Someone finally saying that Apple needs to have a "Value" machine for all the iLemmings.

- Realty Check

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Guest wrote:
Someone finally saying that Apple needs to have a "Value" machine for all the iLemmings.

- Realty Check

Yeah, because nobody on TMO and every other Mac-centric website has ever said anything like that.

P.S. Realty Check says housing prices in several hot markets are overvalued and warns of a bubble burst.

Just another mainstream media article singing Apple's mesage of value and function. It is not, never has been, about the cheapest peecee. Think of the iPod as the ultimate "Camel's nose under the tent".

It is great to see articles like this from actual users.

The funny thing is, anyone who shopped for an MP3 player this holiday season knows that the iPod is NOT the cheapest way to go. There are alot of options out there and some are cheaper. But like the mac itself, the iPod offers a user experience and style unmatched by the others. If that same idea gets through to enough people buying computers, then Apple will be fine.

I've been pricing out a Mac now because i'm completely sick of XP and all the adware/malware. I'm a network admin myself, and I see this everyday. Then I see it when I come home, it is maddening. Even with the latest Virus Scanners and removers they still infest the systems. I got an iPod a year ago and it is one of the best things ive ever bought. Tivo is the same way. You just dont "get it" until you buy one. I have toyed with the iMac display units and I hope these will be the same way, the first impressions were great.

My only concern is the lowly video cards. So I am holding off till after Macworld hoping they outfit the new Powerbooks/iMacs/PowerMacs with some middle of the road ATI 9800Pros. The Dual 2.5 has the 9600XT which is great, but that should be LOW END standard by now, it's an old technology in the video card world. I don't know why i'm hung up on this aspect, I think its because once you get the system you're stuck with it. Which is fine, but I just want the BEST, like my ipod. Ya know?

And to think I was a die hard Amiga user, and soon i'll be a Mac convert. Whoa.

People complain about the price of Apple computers that just work, as their bargain PCs choke not only on viruses and spy-ware, but also on the CPU eating programs designed to defeat them. The old saying is still true, you get what you pay for!

I think the video card performance depends on what you're going to do with the Mac. I am a new convert to the Mac and have only had my iMac G5 for a about 6 weeks...So, I might not know what I'm talking about, but I think because the graphics subsystem in OS X is so optimized that the graphics card does not need to be "killer" unless you're doing hard core 3D gaming .... but I could be totally wrong. . . comments on this anyone?

I used to be an Amiga user too. That's what I loved about mac...they turned installing apps on UNIX into drag and drop the way Amiga actually made that happen (well sometimes if the libraries were already installed). For me it's the nearest I can get to an updated Amiga os. It's actually quite joyful using OSX while XP is dull and annoying. The multitasking on X is SO much better than XP.

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Guest wrote:
Sign up for one free deal [.....blah, blah, blah.]

Spam, spam, spam, spam!




edit by bweels. Yes it most certainly was spam. It has been deleted.

I find it interesting that Mr. Cuollo thinks "...Apple will not become a household name until they are willing to drive out cost from their processes...". Driving out cost is the classic Dell approach to computers. The problem with this approach is that the first and easiest way to drive out cost is to cease R&D. Dell and other Wintel companies have very low R&D cost, mostly because someone else is doing it for them. That approach would destroy Apple. Why do so many people not understand this? As for the "years old" eMac, new eMacs are like the older ones in looks and market position only. The innards are updated regularly. I just ordered a refurb eMac from the Apple Store and am looking forward to receiving and using it.

my family just got a new eMac from apple-- to take over as the primary computer from a blue dalmatian iMac G3

we wait a few years because we dont need dual 2.5 G5 processors, and can easily operate on a computer that the TCO will be below $1000. that includes a 3 year applecare

there are these P4 4GHz chips out there, but they hit a MAJOR bottleneck in the frontside bus. the slowest frontside bus on a mac is 533MHz (on the iMac G5 1.6), with G4's being 1:1 bus:processor and the PM's being 1:2 bus:processor. ive seen new dulls selling with bus speeds below 100MHz!

so, compare all the specs, and choose a mac. processor speed is not everything, and if the iMac had a better bus, and a changable video card, i would have one right now

instead i live with my iBook, and save my money for a PM

TRO

I loved the sheer number of switcher letters!

Those letters reinforced the impressions that:
- switchers are because of iPods and viruses/ spyware/ adwares.
- doubters are because of game applications, past pre-Jobs Apple's practices, perceived "expensive-ness" and lack of understanding what is a Mac.
- you fall in love with Macs after using them for awhile. Doubters don't understand because they have not used Macs before.

I sense a resurgence of Macs.

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Guest wrote:
My only concern is the lowly video cards...I don't know why i'm hung up on this aspect, I think its because once you get the system you're stuck with it.

What you speaketh is untrue (or maybe i am just reading your post wrong). You are more than welcome to buy another video card (I prefer ATI, your mileage may vary) and slap that in your Mac if you don't like the one it ships with. Hell, if you want to be adventerous, you can even get a Windows version and flash it (though this has gotten a tad more complicated in recent years and street price "Mac tax" much less severe).

So, if the video card issue is what has you hesitant...buck up lil' camper, and rest assured you are not "stuck with" the card the system ships with.

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Santo Cuollo wrote: "Apple will not become a household name until they are willing to drive out cost from their processes and offer a "value" machine, and something more attractive than the years-old eMac. They have the better product -- now they need to offer the better value."

And yet he probably went out and bought a Lexus or BMW.

Quality Costs

Yes, I just found out you can change the video card around inside the Power Macs on Apples site, which made me pretty happy. They have decent choices for a premium, but its what I want.

However, the iMac still can't be changed (I was looking at that 20" one). But in the end, I have a nice 21" CRT that will be ripped from my XP box to go to a new DP Power Mac it looks like.

Thanks guys.

I was home for Christmas and was surprized at the new interest in Macs in the family. My uncle had an iPod with a Bose cradle/speaker system. That got conversations going. Several people told me they were going to buy iPods. When I suggested to these people, and to others who complained about their PCs, that they switch to Mac, I was surprized to get a lot of positive responses.

Those that think there needs to be an iMac advertised on TV for $499 today will never switch. They also think that Ruth's Chris Steakhouse needs to offer a 99 cent value menu.

I'm okay with that. What I DO want is for a well-established Mac-using base of, oh....15%. I'd love 25%, but I think that may be dreaming a little too much.

I think Apple is on track to make inroads of gaining back marketshare. XServe is a big deal, Tiger OS, cool design iMacs...we'll see. Maybe even an iMac that will break sub-$1000 eventually would help move some more switchers. But I'm not going to think that Apple can compete with Dell on price anymore than Dell can compete with Apple on cutting-edge design and technology.

To geoduck - actually, I have an Audi - and still not convinced of its "quality" regarding dependability, but it sure drives great. I was willing to pay for that, and I am willing to pay for an Apple.

I am simply stating that for Apple to gain market share, they have to produce something at a lower price point. Do they do this at risk of their quality in design and performance? Not necessarily. Today I see that Apple has introduced the "mini", to appeal to the replacement market, for windows users it seems. Good idea, but it still does not play in the sub $1,000 price point if you add mouse, keyboard, decent monitor, etc. WIth this - for many to whom a computor is a household "appliance", the switch is less painful.

By the way, despite my portrayal in the WSJ article, I am pretty sure I will end up replacing my window machine with an Apple, mainly due to the benefits of the software included, virus resistance and, yes - it works - w/o me becoming a mechanic. (Been there, done that). At least that what you Apple folks keep telling me.

After the Mac Mini announcement I guess I'm having to eat my words. Apple was able to produce a quality CPU at a low price point. I stand corrected, not to mention amazed.