At 01:30 ìì 31/1/2001, you wrote:
>Phoebus Dokos wrote:
> > Well yeah... indeed in the US PCs are more expensive than in Europe, but
> > you're forgetting that a PC is not only a case and a motherboard. It's
> > memory, it is hard drives, CD/DVD/CDR/W, it's sound cards, it's monitors
> > and it is SOFTWARE.
>
>Of course I did include all these things in my calculation, except the
>monitor. But by using a less expensive graphics card I think one could
>squeeze some standard 17 inch ones for every PC in.
> > With a Q40 solution you are off to work right off the box and your
> > specialized software needs are minimal or the software is free anyways!
> > Only Windows cost me 249$! (And I know Windows ME in Europe costs EXACTLY
> > the same as in the US for the Full version... now for the 3 PCs you said
> > above that's 750 $ right away!)
>
>No, it isn't. You're talking about retail prices.
Correct but then again, buying a PC doesn't mean you get a name brand (with
bundled softare you are right).
Many people (including myself) want to buy things that will accomodate
their needs.
And what I needed in a PC certainly not Dell, nor Gateway, Compaq or IBM
could provide in one box despite all the
software bundles.
>But as with SMSQ/E,
>which is, as far as I know, also included in the Q40 price, software
>tends to be cheaper when bundled with hardware.
Q40 includes SMSQ/E optionally. Standard Q40s have QDOS Classic.
> > Not to mention the other programs. Do they cost as much on a QL.? Of
> > course not.
>
>You can get almost everything you need for free.
Interesting, but tell me.. Find me a program on Windows that even comes
CLOSE to Photoshop or Corel Draw and I will get it in a heart beat...
As far as office apps, Star Office is unusable so what's your option?
Either Corel Wordperfect or Microsoft Office. And they are not free.. not
even cheap!
>But anyway, I am NOT suggesting that buying a PC just for QPC is a
>better solution than buying a Q40 or anything (or did I write that
>anywhere? I don't think so). At least not if you don't use the other
>features a PC can which a Q40 can't. I just considered your
>calculation to be quite weird, because you really can get 3 PCs for
>the mentioned price here.
Yes but with what kinds of hard drives? 10 Gigs? or 40 that I had to buy in
order to fit software that when it exists (or if it existed on the QL) it
is at least 100 times larger in terms of space. Not to mention a lot slower.
> > (Unless you say that programs shouldn't be bought.... well that's another
> > story.). However you look at it the combination is still cheaper with a
> > Q40. A LOT cheaper for comparable performance.
>
>I say you can't compare them. Harldy in performance but even less in
>price.
Oh but you can. And still with the cheapest prices in PCs... your GPFs (or
how the hell M$ calls them nowadays) will always be there lurking in the
shadows to stab you in the back ;-)
Phoebus
