The Mac Observer: AAPLTalk System Shootouts - US$1,300 Desktop System Shootout

DATES CONFIGURED: 5/06/03

Must include: 17"+ flatscreen CRT display + DVD-/+RW & CD-RW

Note: Read the AAPLTalk System Shootout FAQ before proceeding!!!
All images and logos are copyright to the respective companies listed.

Company

Apple

Dell

HP/Compaq

Gateway

Sony

Best of Field

eMac SuperDrive

Dimension 4550

Presario 8000

500X

VAIO RZ Series

Design/Styling:

White

Black Minitower

Platinum Tower

VAIO Styling

Mobility:

All-in-one design
50 lbs. total

(all systems listed range from appx. 40-60 lbs. including tower + flat-panel display + speakers)

Component
Access?

Quick access to memory & wireless cards

(all PC systems listed have thumb-screw or other relatively easy access for panel removal & component access)

Cords/Cables:

4 cables/cords

appx. 10 cables/cords (Tower, Display, Web, Speakers, Keyboard, Mouse, Microphone)

Desk Space Used:

270 sq. inches

(All PC systems listed take up appx. 330 - 400 square inches
including tower, CRT & speakers)

Noise Volume:

Nearly silent
(ultraquiet fan)

Loud (full-size cooling fans)

Energy Use:

170 Watts total
appx. $30 / year

(All PC systems listed use between appx. 300 - 400 watts total
including tower + CRT + speakers; appx. $50-$70/year)

Processor:
Notes

1.0 GHz G4

1.5 GHz Pentium 4

2.53 GHz Pentium 4

2.4 GHz Pentium 4

L1 Cache:

64k

32k

L2 Cache:

256K

512K

L3 Cache:

RAM Type:

SDRAM PC133

DDR PC2700

Front Side Bus:

133 MHz bus

533 MHz bus

RAM Amount:

256 MB (1 DIMM)

256 MB (2 DIMM)

512 MB (2 DIMM)

256 MB (1 DIMM)

512 MB (2 DIMM)

Max. RAM:

1.0 GB (2 slots)

Hard Drive
Capacity:

80 GB

60 GB

80 GB

60 GB

Hard Drive Type:

Ultra ATA 66

Ultra ATA 100

Hard Drive Speed:

5400 RPM

7200 RPM

CD-ROM:

32x CD

40x CD

32x CD

CD-RW:

16x8x CD-RW

16x10x CD-RW

16x8x CD-RW

16x10x CD-RW

DVD-ROM:

8x DVD

12x DVD

16x DVD

8x DVD

16x DVD

DVD-/+RW:

4x2x DVD-RW

4x2.4x DVD+RW

4x2x DVD-RW

4x2.4x DVD+/-RW

Floppy Drive:

Yes

Other Drive:

Memory stick

PCI/AGP Slots:
Available / Total

0 / 1

2 / 5

3 / 6

2 / 4

Internal Bays:
Available / Total

0 / 1

1 / 2 (?)

1 / 2

External Bays:
Available / Total

0 / 1

2 / 4

0 / 3

2 / 3

0 / 3

Mouse:

USB Optical

USB Optical
2-button scroll

PS/2 Optical
2-button scroll

USB Optical
2-button scroll

PS/2
2-button scroll

USB Ports:

3 on CPU side
+ 2 on keybd = 5 total
3 USB 1.1 available

4 on CPU back
+ 2 on front = 6 total
5 USB 2.0 available

4 on CPU back
+ 2 on front = 6 total
6 USB 2.0 available

4 on CPU back
+ 2 on front = 6 total
5 USB 2.0 available

4 on CPU back
+ 2 on front = 6 total
6 USB 2.0 available

FireWire Ports:

2 @ 400 Mbps

1 @ 400 Mbps

2 @ 400 Mbps

Legacy Ports:

Legacy-free

1 Ser, 1 Par, 1 PS/2

Unknown (?)

1 Ser, 1 Par, 1 PS/2

1 Par.

Video Card:

ATI Radeon 7500

GeForce4 MX 420

ATI Radeon 9000

Intel Integrated

SIS651 Integrated

Video RAM:

32 MB DDR

64 MB DDR

"up to" 64 MB (shared)

"up to" 32 MB (shared)

VGA Out:

Yes

DVI/ADC Out:

RCA-Out:

optional adapter

S-Video Out:

optional adapter

Yes

Dual Display
Support?

Mirroring

Display:

integrated 16" view.
flat-screen CRT

16" viewable
flat-screen CRT

Max. Resolution:

1280x960

1600x1200

1280x1024 (?)

1280x1024

Audio In:

Built-in microphone
Line-in

Line-in

Audio Out:

Headphone jack, Line-out jack

Speakers:

Harman Kardon
(Integrated)

Harman Kardon
HK-206

Platinum 2.0

GCS300

"Stereo speakers"

Ethernet:

10/100

56k Modem:

Yes

Wi-Fi Card?

optional 802.11g
(54 Mbps)

optional 802.11b
(11 Mbps)

Bluetooth Card?

optional

Hardware Extras:

Canon i450 printer
(free after rebate)

Epson Stylus Printer
(free after rebate)

Included OS:

Mac OS X 10.2;
Mac OS 9.2;
BSD Unix;
Apache Web Server

Windows XP
Home Edition

Windows Support:

DOS/95/98/ME/
2000/XP
(via Virtual PC)

DOS/95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP (Native)

Mac Support:

Mac OS 8,9,X
(Native)

Mac OS 8 only (via emulation)

Linux Support:

Various flavors (Native)

Unix Support:

Various flavors (Native)

Java 2 Support:

Native

(must be downloaded)

Save-as PDF:

Native (any file)

(requires 3rd-party app.)

Handwriting
Recognition:

Inkwell

Word Processor:

AppleWorks 6.2
(Word compatible)

MS Word XP

MS Works 6.0

MS Word XP

MSFT Works 7.0

Spreadsheet:

AppleWorks 6.2
(Excel compatible)

MS Works 7.0

MS Works 6.0

MSFT Works 7.0

Presentation:

AppleWorks 6.2

Database:

AppleWorks 6.2

MS Works 7.0

MS Works 6.0

MSFT Works 7.0

Drawing/Painting:

AppleWorks 6.2

Projects/Planning:

Web Browser

Safari 1.0
IE 5.2

IE 6

E-Mail/PIM/
Address Book:

OS X Mail/
Address Book
iCal, iSync

Outlook Express
Works 7.0

Outlook Express
Works 6.0

Outlook Express
Works 7.0

Media Players:
*free download

QuickTime 6
Media Player 7*
RealOne*
DVD Player

QuickTime 6*
Media Player 8
RealOne
DVD Player

QuickTime 6*
Media Player 8
RealOne*
DVD Player

QuickTime 6
Media Player 8
RealOne
DVD Player

Financial:

Quicken 2003 Deluxe

Money 2003

Money 2003
Quicken 2003

Money 2003

Quicken 2003
MS Money 2003

Reference:

World Book OS X

Encarta 2003
Streets & Trips

Encarta Online

Encarta 2003
Streets & Trips

Encarta 2003

Digital
Photography:

iPhoto 2

Image Expert Premium
PaintShop Pro

Unknown (?)

Picture it!

Picture Gear
Photoshop Elements

Digital Video
Editing:

iMovie 3

Roxio Movie Creator

Arcsoft Showbiz

MovieMaker 2

DVgate
MovieShaker
Adobe Premiere LE

CD Burning/
Music:

iTunes 4
Disc Burner

MusicMatch 6.0
EasyCD Creator

Veritas RecordNow

EasyCD Creator

SonicStage
Veritas RecordNow

DVD Burning/
Authoring:

iDVD 3, Disk Burner

Roxio Movie Creator

Sonic MyDVD

EasyCD Creator

ClickTo DVD

Games
Included:

Chess
Otto Matic
Deimos Rising

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Age of Empires
Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Additional Software:

Asstd. system software

Free Services:

1 month Earthlink

6 months Earthlink

6 months AOL

Viruses/
Security:

about 50
known viruses

over 50,000
viruses (see FBI warning)

Firewall:

Built-in

Warranty:

1 yr. ltd./mail-in
90 days phone

2 yr. ltd./at-home
2 yr. phone

3 yr. ltd./at-home
3 yr. phone

1 yr. ltd./at-home
1 yr. phone

1 yr. ltd./mail-in
90 days phone

Quality of
Products/Service:
Consumer Affairs

"Good Guys"

"Rogues Gallery"

Navigation?

Easy

Fair

Easy

Fair

Customization?

Some

Full

Some

Subotal:

$1,398

$1,303

$1,358

$1,314

$1,354

- Rebates if any:

- $99

- $50

- $49

+ Ground Shipping:

n/c

n/a

n/c

Total Price
as configured:
(tax not included)

$1,299

$1,303

$1,308

$1,314

$1,305

The information above is as accurate as I could make it based on a reasonable time studying the respective companies' Web sites. There is no guarantee that these configurations, prices, and features are the best that one could come up with; assorted bundles, free internet access, free extra memory, and so on can most likely be found for any of the above systems. The point of this chart is to demonstrate that Apple's lineup holds its own against any brand-name computer, even in areas in which it has traditionally had resistance. In short, do not base your purchasing decisions solely on this chart or information. Neither I, nor The Mac Observer will be held responsible or liable for any purchase decisions you make based on this presentation.

Charles Gaba started the AAPLTalk System Shootouts at AAPLTalk.com, and has brought them to TMO. Charles is the creative talent behind Brainwrap Web Design.

AAPLTalk System Shootouts Archives

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