Subject | Re: mac sales down |
From | George Graves |
Date | 05/20/2008 19:54 (05/20/2008 10:54) |
Message-ID | <0001HW.C4585E4F000641F5F01846D8@news.comcast.net> |
Client | |
Newsgroups | comp.sys.mac.advocacy |
Follows | Glorb |
Followups | Steve de Mena (2d, 12h & 13m) |
GlorbI think you are an idiot, I don't know whether you're a "peon" or not - we sort of don't use those types of class distinction in the United States. Of course, if you want to be looked upon as a peon, I'd be more than happy to oblige you as long as you understand that you're an idiot first, a peon second.
George Graves wrote:George GravesGlorb
On Thu, 15 May 2008 14:56:27 -0700, Glorb wrote (in article <af4a3$482cb18b$28745@news.teranews.com>):GlorbGeorge Graves
George Graves wrote:George GravesGlorb
On Thu, 15 May 2008 11:54:27 -0700, Glorb wrote (in article <d4cd0$482c86e3$5408@news.teranews.com>):GlorbGeorge Graves
Keith Ream wrote:Keith ReamGlorb
Glorb wrote:GlorbKeith Ream
Mayor of R'lyeh wrote:Mayor Of R'lyehGlorb
On Thu, 15 May 2008 11:23:43 -0500, Glorb <Glorb@orb.com>wrote:GlorbMayor Of R'lyeh
Mayor of R'lyeh wrote:Mayor Of R'lyehGlorb
On Mon, 12 May 2008 14:57:49 -0700, George Graves <gmgraves2@comcast.net>wrote:George GravesMayor Of R'lyeh
On Mon, 12 May 2008 13:18:23 -0700, ZnU wrote (in article <znu-5B168E.16182312052008@news.individual.net>):ZnUGeorge Graves
In article <0001HW.C44DEAC5000BFDC2F01846D8@news.comcast.net>, George Graves <gmgraves2@comcast.net>wrote:George GravesZnU
On Sun, 11 May 2008 23:23:00 -0700, ZnU wrote (in article <znu-12A819.02230012052008@news.individual.net>):
[snip]ZnUI rather suspect most people who call for OS X on generic x86 hardware just haven't considered the logistics of supporting generic hardware vs. simply selling cheaper Macs. The rest are simply people who believe multi-vendor hardware platforms are inherently good, usually for some reason that isn't relevant to most users or to current market conditions.George Graves
You're right. It would cost them a lot more to support OSX on generic Winboxes than it would probably cost them to make a really cheap Mac (and even sell it as a loss-leader). But I don't see them ever doing that, either. Its just not Apple's style and let's face it, they don't have to despite our resident Windroids' protestations to the contrary. But, certainly they could if they wanted to. Look at the Apple TV. Its "almost" a complete computer with HDD and memory, and it sells for less than US$250.
Sure. Keep in mind, Apple already has relationships with the same Taiwanese manufacturing companies that make computers for companies like Dell -- in some cases Macs are already made in the very same factories. Apple might even be able to come in a little below Dell's prices, for equivalent hardware, because they wouldn't be paying an external supplier for their OS and because they'd probably focus on one or two models rather than having many models and a complex build-to-order system.
Will they do it? I don't see them having much interest, at the moment. But who anticipated the Mac mini, introduced as a $500 Mac when the cheapest Mac was previously nearly twice that price, or the Xserve, a product targeted at a market in which Apple had previously shown no interest at all?
The thing is that any computer designed to compete in that space would have to be more computer than the Mini. Let's face it, for the cost of a Mini one can buy or build a Windows box with near Mac tower performance and capability. Not that the Mini isn't useful, it certainly is, it just doesn't stack-up, hardware wise, very well against similar priced Winbox offerings. It's main appeal is that it runs OSX. This makes it worthwhile to those who value OSX, but to our local Windroids and Winscum here, many of which have never even seen, much less used OSX (Edwin), the Mini merely looks overpriced.
Mac user (at work anyway) here to say that the Mini is grossly overpriced for what it is. If the higher end Mini were priced at $500 and the lower end one at $300 they'd be flying out the doors.
IOW, if Edwin had bought a Mac Mini, he would have found his assessment of it too generous. He would have had made a $600-$800 mistake. ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
That depends entirely upon how much this Edwin of which you speak values the things the Mini does offer. If he puts a premium on the form factor then he might have found it a great bargain. However if he were basing his judgement on the machine's specs then he would have been greatly disappointed.
Who is the form factor important to, and why?
Many people and not just for rational reasons. People like the cool factor of having a tiny computer much as they like the cool factor of certain cars.
IOW, you're saying it's for irrational, egotistical people who don't really do much with a computer?
People who "don't do much with a computer" happens to define the huge majority of non-corporate computer use and not a small percentage of corporate use. Fact is, most people do E-mail, web browsing, music, You-Tube, manage their digital pictures and little else with their computers. A Mac Mini is more than adequate for all of those.
Says the man who doesn't use a Mac Mini. A 120 GB HD is adequate for music, pictures and movies? Pul-lease! That's a bad joke. The RAM and VRAM are even worse jokes.
They are more than adequate for most users.
Says the man who has no Mac Mini, and who thinks everybody else are peons.
Uh, Eddie? No, most people don't burn video DVDs. And those who don't and won't simply don't need the processor speed, memory, and HDD space required to do so. As to whether or not they WANT those things is another issue.Uh, George?George GravesGlorb
If one edits high-def videos, burns video DVDs,
Lots of people burn video DVDs George.
Uh, Edwin, many surveys on computer use have been conducted. The conclusions of all of them (including my informal one) is that: 1) Most computer users (especially people over 40) hardly know how to turn their computers on, much less use them for sophisticated tasks. 2) The largest computer usage by far is E-mail, the second largest is web use and a very distant third is WP or home finances. Everything else is down in the noise. That should be readily apparent to even the most casual observer, or conversely, even to an idiot like you.GlorbGeorge GravesGeorge GravesGlorb
does CAD/CAM, crunches numbers for statistical analysis, etc., then the computer is inadequate. But few people do those things - especially at home.
It seems to me that you crafted your opinion on what people use a computer for to fit within the limitations of the Mac Mini.
No, I crafted my opinion from observing what most people actually do with their home computers.
Bull! Try "observing" more than what fits the conclusion you crafted in advance.
I said I could probably GET BY with a Mini, but since I can afford better, you're right, I'll probably buy better. Actually, my next desktop machine will likely be one of those 24" iMacs. I don't really need the internal expandability of a tower. But my dual G5 is still fast enough, thank you. And I'll probably replace my aging iBook before I replace my desktop machine.GlorbBut of course a super user such as yourself needs far more than the common, unwashed masses do, right, George?George Graves
I could probably get by with a Mac mini. I do mostly Desktop Publishing, some photo and HD movie editing, and music recording and editing.
Anything is possible for somebody who isn't actually going to do it.