The Mac Observer: AAPLTalk System Shootouts - US$3,000 Desktop System Shootout

	DATES CONFIGURED: 1/28/03 - 2/8/03 READ THESE IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS & EXPLANATIONS BEFORE PROCEEDING!!! --Must include at least 17" LCD --Must include both CD-RW and DVD-/+RW --Must include speakers w/subwoofer
All images and logos are copyright of the respective companies listed.

Company

Apple

Dell

HP/Compaq

Gateway

Sony

PowerMac G4

Dimension 8250

Presario 8000

700xl

RZ26G Digital Studio

Design/ Styling

Polycarbonate Shell
Built-in handles

Black Tower

Beige Tower

Platinum Tower

VAIO Styling Tower

Mobility:

(all systems weigh appx. 45 - 50 lbs. total (CPU + flat-panel display + speakers))

Component Access?

Side drops open for easy expansion & component access.

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

Desk space Used:

(all systems utilize appx. 260-300 sq. inches of total desk space (CPU + flat-panel display + speakers))

Noise Volume:

Loud (full-size cooling fans)

Energy Use:

(all systems use appx. 340-380 watts of electricity on average (CPU + display + speakers); appx. $60-70 / year)

Processor:
Rating Notes

2.3 GHz P4
DUAL 1.25 GHz G4

2.7 GHz P4
2.66 GHz Pentium 4

3.06 GHz P4
3.06 GHz Pentium 4

L1 Cache:

64k

32k

L2 Cache:

256K on-chip

512K on-chip

L3 Cache:

1 MB DDR/CPU
(2 MB total)

Memory Type:

DDR-SDRAM PC2700

RDRAM PC800

DDR-SDRAM PC2700

RDRAM PC1066

DDR-SDRAM PC2700

Frontside Bus:

167 MHz bus

533 MHz bus

Memory Amount:

256 MB (1DIMM)

512 MB (1 x 512)

512 MB (1 DIMM)

512 MB (2 DIMM)

1.0 GB (2 DIMM)

Max RAM:

2.0 GB (4 slots)

1.5 GB (3 slots)

1.0 GB (2 slots)

2.0 GB (4 slots)

1.0 GB (2 slots) (?)

Hard Drive Capacity:

120 GB

200 GB

160 GB

Hard Drive Type:

Ultra ATA 100

Hard Drive Speed:

7200 RPM

CD-ROM:

32x CD

40x CD

32x CD

48x CD

32x CD

CD-RW:

16x8x CD-RW

16x10x CD-RW

12x10x CD-RW

48x24x 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

2.4x2.4x DVD+RW

2x1x DVD-RW

4x2x DVD-/+RW

Floppy Drive:

Yes

Zip/Other Drive:

Memory stick

PCI/AGP Slots:

4 available / 5 total

2 / 5

2 / 6

3 / 6

1 / 4

Internal Bays:

3 available / 4 total

1 / 2 (?)

1 / 2

External Bays:

1 available / 2 total

2 / 4

0 / 3

1 / 4

0 / 3

Mouse Included:

USB Optical

USB Optical
2-button scroll wheel

Wireless USB Optical
2-button scroll wheel

PS/2 2-button
scroll wheel

USB Ports:
available = after keyboard & mouse

2 on CPU back
+ 2 on keyboard
+ 2 on display = 6 total
4 available

6 on CPU back
+ 2 on front = 8 total
7 USB 2.0 available

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

4 on back (2 are USB2)
+ 2 on front = 6 total
5 available
(1 USB 1.1; 4 USB 2.0)

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

FireWire Ports:

2 @ 400 Mbps
1 @ 800 Mbps

2 @ 400 Mbps

1 @ 400 Mbps (?)

1 @ 400 Mbps

2 @ 400 Mbps

Available Legacy Ports:

Legacy-Free

1 Ser, 1 Par, 1 PS/2

Unknown (?)

1 Ser, 1 Par, 1 PS/2

1 Ser, 1 Par

Graphics Card:

ATI Radeon 9000

ATI Radeon 9700 TX

ATI Radeon 9700 Pro

nVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440

Video RAM:

64 MB DDR

128 MB DDR

64 MB DDR

VGA Out:

Yes

DVI/ADC Out:

ADC & DVI

DVI

TV-Out:

Yes

Yes; TV-in (TV tuner)

S-Video Out:

Yes; TV-in (TV tuner)

Dual Display Support?

Yes

No (?)

LCD Display:

17" viewable LCD
digital

18.1" viewable LCD
digital

17" viewable LCD
digital

17" v. digital LCD
Composite Video IN

Max. Resolution:

1280 x 1024

1280x1024

Audio In/Out:

Microphone jack; Headphone jack; Audio in/out jacks

Mic./Headphone jacks
Audio in/out jacks
TV-in/out jacks

Speakers:

Logitech Z-340 2.1 Stereo Speakers
w/Subwoofer

Harman Kardon HK-395 Speakers
w/ Subwoofer

Logitech Z-340 2.1 Stereo Speakers
w/Subwoofer

Boston Acoustics BA7900 5.1 speakers
w/Subwoofer

Stereo Speakers
(no subwoofer option available??)

10/100 Ethernet:

Yes

Gigabit Ethernet:

Yes

56k Internal Modem:

Yes

Wi-Fi Card?

optional 802.11g
(54 Mbps)

optional 802.11b
(11 Mbps)

Bluetooth Card?

optional

Hardware Extras Included:

HP DeskJet 3820
inkjet printer
w/promotion

Wireless Keyboard
2 FireWire cables

Epson Stylus
C40UX Printer

Included OS:

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

Windows XP
Professional

Windows XP
Home Edition

Windows/DOS Support:

Win. 95/98/ME/ 2000/XP
(via Virtual PC)

Windows 95/98/ 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)

Save-as PDF:

Native (any file)

(requires 3rd-party app.)

Word Processor Included:

Word X Trial

Word XP

Works 7.0

Spreadsheet Included:

Excel X Trial

Excel XP

Works 7.0

Presentation Software Included:

PowerPoint X Trial

Database Software Included:

FileMaker Pro 6 Trial

Works 6.0

Works 7.0

Drawing/Painting Software Included:

Art Directors Toolkit
Graphic Converter
OmniGraffle

Paint Shop Pro

Calendar/PIM Software Included:

OS X Address Book, iCal, iSync,
Entourage X Trial

Works 6.0

Outlook XP

Works 7.0

Planning/Project Software Included:

OmniOutliner

Publisher XP

Web Browser Included:

Internet Explorer 5.2

Internet Explorer 6

E-Mail/Address Book Included:

OS X Mail
OS X Address Book
Entourage X Trial

Outlook Express 6

Outlook XP

Outlook Express

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.

QuickTime 6
Media Player 8
DVD Player
RealOne Player

Financial Software Included:

QuickBooks 5

Money 2002

Quicken New Users

Quicken New Users
TurboTax Deluxe

Quicken 2002
Money 2003

Reference Software Included:

Encarta 2002
Streets & Trips

Encarta Online

Graphics Editing/
Digital Photo Management:

Graphic Converter
iPhoto 2

Image Expert
Picture It!

ArcSoft MyPhotoCenter

Unknown ?

Photoshop Elements
Picture Gear

Digital Video Editing:

iMovie 3

Roxio Movie Creator

MovieMaker 2

Pinnacle Studio 8
Hollywood FX

MovieShaker
Adobe Premiere LE
DVGate

Music Software/
CD Burning Software:

iTunes 3
Disc Burner

MusicMatch 6.0
EasyCD 5.0

Veritas RecordNow

EasyCD Creator

SonicStage
RecordNow DX

DVD Burning Software:

iDVD 3
Disc Burner

Unknown ?

Sonic MyDVD
Veritas RecordNow

EasyCD Creator
Pinnacle Studio 8

Click2DVD

Games Included:

Chess

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games
The Sims!

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games
Age of Empires 2

Additional Software Included

FaxSTF
Asstd. system software

Asstd. system software

Smart Capture
Asstd. system software

Free ISP/Services:

1 month EarthLink

6 months Earthlink

1 yr. AOL

Virus/Security Issues:

45 known viruses

over 50,000+ known viruses (see FBI warning)

Built-in Firewall?

Yes

Warranty:

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

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

1 yr. ltd./at-home
lifetime phone

1 yr. ltd./home/phone
1 yr. dmg. protection

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

Quality of Products & Service:
Consumer Affairs

"Good Guys"

"Rogues Gallery"

Navigation?

Easy

Fair

Easy

Fair

Customization Allowed?

Some

Full

Some

Very Little

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

$3,023

$3,016

$2,946

$2,938

$3,000

+ Ground Shipping:

No Charge

Free (ltd. time)

$70

$64

Free (ltd. time)

Total Price
as configured:
(Includes cost of all add-ons, rebates, etc.)

$3,023
tax not included

$3,016
tax not included

$3,002
tax not included

$3,000
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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