5 ms·

$2000 is a bit steep isn't it?

by sohail 19y ago

mynameishere 19y ago
Here's a comparable machine: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3550141&CatId=17 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-det... $1050 The "fashion" tax is pretty high on Apple. The only advantage it has on the HP is a superior video card.
- alaskamiller 19y ago
  1. Apple doesn't make machines that fit into feature tables. 2. Even then, the HP is not similar to the MacBook PRo, it's missing a comparable CPU, 802.11n, backlit LED screen, multitouch mousepad, backlit keyboard, and most importantly software: Mac OS X and iLife. 3. The "fashion" tax is also the quality tax. Al casing and hundreds of screws is a very real difference.
- mrtron 19y ago
  The "only advantage" it has is insanely good video card... That HP machine is in no way comparable to Macbook Pro... The base Macbook is the same price as that HP machine, and is roughly the same price.
  - mynameishere 19y ago
    I believe Steve Jobs has a patent on inappropriate uses of the word "insane" and its inflections. Anyway, the HP actually seems better for most things. The AMD processor seems to cost a bit more than Intel. Aside from that, I won't compare them. mac: 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2GB memory 200GB hard drive1 Double-layer SuperDrive NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB hp: Turion 64 X2 TL-62 Memory Size: 3GB Dual Layer DVD RW Capacity: 250GB Unspecified, probably crappy, video card.
    - mrtron 19y ago
      Some additional facts that are highly relevant to price point: 3MB shared L2 on the MB, 2x512 on the HP Macbooks, let alone the pro, have dvi out, which is a must for most people, and the HP doesn't. The HP is about the size of 2 macbook pros in terms of thickness. The HP's horrible vid card and screen gives it a resolution of 1280x800 on a 15 inch screen. The Pro you are comparing has 1440x900 on the same sized screen. I realize I am coming off as sounding fanboyish, but that is not my intention. I fully realize Macs are not priced very low, but these crappy HPs and Dells are nowhere near the quality of components.
      - neilc 19y ago
        Macbooks only have mini-DVI out. You need an adapter to get DVI output.
        RyanGWU82 19y ago
        But that adapter is only $19. It's nearly impossible to get DVI output from most non-Mac laptops, no matter how much you spend.
        neilc 19y ago
        Wow, I never realized that, but it seems you're correct. I wonder why in the world more laptops don't support DVI?
        mrtron 19y ago
        Most laptops don't have a good video card. Macbooks have the small connector because the large connector is too large in form factor for a laptop (well maybe not that huge HP :P). So other laptops would have to do something similar, but perhaps apple patented the mini-dvi port?
        neilc 19y ago
        I guess form factor could be a major part of it, although the 15" MBP does support DVI. And there are lots of laptops with decent non-integrated video cards but no DVI support -- support for DVI isn't exactly a high-end video card feature, after al.
- chaostheory 19y ago
  the regular macbook (starting at $1099) is a better comparison to the Tiger machine in terms of price, features, and performance some would say the main advantage is the OS (without hacking to make it work with a normal PC) "It just works" - you just can't really say that for a PC
  - irrelative 19y ago
    It does "just work" and all, but this is hacker news! We want to know why and how it works. Plus, we're willing to tinker to get it working. I certainly appreciate when things work immediately, but my overall curiosity means that even if I use Apple hardware, I put linux on it.
    - mwmanning 19y ago
      "my overall curiosity means that even if I use Apple hardware, I put linux on it." You'll be wasting your money.
    - deleted 19y ago
      [deleted]
    - mironathetin 19y ago
      Exactly, you are wasting your money. The main reason for me to use macs is mac os. While the features of the apple hardware are nice, and they look good and all that, the most important thing to have is a commandline and a set of decent apps like photoshop, bbedit etc, on one machine. Most linux applications are crap compared to os x apps!!!! If you want to run linux and are not on a tight budget, I recommend Thinkpads. Although not all features are perfectly easy to activate (power management, bluetooth, wireless :o|), the hardware is superior to macs. I paid the price for Powerbooks since ever. But now I have decided to go with a MacBook (as soon as they come with LED backlit screens). I think the value for the money is much better. I'd rather pump them up with the largest and fastest drive and memory.
- shiranaihito 19y ago
  What about the Vista tax?

$2000 is a bit steep isn't it?

by sohail 19y ago

$2000 is a bit steep isn't it?

Here's a comparable machine: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3550141&CatId=17 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-det... $1050 The "fashion" tax is pretty high on Apple. The only advantage it has on the HP is a superior video card.

alaskamiller 19y ago
1. Apple doesn't make machines that fit into feature tables. 2. Even then, the HP is not similar to the MacBook PRo, it's missing a comparable CPU, 802.11n, backlit LED screen, multitouch mousepad, backlit keyboard, and most importantly software: Mac OS X and iLife. 3. The "fashion" tax is also the quality tax. Al casing and hundreds of screws is a very real difference.
mrtron 19y ago
The "only advantage" it has is insanely good video card... That HP machine is in no way comparable to Macbook Pro... The base Macbook is the same price as that HP machine, and is roughly the same price.
- mynameishere 19y ago
  I believe Steve Jobs has a patent on inappropriate uses of the word "insane" and its inflections. Anyway, the HP actually seems better for most things. The AMD processor seems to cost a bit more than Intel. Aside from that, I won't compare them. mac: 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 2GB memory 200GB hard drive1 Double-layer SuperDrive NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB hp: Turion 64 X2 TL-62 Memory Size: 3GB Dual Layer DVD RW Capacity: 250GB Unspecified, probably crappy, video card.
  - mrtron 19y ago
    Some additional facts that are highly relevant to price point: 3MB shared L2 on the MB, 2x512 on the HP Macbooks, let alone the pro, have dvi out, which is a must for most people, and the HP doesn't. The HP is about the size of 2 macbook pros in terms of thickness. The HP's horrible vid card and screen gives it a resolution of 1280x800 on a 15 inch screen. The Pro you are comparing has 1440x900 on the same sized screen. I realize I am coming off as sounding fanboyish, but that is not my intention. I fully realize Macs are not priced very low, but these crappy HPs and Dells are nowhere near the quality of components.
    - neilc 19y ago
      Macbooks only have mini-DVI out. You need an adapter to get DVI output.
      - RyanGWU82 19y ago
        But that adapter is only $19. It's nearly impossible to get DVI output from most non-Mac laptops, no matter how much you spend.
        neilc 19y ago
        Wow, I never realized that, but it seems you're correct. I wonder why in the world more laptops don't support DVI?
        mrtron 19y ago
        Most laptops don't have a good video card. Macbooks have the small connector because the large connector is too large in form factor for a laptop (well maybe not that huge HP :P). So other laptops would have to do something similar, but perhaps apple patented the mini-dvi port?
        neilc 19y ago
        I guess form factor could be a major part of it, although the 15" MBP does support DVI. And there are lots of laptops with decent non-integrated video cards but no DVI support -- support for DVI isn't exactly a high-end video card feature, after al.
chaostheory 19y ago
the regular macbook (starting at $1099) is a better comparison to the Tiger machine in terms of price, features, and performance some would say the main advantage is the OS (without hacking to make it work with a normal PC) "It just works" - you just can't really say that for a PC
- irrelative 19y ago
  It does "just work" and all, but this is hacker news! We want to know why and how it works. Plus, we're willing to tinker to get it working. I certainly appreciate when things work immediately, but my overall curiosity means that even if I use Apple hardware, I put linux on it.
  - mwmanning 19y ago
    "my overall curiosity means that even if I use Apple hardware, I put linux on it." You'll be wasting your money.
  - deleted 19y ago
    [deleted]
  - mironathetin 19y ago
    Exactly, you are wasting your money. The main reason for me to use macs is mac os. While the features of the apple hardware are nice, and they look good and all that, the most important thing to have is a commandline and a set of decent apps like photoshop, bbedit etc, on one machine. Most linux applications are crap compared to os x apps!!!! If you want to run linux and are not on a tight budget, I recommend Thinkpads. Although not all features are perfectly easy to activate (power management, bluetooth, wireless :o|), the hardware is superior to macs. I paid the price for Powerbooks since ever. But now I have decided to go with a MacBook (as soon as they come with LED backlit screens). I think the value for the money is much better. I'd rather pump them up with the largest and fastest drive and memory.
shiranaihito 19y ago
What about the Vista tax?