The Mac Observer: AAPLTalk System Shootouts - US$3,300 Desktop Replacement Shootout

by Charles Gaba

Visit Charle Gaba's new System Shootout site for the latest shootouts!

Desktop Shootouts
New!	(U.S. $):

$800
Desktops

Apple Desktop Lineup
Page 1	Page 2

Laptop Shootouts
(coming soon!)

$800
Laptops

$1,100
Laptops

$1,600
"Mini-Me's"

$2,000
Laptops

$2,600
Laptops

$3,000
"LapZillas"

Apple Laptop Lineup

Laptops: iBook vs. Lindows

Educational Desktops: $700 / $1,000

OS's: Mac OS X vs. Windows XP

	DATES CONFIGURED: 1/8/03 - 1/16/03 Must include DVD, CD-RW, Wi-Fi Card and either: 15.7"+ display or 15" Display w/ 1600x1200 res. Note: Read the AAPLTalk System Shootout FAQ before procededing!!! All images and logos are copyright to the respective companies listed.
	Total must be within $25 of $3,300 INCLUDING SHIPPING!

Company

Apple

Dell

HP/Compaq

Gateway

Sony

Toshiba

BOLD

= Best of Field

No Desktop Replacements Available;
16" models discontinued?

17" PowerBook G4

Inspirion 8200

n/a

600XL

GRX600 Series

Satellite 1955-S803

Dimensions:

157 cubic in.
15.4" x 10.2" x 1.0"

246 cubic in.
1.75" x13.0" x12.8"

n/a

285 cubic in.
13.9" x 11.4" x 1.8"

290 cubic in.
1.8" X 14" X 11.5"

386 cubic in.
13.6"x12.9"x2.2"

Weight:
(all bays filled)

6.8 lbs

7.9 lbs

n/a

8.7 lbs

8.4 lbs.

9.6 lbs

Battery Life:

up to 4.5 hrs.

up to 3 hrs.

n/a

up to 2.5 hrs (?)

up to 4.5 hrs.

up to 2.5 hrs.

Processor:
Rating Notes

1.5 GHz P4
1.0 GHz PowerPC G4

2.2 GHz
2.2 GHz M Pent. 4

n/a

2.2 GHz
2.2 GHz M Pent. 4

2.0 GHz
1.9 GHz M Pentium 4

2.5 GHz
2.5 GHz Pent. 4

L1 Cache:

64k

32k

n/a

32k

L2 Cache:

256K on-chip

512K on-chip

n/a

512K on-chip

512K on-chip

L3 Cache:

1 MB DDR

n/a

Memory Type:

DDR PC2700

DDR PC2100

n/a

DDR PC2100

Frontside Bus:

167 MHz bus

400 MHz bus

n/a

400 MHz bus

400 MHz

400 MHz

Memory Amount:

512 MB (1 DIMM)

n/a

512 MB (1 DIMM)

1.0 GB (2 DIMM)

Max RAM:

1.0 GB (2 slots)

n/a

1.0 GB (2 slots)

Hard Drive Capacity:

60 GB

n/a

60 GB

Hard Drive Type:

Ultra ATA 100

n/a

Ultra ATA 100 (?)

Ultra ATA 100

Ultra ATA 100 (?)

Hard Drive Speed:

4200 rpm

n/a

4200 rpm (?)

4200 rpm

4200 rpm (?)

CD-Rom:

24x

n/a

24x

CD-RW:

8x4x CD-RW

24x10x CD-RW

n/a

24x10x CD-RW

16x10x CD-RW

8x8x CD-RW (?)

DVD-Rom:

n/a

8x (?)

DVD-/+RW:

2x1x DVD-RW
(can burn w/out being plugged in)

n/a

4x1x DVD-RW
(must be plugged in to burn)

(not available w/16" models!)

Floppy Drive:

n/a

Yes

Zip/Other Drive:

n/a

Memory stick

PC Card Slots:

1 + 1 802.11g slot

Yes

n/a

Yes

Type of Bays:

Fixed

Swappable

n/a

Swappable

USB Ports:

2 USB 1.1 ports

n/a

2 USB 1.1 ports

3 USB 1.1 ports

Firewire Ports:

1 port x 400 Mbps
1 port x 800 Mbps

1 port x 400 Mbps

n/a

1 port x 400 Mbps

Legacy Ports:

1 Par, 1 Ser, 1 PS/2

n/a

1 Par, 1 Ser, 1 PS/2

1 Par.

Graphics Card:
Rating Notes

nVIDIA
GeForce 440 Go

ATI Mobility
Radeon 9000

n/a

ATI Mobility
Radeon 9000

ATI Mobility
Radeon 7500

nVIDIA
GeForce4 420 Go

Video RAM:

64 MB DDR

n/a

64 MB DDR

32 MB DDR

64 MB DDR

Dual-Display Support?

Mirror & Span

n/a

Mirror & Span

VGA Out:

Yes

n/a

Yes

DVI Out:

Yes

n/a

S-Video Out:

Yes

n/a

Composite Out:

Yes

Display:

17" TFT XGA

15" TFT UltraSharp

n/a

15.7" TFT SXGA

16.1" TFT UXGA

16" TFT SXGA

Native display resolution:

1440 x 900

1600x1200

n/a

1400x1050

1600x1200

1280x1024

Microphone:

Line-in port
Built-in microphone

Line-in port
Digital audio-ready

n/a

Line-in port
Digital audio-ready

Headphone/
Line Out:

Yes
Digital audio-ready

n/a

Yes
Digital audio-ready

Stereo speakers:

Yes

n/a

Yes

10/100 Ethernet?

Yes

n/a

Yes

Gigabit Ethernet?

Yes

n/a

56k Internal Modem?

Yes

n/a

Yes

Wi-Fi Card Included?

Yes
802.11g / 54 Mbps

Yes
802.11b / 11 Mbps

n/a

Yes
802.11b / 11 Mbps

Bluetooth Card?

Yes (integrated)

n/a

Yes (add-on)

Hardware Extras Included:

n/a

Epson Stylus C42UX printer

wireless/detachable
keyboard & mouse

Included OS:

Mac OS X 10.2;
Mac OS 9.2 (via Classic);
BSD Unix;
Apache Web Server

Windows XP
Home Edition

n/a

Windows XP
Professional

Windows XP
Home Edition

Windows XP Professional

Windows/DOS Support:

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

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

Mac OS Support:

Mac OS 8,9,X (Native)

Mac OS 8 only (via emulation)

Linux OS Support:

Various flavors (Native)

Unix OS Support:

Various flavors (Native)

Java 2 Support:

Native

(must be downloaded)

Rendezvous Zero-Config Networking:

Yes

Word Processor Included:

Word X Trial

Word XP

n/a

Word XP

Save-as PDF:

Native (any file)

(requires 3rd-party app.)

Spreadsheet Software Included:

Excel X Trial

Excel XP

n/a

Excel XP

Presentation Software Included:

PowerPoint X Trial

n/a

PowerPoint XP

Database Software Included:

FileMaker Pro 6 Trial

n/a

Access XP

Drawing/Painting Software Included:

Art Directors Toolkit
Graphic Converter
PixelNhance
OmniGraffle

n/a

Handwriting Recognition:

Inkwell

Calendar/PIM Software Included:

iCal, iSync
Address Book
Entourage X Trial

Outlook XP

n/a

Outlook XP

Planning/Project Software Included:

OmniOutliner

Publisher XP

n/a

Publisher XP

Web Browser Included:

Internet Explorer 5.2

Internet Explorer 6

n/a

Internet Explorer 6

E-Mail/Address Book Included:

OS X Mail
OS X Address Book
Entourage X Trial

Outlook XP

n/a

Outlook XP

Media Player Included:

QuickTime 6
DVD Player
Media Player 7 avail.
RealOne Player avail.

Media Player 8, DVD Player
Quicktime 6 avail.; RealOne Player avail.

Financial Software Included:

QuickBooks Pro 5
New Users

Money 2002

n/a

Quicken New Users

Quicken 2001

Reference
Software Included:

n/a

Digital Photo Management:

iPhoto 2
Graphic Converter

Image Expert Premium
PaintShop Pro

n/a

Photoshop Elements 2
SmartCapture
Sony PictureGear

Digital Video
Editing:

iMovie 3

Roxio Movie Creator

n/a

MovieMaker 2

Sony MovieShaker
Sony DVgate
Premiere LE

MovieMaker 2

Music Software/
CD Burning Software:

iTunes 3
Disc Burner

MusicMatch 6.0
Roxio EasyCD

n/a

Roxio EasyCD

SonicStage
Screenblast Acid
Sound Forge

DVD Burning/
Authoring Software:

iDVD 3
Disc Burner

n/a

Click To DVD

Games
Included:

Chess

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

n/a

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Additional
Software
Included

Asstd. system software

n/a

Asstd. system software

Free ISP/
Other Services

1 month EarthLink

6 months Earthlink

n/a

1 year AOL

3 months AOL

Virus Susceptibility/
Security Issues

45 known viruses

50,000+ viruses
1-yr. McAfee VirusScan

50,000+ viruses

50,000+ viruses
Norton AntiVirus

Built-in Firewall?

Yes

Warranty:

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

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

n/a

2 yrs. total./on-site
lifetime tech. supp.

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

3 yr. ltd./mail-in
3 yrs. phone

Quality of Products & Service:
Consumer Affairs

"Good Guys"

"Rogues Gallery"

n/a

"Rogues Gallery"

"Poor"

Navigation?

Easy

n/a

Easy

Fair

Poor

Customization Allowed?

Some

Full

n/a

Some

Little

None

Subotal:
(includes rebates, add-ons, etc.)

$3,299

$3,311

n/a

$3,246

$3,290

$3,301

+ Ground Shipping:

No Charge

n/c (ltd. time)

n/a

$50

No Charge (ltd. time)

$10

Total Price
as configured:

$3,299
tax not included

$3,311
tax not included

n/a

$3,296
tax not included

$3,290
tax not included

$3,311
tax not included

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.

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