David,
The comparison is only possible in the first place because you can
build a Dell Precision 490 with almost exactly the same specs as the
new Mac Pros -- same processors, optical drive, memory, hard drive,
video card, etc. (So obviously the replacement cost for any of these
components is exactly the same.) And, as you know, you can run
Windows XP on the Mac just as easily as you can on the Dell, which
means that Apple is (at least potentially) competing with Windows
machines on price. For instance, even if you had no intention of ever
using Mac OS X, if you wanted a Xeon 5100 series machine right now,
it would be much more cost-effective to get a Mac Pro running Windows
XP instead of a Dell Precision 490.
Macs have had a longstanding reputation for being "overpriced"
compared to PC manufacturers like Dell, but back when Apple was using
PowerPC chips, head-to-head comparisons were impossible. Now that
everyone is using Intel chips and you can spec out essentially
identical configurations for both, it turns out that, at least in
this particular case, the Mac is $550 cheaper than the Dell. That's
news to a lot of people.
- Darcy
-----
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://secretsociety.typepad.com
Brooklyn, NY
On 08 Aug 2006, at 8:35 AM, dhbailey wrote:
There are thousands of "branded" PC manufacturers, many small local
brands, others national brands such as HP, Compaq, Toshiba,
Northgate, Gateway, Dell, and I'm sure I've forgotten some others.
Dell isn't necessarily the cheapest, just a common one with a huge
presence. I believe it is either currently or has been at several
times the #1 maker (by volume) of Windows machines.
So in that case, comparing the #1 maker of Mac Pros (also the only
maker of Mac Pros) with the #1 maker of PCs might make some sense,
but there is so much competition in the PC marketplace which is
totally lacking in the Mac marketplace that a fairer comparison
would be to find out the lowest price a machine could be purchased
for which matched the Mac specs, not necessarily the lowest price
Dell would offer.
Another price comparison which would have to be made would be how
much replacement parts would cost -- if one of the Mac memory
modules goes belly up, how much would it cost to replace it. If
the Mac motherboard fries, how much would a replacement cost? If
the hard drive dies, how much to replace it?
Then get comparison replacement prices for Windows components and
see if the Mac advantage holds up.
--
David H. Bailey
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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