Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marvin 
That is an important point but was it necessary for Apple to use this kind of display when marketing to consumers? They shoved cheap screens in the low end laptops. They didn't need to use high end IPS 24-inch panels in these.
Consumers look at price first and quality second. Essentially, what is the best display I can afford. £650 is bordering on the price of Apple's cheapest laptop. When you can buy a 24" display for £170, a lot of people won't even consider Apple's offering.
So that begs the question, are these meant for consumers? The isight camera is for anyone. The glossy display is down to personal tastes (not my preference). The price tag alone suggests it's not meant as a consumer item. For Apple to have clear tags to define Pro and non-pro computers, the Cinema lineup sends a confusing message. Unless the message is that it's for anyone who has £650 to spend on a screen.
It depends on their mind set.
Anybody that visits the Apple site or Store is looking at quality first.
If I were to visit the Detroit Auto Show, my first stop is not see the budget cars. If anything, the most expensive on the lot. And from there, it is basically down hill, wishing the somebody would give me an offer I couldn't refuse. And hoping it is not too far from the top.
Apple has made it quite clear that they are not in the cheap seats. At the same time, however, their mandate is to bring quality to the masses at an equitable price. No matter what anybody has said, Apple has never overprice or gouged its users. True, some products may appear to be overpriced, but in reality, you pay for what you get.
When Apple introduced the Mac in '84, word processor and spreadsheet software cost over $500 and it was in DOS to boot. Apples solution was $125 and was included with the Mac. Jobs at that time declared that no software should be more than $125. Something that Apple has attempted to do since.
Now I know that I am going to be dumped on by the price Apple charges for RAM. But on the other hand, installing, servicing and supporting it are included. I am sure that having an Apple Genius install RAM is the last thing that Apple wants their employees doing. Considering all the costs, e.g., training, servicing, support, rent, warehousing, inventory control, accounting, purchasing, dealing with manufacturers, shipping from overseas, customs, brokeraging, etc., and knowing that somebody will lowball you no matter what, why bother. If you can do it yourself or some mailorder house will do it cheaper, go for it. I don't know how much you make an hour, but the act of searching the net to find the cheapest price and then trying to verify that it is good product is one factor we don't consider when we are on the cheap.
So back to the displays. Anybody who has had the opportunity to visit an Apple store and has actually seen these new babies just drool. Standing next to the old Cinema displays, it puts them to shame. To some it is a far off dream. Not everybody can afford them. But that isn't Apple's fault.
Like buying a car, you buy what you can afford. At least you should. But at least, one should do their homework first. That can take time. Your 'cheaper' display is cheaper for good reasons. Just like the car. But when it comes down to dollar and cents, Apple doesn't begrudge your decision and neither should we begrudge Apple for theirs.
Right now I am in the process of spending a maximum of $420 on a Christmas gift for my brother-in-law, who I can't really stand. Now one would think that either I am rich, a fool or both. Actually, it is a collective effort. The family decided that if we were to hold spending down from thirty to fifty dollars a gift that we could pool our moneys, each draw a name and divide the pot equally. Now we are all going to get something of quality and if we don't like it, we only have to go back to one store to return it. I for one know that I will be spending my refund at the Apple store. Of course I have let it be known that an Apple gift certificate would be most appropriate for me.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas.
