Apple versus Dell

msmhobbesmsmhobbes
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
Take a look at Dell's site at: http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...=19&l=en&s=dhs and then compare, for example, their 2400, 4700, 8400, and XPS Gen4, to the various Apple models [eMacs, iMacs, G4, mini, etc.]. I'm in the process of trying to convince quite a few friends and family members that an Apple configured in similar fashion to these models will be a much better choice for them. However, my knowledge is limited as to all of the specs and possibilities that all the various Apple's can offer. Main concern is to keep all specs as similar as possible, and then let the Apple model be determined to match that Dell model, and then finally see what price difference there actually is between the two models.



Thanks!

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 13
    the cool gutthe cool gut Posts: 1,714member
    They only offer a limited 90 day warranty on the base models? When did they start doing that?
  • Reply 2 of 13
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by the cool gut

    They only offer a limited 90 day warranty on the base models? When did they start doing that?



    WHen they started sucking harder
  • Reply 3 of 13
    mmmpiemmmpie Posts: 628member
    The thing about Dell is not that their prices are any better than Apples, but that at any given time they will be running promotions that make a specific machine much better value.



    I just bought an sc420 ( 2.5ghz celeron, 512mb DDR2, 80gb sata, cdrom ) for $300 ( inc shipping to hawaii and tax ). That was a $275 discount offered by Dell, and they were running a double memory for free special, and double HD for $10. It was a no brainer. Came with free a keyboard and mouse ( PS2 ).



    Of course, thats not a consumer machine, no OS, no audio, no monitor and unaccelerated video ( it is a server ). I only need to get a PCI Express graphics card and it will be a nice workstation. Currently I use remote desktop, which is plenty good enough.



    It was cheap, and its as good a build as any Dell machine under $1500.
  • Reply 4 of 13
    nebrienebrie Posts: 483member
    We buy a lot of Dells where I work. Spec for spec, they are not much better than Apple, especially when you consider that anything under the 8000 series is junk-quality. They are however, great if you want the cheapest piece of junk just to run Word and Internet Explorer on. We just got $400 2.4 celerons with 256mb of ram and 40gb hd with 15" lcds. Word barely runs, but hey.
  • Reply 5 of 13
    msmhobbesmsmhobbes Posts: 6member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Nebrie

    We buy a lot of Dells where I work. Spec for spec, they are not much better than Apple, especially when you consider that anything under the 8000 series is junk-quality. They are however, great if you want the cheapest piece of junk just to run Word and Internet Explorer on. We just got $400 2.4 celerons with 256mb of ram and 40gb hd with 15" lcds. Word barely runs, but hey.



    Ok... so, here your computer-naive folks, cousins, and friends are looking at you to help them decide. They are bombarded every day by Dell ads, fliers, commercials, etc. They are familiar much more w/ the Windoze world, w/ Dell, and that offering. You mention Apple. They raise an eyebrow, and at best, say ok, fine, prove your point: what Apple would you recommend to match these particular Dells, what would the price then be, and the advantages/disadvantages be of each platform? hmmmmmmm...
  • Reply 6 of 13
    john.outwaterjohn.outwater Posts: 116member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by MSMHobbes

    Ok... so, here your computer-naive folks, cousins, and friends are looking at you to help them decide. They are bombarded every day by Dell ads, fliers, commercials, etc. They are familiar much more w/ the Windoze world, w/ Dell, and that offering. You mention Apple. They raise an eyebrow, and at best, say ok, fine, prove your point: what Apple would you recommend to match these particular Dells, what would the price then be, and the advantages/disadvantages be of each platform? hmmmmmmm...



    Take them to the nearest Apple store or Apple product reseller, and they will have no choice but to get a mac.
  • Reply 7 of 13
    msmhobbesmsmhobbes Posts: 6member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by john.outwater

    Take them to the nearest Apple store or Apple product reseller, and they will have no choice but to get a mac.



    LOL... ok, nice, but... Let me rephrase that scenerio. You &/or the people you are attempting to talk into switching live in the boonies [southern mid-MO and AL] and/or the nearest Apple store is >2 hours away. Dell catalog is in their hands, every other week. Dell ads are on the booby tube and the radio. Seriously, given "normal" configurations of these Dell models, which Apple would you recommend - and how so configured?
  • Reply 8 of 13
    mynameismynameis Posts: 74member
    From the way you talk they don't sound like the kind of users that would even be able to tell a difference. I wouldn't spend too much effort trying to get them to go Apple. If they still want dell, at least try to save them some money, check www.gotapex.com. There is a link there to a Dimension 3000, 80GB hard drive, 512mb of ram, 3.0ghz P4, CD burner, and 15in LCD monitor(17in for an extra $100) for $700 before a $100 mail in rebate.



    You could try showing them the mac mini. It is cheap, looks kind of kewl. Get it with 512mb, mouse, keyboard, mouse, and 80gb HD. Total about $682.



    To a user that doesn't care about form or having OS X, that $600 Dell is going to look a lot better than the mac mini. Apple isn't for everybody.
  • Reply 9 of 13
    idzillaidzilla Posts: 7member
    I'd recommend the mini pretty strongly. You describe them as being fairly lightweight computer users and the mini fits that mold quite nicely so long as the RAM is boosted to 512.

    If you would like a spec for spec comparison try everymac.com. They have pretty much every Mac's specs all laid out.

    It's true that Apple isn't for everyone but I would make a case for the long term hassle of maintaining a Windows machine as a big con to the delly dells. If they are not particularly savvy then the mac will offer a great benefit in terms of usability and reliability.

    Stress the benefits of iLife and the rest of the software that comes along with a mini and try to get them to consider the cost of comparable software for Windows as a part of the cost of the Dell.

    Good luck



    edit - If they are gamers it might be best to just let them go along on their delly path. Better not to have them embittered against the mac. But if you think you can convince them that a console is really better suited to their gaming needs then go for it with the mac recommendation.
  • Reply 10 of 13
    mac the forkmac the fork Posts: 722member
    Quote:

    I'm in the process of trying to convince quite a few friends and family members that an Apple configured in similar fashion to these models will be a much better choice for them







    Each person may have a different reason for buying a computer. If it's purely a decision based on the lowest price, which is how some people will buy, then whitebox manufacturers will always win out. A lot of people look at specs, and that's apparently the route you want to take, but I think comparing Macs spec for spec with Dell or whitebox computers misses the main point of why you'd want to go with the Mac.



    The Mac's value for most people lies in its design; not just how the computer looks, but how the computer works over time. Of course most people who look at Macs will be impressed or at least affected by how the case looks and how the operating system looks on screen, but of course there's more to it than that. The appreciation of having a balanced, reliable system isn't developed by viewing a spec sheet, but I think that's what keeps people using Macs.
  • Reply 11 of 13
    pins and needlespins and needles Posts: 35member
    Why bother...Why? I am...my brain is under an attack... why would anyone who considers or likes winBlows, TM, ever join appleinsider? it must be Gates' men. on the inside... of the outside. REVEAL NOTHING, MY BRETHREN!

    but really.

    you like gaming, funny programs, and heavy programming?

    get the Eden f:2 Voodoo. http://www.voodoopc.com/sellPage.aspx?productID=1001



    You low/middle class, spring for the less expensive iMac g5. MUCH more long term stability, I assure you. I doubt they will go obsolete for another two macworlds and a WWDC. If you just want something to do like, *pfff* your job, and uncreative things on, spring for the winBlows junkboxes.

    For most, I'd suggest the 1.6 imac, 17 inch, get some more memory if you "Manage data". and don't go through Voodoo or apples online ordering service. You go crazy...Youll end up with useless junk. Get the airport and a basestation. that is really awesome to have. Laptop... spring for the dell, if you plan to buy soon. Expected is the new powerbooks...but they really burn man. I used one once for four hours, started lighting my pants on fire. sizzle...
  • Reply 12 of 13
    timmy o'tooltimmy o'tool Posts: 80member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by MSMHobbes

    LOL... ok, nice, but... Let me rephrase that scenerio. You &/or the people you are attempting to talk into switching live in the boonies [southern mid-MO and AL] and/or the nearest Apple store is >2 hours away. Dell catalog is in their hands, every other week. Dell ads are on the booby tube and the radio. Seriously, given "normal" configurations of these Dell models, which Apple would you recommend - and how so configured?



    How far do you live away from springfield Mo? Database Systems is a local reseller and a good place to demo products.
  • Reply 13 of 13
    javacowboyjavacowboy Posts: 864member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by MSMHobbes

    Take a look at Dell's site at: http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...=19&l=en&s=dhs and then compare, for example, their 2400, 4700, 8400, and XPS Gen4, to the various Apple models [eMacs, iMacs, G4, mini, etc.]. I'm in the process of trying to convince quite a few friends and family members that an Apple configured in similar fashion to these models will be a much better choice for them. However, my knowledge is limited as to all of the specs and possibilities that all the various Apple's can offer. Main concern is to keep all specs as similar as possible, and then let the Apple model be determined to match that Dell model, and then finally see what price difference there actually is between the two models.



    Thanks!



    http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/edit...nges/index.php
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