoft and Apple, gave us a glimpse of the future and it looks like a return to the past: the PC is going back to being an exclusive and expensive machine.

Set aside all the explosions of color on gorgeous, high-resolution displays. Ignore the glamorous promo videos and the ultrathin, all-metal chassis of the new Surface Studio and MacBook Pro. Instead, focus on the prices.

(Excerpt) Read more at theverge.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: apple; computers; mac; macs; microsoft; pc; pcs; windowspinglist
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To: EveningStar

There are attempts to create new products that ARM tablets and phones can’t run. PC geaming is also doing quite well. And 5 even well maintained computers tend to die after 5-10 years.


41 posted on 10/30/2016 10:49:18 PM PDT by rmlew ("Mosques are our barracks, minarets our bayonets, domes our helmets, the believers our soldiers.")
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To: EveningStar

The premise is pretty much nonsense.

There is a ton of value in any PC today. If you want more capability, in general you pay more. No surprise there...

The real beauty of the PC architecture is the ability to build your own machine, to your exact requirements. I think that’s the best value. I also think PC sales will pick up going forward, the less powerful gadgets can’t do the same job.


42 posted on 10/31/2016 12:46:22 AM PDT by PreciousLiberty (Trump/Pence 2016! Make America Greater Than Ever!)
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To: EveningStar
I've never endorsed computers bought at retail stores. Cheap parts, cheap computer, very low in the way of resources (small hard drives, low memory, slow processors). Hence the low prices everyone is accustomed to.

I've always advocated building my own PCs. If someone comes to me with a store bought PC and asks me to make it faster, I bump the memory to the max it can take and find the fastest processor. Usually that does the trick and people think I'm a wizard.

Bottom line, prices are going back up because people want computing power, not the latest PC gimmick that keeps them going back to the store for repairs.

43 posted on 10/31/2016 3:53:56 AM PDT by ducttape45 (Obama's legacy - Christianity outlawed, America shamed, morality destroyed. Need I say more?)
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To: arl295
PCs will be for businesses and dorks

Thats business and GEEKS, wise guy.

44 posted on 10/31/2016 4:00:06 AM PDT by Ol' Sox
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To: proxy_user

Or, you could just dictate it. Editing is another story.


45 posted on 10/31/2016 4:00:13 AM PDT by antidisestablishment ( We few, we happy few, we basket of deplorables)
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To: ducttape45
"I've always advocated building my own PCs."

Same here I either make one from scratch or find a deal on a Barebones box with good mobo and processor and then mod it from there.

Saves a ton of money and I end up with a rig that lasts a long time with no problems whatsoever.

46 posted on 10/31/2016 4:01:26 AM PDT by Mad Dawgg (If you're going to deny my 1st Amendment rights then I must proceed to the 2nd one...)
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To: TXnMA

Uhhh...this business runs on Macs. Our server is a Mac Mini. Our workstations are two iMacs, two Mac Minis and a Mac Pro. Not to mention the three iPads and two Macbook Pros used regularly around the office.

We are a Mom and Pop custom printed and embroidered apparel business.

We have two PC boxes - one is our Quickbooks server and the other is used to run the proprietary software that runs our digital garment printer.

All of our Macs (except for the server) are also running VMWare Fusion with Windows 7. We require a very specific version of Quickbooks and Intuit has not (yet) ported it to Mac. Once they do, we will really have no use for Windows except for the garment printer.

I pray every day that that day arrives soon!


47 posted on 10/31/2016 8:18:21 AM PDT by Crusher138 ("Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just")
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To: Crusher138
"Uhhh...this business runs on Macs."

Yep -- and you are not alone: the world's largest business installation of Macs (approaching 100K -- and supported by an IT staff of only five [5] ) is at, of all places...

IBM!

~~~~

And so does mine...!

Check out my latest FR article.

I just released Part One of a complex, graphics-intensive video intended for the Trump Campaign -- created entirely on my MacBook Pro.

48 posted on 10/31/2016 8:33:13 AM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah": Satan's current alias; "Barack": Allah's current ally; "Comey": Barack's current toadie...)
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To: Mad Dawgg
Saves a ton of money and I end up with a rig that lasts a long time with no problems whatsoever.

I hear ya there. My computers last on the average 6 years or more. The system I'm on now is over 5 years old and still going strong.

49 posted on 10/31/2016 8:52:31 AM PDT by ducttape45 (Obama's legacy - Christianity outlawed, America shamed, morality destroyed. Need I say more?)
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To: Swordmaker
Apple seriously needs to update the Mac Mini to modern processors, fastest flash memory, and fastest RAM and allow plenty of RAM space for upgrades.

But before that they need to release the large Thunderbolt 3 displays that can have one or two discrete video adapters built in and support them with Metal drivers: You buy a new Thunderbolt 3 display, add your own GeForce or ATi video adapters, connect it to your Mac Mini or MacBook Pro, and you have whatever graphics power you added to your new display.

They need to get this done and get on it now. Right now.

50 posted on 10/31/2016 2:57:35 PM PDT by The KG9 Kid
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