4 ms·

It's just that it's not worth $4,000 or even $3,000. The trashcan is cool, despite looking like a trashcan, but way too expensive for what you get. Something

It's just that it's not worth $4,000 or even $3,000. The trashcan is cool, despite looking like a trashcan, but way too expensive for what you get. Something at that price needs to last, and permit upgrades. For what you get, and what you can do with it, it's not worth more than $1,000. Many Apple fans buy for status though, and Apple knows this, hence the watch. So, simply having the price tag as an ornament works for some people.

karlshea 10y ago
Right now it's not worth more than $1,000. When it was released it was competitive with other workstation-class desktops. $3–4k is a normal price for that kind of hardware, it's not trying to compete with a Dell Inspiron.
- terminado 10y ago
  Even so, even if you bought the most expensive model for Christmas in 2013, it's a raw deal simply because the hardware profile is that of a fixed appliance. At that price, other high-end professional workstations ship with beneficial options such as hard copies of offline-installable Operating System software, that does not require an internet connection. User-servicable parts, and expansion kits are normal. Variety and options are left open, to aid the owner in upgrading or altering the stock model. Professionals pay extra, to acquire versatile high-quality base units that they possess the skill to alter themselves, according to their preferred tasks. Microsoft is experiencing the exact same sort of backlash against Windows 10, with too much phoning home, and network activity that flouts user consent. As a professional, one expects an outfitter to appreciate the technical capacity for their clientele to negotiate complexity. One also expects a professional tool to perform exactly the task required, and only the task required, and nothing extra. As a company Apple does not do this anymore. They sell fixed hardware profiles, and refuse alterations. They discourage meddling with low-level operating system components. The software is free, but you couldn't buy an offline copy if you tried. Apple's hardware policies have changed. The machine you buy from Apple now, will not be upgraded by Apple, even with Apple parts, and in most cases has been engineered to prevent alteration at the expense of the unit. For example, Apple will not assist in upgrading from a 128GB SSD stick, to a 2TB SSD stick, even if they sell new models off the shelf with the same hardware profile. Doing so yourself will exclude a machine from receiving service at an Apple store. Appliances are sold to lock in consumers, and coerce behavior. A professional selects equipment to enable activity, not to play into a business model.
  - karlshea 10y ago
    Yep, I agree. On the specs front it was a good deal but the upgradability wasn't there. I hope they learned from this in that sense, but I'm not holding my breath. I really want a new version of the cheese grater, but if that's not what comes out I'll just get another iMac (which isn't upgradable either, but it's cheaper and I'm not interested in running a Hackintosh).
valuearb 10y ago
When it was released, the GPUs in the trash can cost more than its cheapest version. The Apple watch is best smart watch ever made. Far better to spend $400 on a useful watch than $200 on a useless one.
- jmanderley 10y ago
  Problem: That GPU wasn't particularly desirable even back in 2013. Just because you can put in a needlessly expensive "workstation class" GPU doesn't mean it's worth it.
- collyw 10y ago
  Even if the $400 one is also useless?

karlshea 10y ago

Right now it's not worth more than $1,000. When it was released it was competitive with other workstation-class desktops. $3–4k is a normal price for that kind of hardware, it's not trying to compete with a Dell Inspiron.

terminado 10y ago
Even so, even if you bought the most expensive model for Christmas in 2013, it's a raw deal simply because the hardware profile is that of a fixed appliance. At that price, other high-end professional workstations ship with beneficial options such as hard copies of offline-installable Operating System software, that does not require an internet connection. User-servicable parts, and expansion kits are normal. Variety and options are left open, to aid the owner in upgrading or altering the stock model. Professionals pay extra, to acquire versatile high-quality base units that they possess the skill to alter themselves, according to their preferred tasks. Microsoft is experiencing the exact same sort of backlash against Windows 10, with too much phoning home, and network activity that flouts user consent. As a professional, one expects an outfitter to appreciate the technical capacity for their clientele to negotiate complexity. One also expects a professional tool to perform exactly the task required, and only the task required, and nothing extra. As a company Apple does not do this anymore. They sell fixed hardware profiles, and refuse alterations. They discourage meddling with low-level operating system components. The software is free, but you couldn't buy an offline copy if you tried. Apple's hardware policies have changed. The machine you buy from Apple now, will not be upgraded by Apple, even with Apple parts, and in most cases has been engineered to prevent alteration at the expense of the unit. For example, Apple will not assist in upgrading from a 128GB SSD stick, to a 2TB SSD stick, even if they sell new models off the shelf with the same hardware profile. Doing so yourself will exclude a machine from receiving service at an Apple store. Appliances are sold to lock in consumers, and coerce behavior. A professional selects equipment to enable activity, not to play into a business model.
- karlshea 10y ago
  Yep, I agree. On the specs front it was a good deal but the upgradability wasn't there. I hope they learned from this in that sense, but I'm not holding my breath. I really want a new version of the cheese grater, but if that's not what comes out I'll just get another iMac (which isn't upgradable either, but it's cheaper and I'm not interested in running a Hackintosh).

valuearb 10y ago

When it was released, the GPUs in the trash can cost more than its cheapest version. The Apple watch is best smart watch ever made. Far better to spend $400 on a useful watch than $200 on a useless one.

jmanderley 10y ago
Problem: That GPU wasn't particularly desirable even back in 2013. Just because you can put in a needlessly expensive "workstation class" GPU doesn't mean it's worth it.
collyw 10y ago
Even if the $400 one is also useless?