If you think Apple products are too expensive...
take a look at Alienware! They charge way to much for what you're getting. I would never pay that much for a PC when Dell is selling the same thing for a grand less. I configured a system to what I though was as close as I could get to my 933Mhz G4 and it came to a little over $3,000 w/ out a monitor. A 933Mhz w/ a 17" Apple flat-panel is approx. $3,300. Alienware=rip off
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Afterall, the first thing that lured me towards Apple was their stylish looking computers. Once I looked into the hardware that they use and found out that the PPC is a better processor, I decided to take a look at them at stores and then finally buy one. I don't regret it either.
Afterall, the first thing that lured me towards Apple was their stylish looking computers. Once I looked into the hardware that they use and found out that the PPC is a better processor, I decided to take a look at them at stores and then finally buy one. I don't regret it either.
Alienware uses the best products out there. There is no OEM bullshit in that box. It's as if you went to the store and bought all the parts yourself. They have upgraded power supplies, choice of added powerful but quite cooling fans, IDE RAID controllers, nVIDIA Ti 4600 - Shipping, video card cooling, the ultimate sound card (Audigy), up to 40X CDRW, Klipsch Speakers, and tons of things you can add (drives and other components). Dell does not offer these things. Not that Dell's prices aren't good, and not that they don't use name brand parts, it's just not the same as AlienWare. Not to mention that their reviews just about blow out every single competitor out there is terms of performance.
I wouldn't mind paying the bucks for a funky looking AlienWare PC packed with state of the art cutting edge technology. What I do mind is paying $1000 more for Apple's high-end (an alleged 'Super Computer') with last year's (and beyond) technology. Sure you could build your own PC for less, but there are people who'd rather pay someone else to do it for them using matching cases and having a 3 year 24/7 on-site warranty.
Here is the comparison I did. I configured an AlienWare using similar products at the technology Apple is now using (not choosing either company's high-end and without choosing monitors since they vary in size and type too much):
AlienWare: $1,771 (there is no TAX)
Dragon Full-Tower Case (340-Watt PS)
AMD Athlon XP 1800+ Processor 266Mhz FSB
Cooler Master DP5-7H53F High-Performance HSF
512MB DDR SDRAM (PC-2100)
107-Enhanced Windows Keyboard
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer USB
80GB Western Digital UltraATA 7200RPM 2MB Cache
GeForce4 MX 440 w/64MB Dual Monitor
SoundBlaster LIVE! 5.1
PlexWriter 24X/10X/40X CD-RW - IDE - Black
US Robotics V.90 56K Internal Voice/Fax/Data
Intel® PRO/100 S Desktop Adapter
Aliencare Toll-Free 3-Year 24/7 ONSITE Warranty
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Apple: $2,548 (add sales TAX)
933MHz PowerPC G4
512MB SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA drive
CD-RW drive
NVIDIA GeForce4 MX dual
56K internal modem
Apple Pro Keyboard - U.S. English
Mac OS - U.S. English
APP for Power Mac (w/ or w/o display) - Enrollment Kit
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The Apple system is $800 more! The Alienware uses a faster AMD Processor, faster DDR memory and has a faster bus speed. I am not bashing Apple, I have owned many Macs in my day and just bought a new one. I am just pointed out what I thought was obvious to most. Which platform or company you prefer is irrelivant to these ($$$) comparisons.
[ 04-15-2002: Message edited by: Patchouli ]</p>
I don't have first-hand experience with Alienware, but I did win a falcon-northwest(similar company, but no matching component colors) system last year. They make up a personalized manual/info book with individual test results from benchmarks, operating temperatures, stability tests and other stuff I can't remember. The build quality was excellent. When I did have to contact customer support(shipping damage) they were excellent.
I believe best buy is selling alienware now, so their prices(or quality) may come down if it's really sticking in your craw.
Plextor 40x/12x/40x CD-RW for $204? The retail kit sells for $189 MSRP!
Apple's componente prices aren't that high...just the base computers...
Let's say I build something similar to the G4 I bought in January:
Dragon Full-Tower Case (340-Watt PS) (Space Black)
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.4GHz 400MHz FSB w/ 512KB Cache
512MB RDRAM Non-ECC(PC-800)
107-Enhanced Windows Keyboard (Space Black)
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer USB (Space Black)
80GB Seagate Barracuda ATA IV 7200RPM 2MB Cache
VisionTek Xtasy? GeForce4 MX 440 w/64MB Dual Monitor
SoundBlaster LIVE! 5.1
Pinnacle Studio Deluxe (DV Editing System)
Pioneer DVR-A04 DVD-RW
US Robotics V.90 56K Internal Voice/Fax/Data
Creative Inspire? 5.1 5300 Speakers - Black
Intel® PRO/100 S Desktop Adapter
AlienAutopsy: Automated Technical Support Request System
Aliencare Toll-Free 1-Year 24/7 ONSITE Warranty
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
$3019
That's pretty close to my dual 1000 MHz G4.
[ 04-15-2002: Message edited by: Eugene ]</p>
<strong>Apple's componente prices aren't that high...just the base computers...
Let's say I build something similar to the G4 I bought in January:
Dragon Full-Tower Case (340-Watt PS) (Space Black)
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.4GHz 400MHz FSB w/ 512KB Cache
512MB RDRAM Non-ECC(PC-800)
107-Enhanced Windows Keyboard (Space Black)
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer USB (Space Black)
80GB Seagate Barracuda ATA IV 7200RPM 2MB Cache
VisionTek Xtasy? GeForce4 MX 440 w/64MB Dual Monitor
SoundBlaster LIVE! 5.1
Pinnacle Studio Deluxe (DV Editing System)
Pioneer DVR-A04 DVD-RW
US Robotics V.90 56K Internal Voice/Fax/Data
Creative Inspire? 5.1 5300 Speakers - Black
Intel® PRO/100 S Desktop Adapter
AlienAutopsy: Automated Technical Support Request System
Aliencare Toll-Free 1-Year 24/7 ONSITE Warranty
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
$3019
That's pretty close to my dual 1000 MHz G4.
</strong><hr></blockquote>Certainly you're not comparing the 2.4GHz Northwood with the Dual 1GHz G4 are you? You also have to remove the Alienware autopsy option as Apple does not offer that. Also, the Alienware comes with 1 year 24/7 On-Site support - Apple does not. You're also comparing a 5.1 surround sound system costing more versus Apple Pro Speakers. You've also included the Pinnacle Studio Deluxe with the Alienware system?!?! In comparison to what? An iApp? You'd have to reduce about $1000 from the Alienware system estimate to be in par with Apple's specs and prices (for a 1.8GHz P4). If you'd go with the Athlon XP (which anyone would since the perfomace matches if not exceles the Dual G4 for a better value) you'd have to reduce the AlienWare system by at least $1200.
The idea is to compare performance and price. If the AMD system delivers better performance than the Intel at a lower price, and it beats or meets the Apple Dual G4, then that's what you have to use since it's an available Alienware option (versus what's not available via Apple or Dell for that matter.) That?s the whole point of comparing!
You can do another comparison to the Northwood 2.4GHz (and higher) when the G5 comes out. Keep in mind that in a couple of weeks Intel is releasing an updated P4 with a 533MHz system bus and (almost) doubling the current RDRAM speed. This release will slash the prices of the current P4 2.4GHz (which is performing better than the fastest Athlon in most becnhmarks).
[ 04-15-2002: Message edited by: Patchouli ]</p>
CPU comparisons alone do not carry my computer buying decisions. And for *some* things, the Dual 1 GHz is faster than a P4 2.4 GHz. Especially things I do.
Okay, I mistook Alien Autopsy for something else. you can remove that. But the 1-yr onsite is as low as I can go. Not comparable to what Apple offers, but Apple also has extensive online-support. I say they cancel out, since you cannot match any of Apple's support options to Alienware's.
Yes, I'm comparing the DV editing package to an iApp. Want to know why? That's the only way to get a FireWire port on your Alienware computer.
A 1.8 GHz P4 is not more comparable to a 2x1000 MHz G4 than a 2.4 Ghz P4. Apples and oranges. You may as well compare top of the line offerings.
And none of this explains how Alienware is charging you above MSRP for most of their components. Retail packages usually include extras as well.
[quote]The idea is to compare performance and price. If the AMD system delivers better performance than the Intel at a lower price, and it beats or meets the Apple Dual G4, then that's what you have to use since it's an available Alienware option (versus what's not available via Apple or Dell for that matter.) That?s the whole point of comparing!<hr></blockquote>
Again, Apple's and oranges. If Intel or AMD offerings beat Apple/Motorola at everything, then sure. And even if they did, most benchmarks results you see are compiler specific. You can't directly penalize hardware components for software problems, can you?
And Eugene is correct, Apples and Oranges, the Mac vs PC debate is pointless these days. Both sides have their advancements and if you're willing to look beyond your preconceptions of each platform, you will see that many PC users are accepting the Mac as a viable alternative computer (if it were cheaper, only complaint i have heard from most but other than that, they would gladly use one). I occasionally browse the [H]ard|Forums, you will see that there are quite a few trolls that do start threads like "Macs = teh ghey" etc, and it's quite amazing to see how many users will come to defend the Mac, even those who live and die by Windows.
Therefore, yes, it is true that Alienware is overpriced. But you cannot reflect the PC platform based on one company.
-Owl