nanofrog
May 6, 07:34 PM
Another way to look at it is to compare Apple to HP, Dell, etc. HP, Dell, etc, use big contracts with Microsoft to get lower volume prices for Windows. They also shove in a lot of trialware, shareware, and other forms of licensed crapware to subsidize the cost. Get rid of those aspects and their prices would go up as well.
As far as all the crapware, it's definitely true the consumer systems get loaded up with it (particularly the budget boxes).
But if you order a business machine, it's not there. They know businesses don't want it, nor want to spend the time removing it. So vendors cater to this market ("extras" in terms of hardware may be missing as well, such as SD card readers for example, as businesses tend to see that as a potential security risk). So the profit margin works out.
As per Apple's pricing though, most of it is due to their love of high margins from what I've seen (i.e. Gross Margin of ~41% last I saw). Any discounts on software don't translate to a PC so much in terms of the user, as is applied to the vendor's margins (Dell, HP, ...).
Looking inside a Mac Pro chassis and a $1400 DIY desktop PC that has the same types of internal components (Xeon, et al), the Mac Pro is much better designed - virtually no cables, great cooling... it's wonderful from a technical standpoint and I came from a PC environment, both boxed and DIY setups... even the Dell Precision line - cables aplenty and a poor interior design layout in general. Yuck.
In terms of workstations and servers on the PC side, I've seen both extremes (rats nest to extremely clean and well laid out, even for the same model). So I've always wondered if the sloppy units (not a result of bad design) were the result of the system being assembled on either a Monday or Friday (spaced out/not interested in what they're doing due to weekend activities - daydreaming if you will, and possibly hung over on Monday :eek: :p).
When I think of vendors such as Silicon Graphics, DEC, and Sun of systems' past, I don't ever recall seeing a rats nest that wasn't the result of an IT person. Those would blow the MP away in terms of how well they were laid out, cooled, and ease of replacing components in a hurry. I really miss systems like these....
I've yet to look at a new HP all-in-one device, but I suspect its screen will be a TN panel. Definitely not an H-IPS that Apple routinely uses for the iMacs.
Not sure if this would be the case unilaterally (you've not indicated a model or series), but for the low cost versions, TN would be the way they'd have to go to meet the manufacturing budget. Upper scale versions however, may use the same panel (i.e. Dell uses the same H-IPS panel in the iMac in one of their monitors, so it's not impossible that HP could use it in a product or two either).
Not to mention, fewer Mac owners means they have to pay any difference on top of the rest.
There is truth to this (lower economy of scale), but in the case of an MP, they follow Intel's reference designs for the most part (added FW controller is one exception).
There is no real "Apple tax" as far as I'm concerned. There are, however, subsidies, crapware, Windows OS and its problems (the registry, fragmenting file systems, no native support, etc), et cetera. Windows might be faster at gaming, but that's only as long as the games are DirectX-optimized and the ports made to OpenGL, etc, just remain "good enough".
There's problems with OS X and firmware as well on the Mac side, so nothing is perfect. Macs can even get infected with malware if the user isn't careful, so they're not even immune to this.
I say let the user figure out which platform is best fit for them (system + software + any training that would be involved), and get on with doing whatever they need to do. ;)
As far as all the crapware, it's definitely true the consumer systems get loaded up with it (particularly the budget boxes).
But if you order a business machine, it's not there. They know businesses don't want it, nor want to spend the time removing it. So vendors cater to this market ("extras" in terms of hardware may be missing as well, such as SD card readers for example, as businesses tend to see that as a potential security risk). So the profit margin works out.
As per Apple's pricing though, most of it is due to their love of high margins from what I've seen (i.e. Gross Margin of ~41% last I saw). Any discounts on software don't translate to a PC so much in terms of the user, as is applied to the vendor's margins (Dell, HP, ...).
Looking inside a Mac Pro chassis and a $1400 DIY desktop PC that has the same types of internal components (Xeon, et al), the Mac Pro is much better designed - virtually no cables, great cooling... it's wonderful from a technical standpoint and I came from a PC environment, both boxed and DIY setups... even the Dell Precision line - cables aplenty and a poor interior design layout in general. Yuck.
In terms of workstations and servers on the PC side, I've seen both extremes (rats nest to extremely clean and well laid out, even for the same model). So I've always wondered if the sloppy units (not a result of bad design) were the result of the system being assembled on either a Monday or Friday (spaced out/not interested in what they're doing due to weekend activities - daydreaming if you will, and possibly hung over on Monday :eek: :p).
When I think of vendors such as Silicon Graphics, DEC, and Sun of systems' past, I don't ever recall seeing a rats nest that wasn't the result of an IT person. Those would blow the MP away in terms of how well they were laid out, cooled, and ease of replacing components in a hurry. I really miss systems like these....
I've yet to look at a new HP all-in-one device, but I suspect its screen will be a TN panel. Definitely not an H-IPS that Apple routinely uses for the iMacs.
Not sure if this would be the case unilaterally (you've not indicated a model or series), but for the low cost versions, TN would be the way they'd have to go to meet the manufacturing budget. Upper scale versions however, may use the same panel (i.e. Dell uses the same H-IPS panel in the iMac in one of their monitors, so it's not impossible that HP could use it in a product or two either).
Not to mention, fewer Mac owners means they have to pay any difference on top of the rest.
There is truth to this (lower economy of scale), but in the case of an MP, they follow Intel's reference designs for the most part (added FW controller is one exception).
There is no real "Apple tax" as far as I'm concerned. There are, however, subsidies, crapware, Windows OS and its problems (the registry, fragmenting file systems, no native support, etc), et cetera. Windows might be faster at gaming, but that's only as long as the games are DirectX-optimized and the ports made to OpenGL, etc, just remain "good enough".
There's problems with OS X and firmware as well on the Mac side, so nothing is perfect. Macs can even get infected with malware if the user isn't careful, so they're not even immune to this.
I say let the user figure out which platform is best fit for them (system + software + any training that would be involved), and get on with doing whatever they need to do. ;)
lewion
Sep 12, 11:56 AM
No, silly. It's the "Mini Tower" thing.
(i hope)
LOOOL nono you got it all wrong.. it's the MacBook :)
(i hope)
LOOOL nono you got it all wrong.. it's the MacBook :)
OrangeSVTguy
Feb 17, 02:52 PM
Picking up a 970 tonight. 6 cores of pure awesomeness :D. Can't wait!
morespce54
Jul 18, 10:59 AM
But the damn site is all voluntary, no real authority. People could change something on less looked at articles and nobody'd no the difference! My sister's professors do not allow their students to you Wikipedia! Just because something's longer doesn't mean it's bettter! If you've ever used Encyclopaedia Brittanica or the World Book, the authors are pros on the subject, not just some bum that's obcessed with Google!
Off topic...
Still, I look at Wiki first and then I always double-check with other sources of information.
Wiki might have weakness but there's so much information (and images, sounds, etc.) All at the same address!
Off topic...
Still, I look at Wiki first and then I always double-check with other sources of information.
Wiki might have weakness but there's so much information (and images, sounds, etc.) All at the same address!
baxterbrittle
Oct 25, 11:45 AM
OS X Server unlimited client is quite expensive by itself, add that to a MacPro and see what the price diff for xserve is. How much is server 2003 unlimited these days, still pretty pricy if I understand correctly and that does not come with your backyard barebones.
Also there was something about lights out management (which I know nothing about) added to the cost of the dell in the WWDC comarison.
In other words hardware is one thing but the big picture needs to be looked at more carefully.
Also 1/5 of the cost? I'd like to see some figures. I can't even get 1 xeon for that let alone 2.
Also there was something about lights out management (which I know nothing about) added to the cost of the dell in the WWDC comarison.
In other words hardware is one thing but the big picture needs to be looked at more carefully.
Also 1/5 of the cost? I'd like to see some figures. I can't even get 1 xeon for that let alone 2.
neildmitchell
Sep 9, 05:39 PM
Nice... (sarcasm)
I don't find nose, eyebrow, tongue, lip, neck, nipple, etc piercing at all attractive. Also tattoos are horrendous. If your going to get one put it where no one can see it.
At least its not as bad as these weirdos like this guy:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/joserouse/Odd/CatMan_M_Aitchison.jpg
I watched a show about him on Discovery Health. He's one messed up guy. He has had teeth implants, cheek implants, etc.
I think there is nothing wrong with him. He's living his life the way he feels most comfortable. Iwould like to meet him. I would also like to meet The Enigma and all the others.
I don't find nose, eyebrow, tongue, lip, neck, nipple, etc piercing at all attractive. Also tattoos are horrendous. If your going to get one put it where no one can see it.
At least its not as bad as these weirdos like this guy:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/joserouse/Odd/CatMan_M_Aitchison.jpg
I watched a show about him on Discovery Health. He's one messed up guy. He has had teeth implants, cheek implants, etc.
I think there is nothing wrong with him. He's living his life the way he feels most comfortable. Iwould like to meet him. I would also like to meet The Enigma and all the others.
jammiefreerider
Apr 14, 05:26 PM
Since FCP will be editing everything natively (and I assume that means all sorts of AVCHD files), ironically that means many of us won't need the super high speed Thunderbolt drives.
AVCHD files top out at 24 Mbps (or thereabouts), and since this is around the bitrate of DV, ye olde FW800 drives should be fine for external storage. Internal storage should be fine - 10 hours of footage will only take 130 GB or so.
From my understanding FCP will still transcode your footy from AVCHD to ProRes (because by miles thats still the best codec to edit + add effects to) but it does it in the background along with all the faces/shot/stabilisation analysis. While a clip is being imported your allowed to work on the AVCHD file but it is automatically seamlessly swapped with the ProRes file when its ready. Which, if im right, is absolutely epic :)
Adds questions about where files are stored tho...
AVCHD files top out at 24 Mbps (or thereabouts), and since this is around the bitrate of DV, ye olde FW800 drives should be fine for external storage. Internal storage should be fine - 10 hours of footage will only take 130 GB or so.
From my understanding FCP will still transcode your footy from AVCHD to ProRes (because by miles thats still the best codec to edit + add effects to) but it does it in the background along with all the faces/shot/stabilisation analysis. While a clip is being imported your allowed to work on the AVCHD file but it is automatically seamlessly swapped with the ProRes file when its ready. Which, if im right, is absolutely epic :)
Adds questions about where files are stored tho...
iJawn108
Nov 13, 08:09 PM
It's normal for the fans to run on full power during the firmware update. I assume that's the noise you heard, right?That happened as well the one im refering to came from the speakers.
tlhash
Jan 7, 08:35 PM
Anyone know if keynote is shown live outside of the auditorium?
Hrududu
Oct 17, 04:49 PM
PowerPC support :cool:
Andronicus
Apr 17, 12:03 AM
Yeah. I gave up waiting for the white iPhone last August, but I'd love to swap. Best bet would be if I could convince someone who plans on getting a 4 to buy a white one and trading. Don't think I'd be able to sell mine for enough to pay for a white one. :(
I was thinking of selling my iPhone 4 and using the money to buy a white iPhone 4, put it in an otterbox and keep it in perfect shape then sell it when iPhone 5 is released. I've owned a lot of iPhones since day one and for some reason the white iPhones have a higher resale value than the black ones.
I was thinking of selling my iPhone 4 and using the money to buy a white iPhone 4, put it in an otterbox and keep it in perfect shape then sell it when iPhone 5 is released. I've owned a lot of iPhones since day one and for some reason the white iPhones have a higher resale value than the black ones.
AlBDamned
Sep 12, 10:09 AM
Pietersen is getting his revenge (proving his worth?) on pretty much everyone... Six! Four! Dare we say it....
252/7
252/7
JeepGuy
May 2, 10:54 PM
nVidia claims 142W for a Quadro 4000, and PNY for example, has it at 152W. Either way, this is less power than some gaming cards pull, and is why it's possible to use 2x of them in a MP.
BTW, it's ~110W or so more under full load for a pair of 5770's than a pair of Quadro 4000's. :eek: :D
Works good as a space heater hear in the Great White North eh! ;)
BTW, it's ~110W or so more under full load for a pair of 5770's than a pair of Quadro 4000's. :eek: :D
Works good as a space heater hear in the Great White North eh! ;)
hatehereyes
Mar 2, 03:27 PM
Anne for wallpaper. Oh, we love Anne.
-J
Oh man, could you post the original of that please?
Thank you :)
-J
Oh man, could you post the original of that please?
Thank you :)
RedTomato
Sep 30, 04:28 PM
Does this display subtitles?
Yes it's a small screen, but subtitles would benefit many people not just deaf people.
Fnpc posted 10 posts before mine, but I missed it:
Kanzenban # 22 (Super Saiyan
CHOUZO ART SUPER SAIYAN GOKU
super saiyan 5 goku and vegeta
Volume 1 - Super Saiyan Goku
Yes it's a small screen, but subtitles would benefit many people not just deaf people.
Fnpc posted 10 posts before mine, but I missed it:
Number 41
Apr 17, 11:12 PM
I can't believe there are people out there dumb enough to buy one of these when a new iPhone is, by all indications, probably less than 5 months away.
MCMarshall
Jan 16, 07:39 AM
Halfway through January already, Still keepin it minimal, and dark :)
Appropriate song there too!
Appropriate song there too!
Bregalad
Oct 18, 02:05 PM
The product is undoubtedly real, but announcing it in December, or even at MWSF in January, would be the height of stupidity. They'd miss the Christmas buying season and piss off both the buyers and recipients of new iPods. That's probably 20 million people in the US alone who would be angry with Apple.
The fancy new video iPod should be announced, and begin shipping in volume, in April. That gives plenty of time for Christmas bills to be paid, the novelty of Christmas presents to wear off, and at least 8 weeks in all states before the public schools shut down for summer.
The fancy new video iPod should be announced, and begin shipping in volume, in April. That gives plenty of time for Christmas bills to be paid, the novelty of Christmas presents to wear off, and at least 8 weeks in all states before the public schools shut down for summer.
erzhik
Apr 19, 05:04 PM
preordered it at best buy for $35 and got a $10 gift card. BB had the best deal for portal 2.
baryon
Apr 22, 02:02 PM
With the internet, I think magazines aren't doing that well anyway. Plus most of them are 50% ads, and the same ones in each magazine, which is quite boring.
Markleshark
Mar 28, 10:37 AM
But, at least they include a HDMI cable and don't forget to tell you that you can't get full HD without it, eh Sony.
Oops, that was a little console war-ish of me.
Oops, that was a little console war-ish of me.
seveej
Apr 12, 11:02 AM
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; fi-fi) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)
It all boils down to that data center in NC.
Apple has taught me to never expect little, so my money is on somthing so outrageous no analyst will think of it.
It all boils down to that data center in NC.
Apple has taught me to never expect little, so my money is on somthing so outrageous no analyst will think of it.
kdarling
Apr 27, 08:55 PM
That's the reason Apple chose google maps in the first place. When they first introduced the iPhone, there would be no plausible way to store maps on a phone with only 4/8GB of storage.
True, perhaps not the entire world. But before the iPhone came along, back when we all mostly had "only" 512MB for data and apps, many of us had installed a subset of the TomTom database on our smartphones.
Outside the USA, some phones even came with TomTom installed by the carrier for the country where it was sold. Especially HTC Windows Mobile phones.
True, perhaps not the entire world. But before the iPhone came along, back when we all mostly had "only" 512MB for data and apps, many of us had installed a subset of the TomTom database on our smartphones.
Outside the USA, some phones even came with TomTom installed by the carrier for the country where it was sold. Especially HTC Windows Mobile phones.
Taustin Powers
Jun 14, 05:02 AM
So I just read up a little on what happened at the Natal/Kinect press conference.
Basically:
- They had everyone put on white plastic ponchos. (Kool-aid, anyone?)
- They had a flying couch and a fake elephant.
- They showed some horrible casual games that had people jumping around their living rooms like spastic idiots.
- They assume that no one has coffee tables.
- They're releasing EyePet and Wii Sports.
- They invented Skype.
Wow, quite an event. I imagine this one will be talked about for quite awhile. :D
Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with Microsoft/Xbox in general. But this was just beyond ridiculous. Then again, I'm not really expecting Sony to do much better with "Move". A little, hopefully, but not much. :)
Basically:
- They had everyone put on white plastic ponchos. (Kool-aid, anyone?)
- They had a flying couch and a fake elephant.
- They showed some horrible casual games that had people jumping around their living rooms like spastic idiots.
- They assume that no one has coffee tables.
- They're releasing EyePet and Wii Sports.
- They invented Skype.
Wow, quite an event. I imagine this one will be talked about for quite awhile. :D
Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with Microsoft/Xbox in general. But this was just beyond ridiculous. Then again, I'm not really expecting Sony to do much better with "Move". A little, hopefully, but not much. :)
