Don't forget that PC manufacturers can get their motherboards dirt cheap. In fact, there can easily be a dozen different PC companies all using the very same motherboard. Sometimes the only difference is the case and a BIOS chip. Imagine being Intel or AMD and having virtually evey PC manufacturer in the world as your customer. The sheer volume of motherboards you will sell will bring you in a ton of money so there is no need to charge a lot. The PC manufacturers can buy them dirt cheap as a result. Apple cannot do this. Whoever make their motherboards only sells them to Apple and therefore must charge an arm and a leg to make up for the costs of such a short production run.
So in the end, Apple designs their own motherboards (not to mention other components) and has them custom made. They do pretty much everything themselves. PC manufacturers pick one off a shelf and slap their logo on the case.
It is simple to most of us that have done the dual-platform hell... it costs a little more for a computer that WORKS!
My Dell (P3 800) that is 9 months old is already too slow to run XP and the programs I want at the same time. My last Mac (B&W 400) lasted me over four years, and is still going much better and more reliably than the infant Dell.
Mac users upgrade less often. Either they don't have to, or can't afford to. (Thus this thread) <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
Stagflation Steve I am still waiting. Like I said, dont worry about it we had already just assumed you were making crap up like a fool, this just confirms it. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
Apple used to use high quality parts, however in recent years Apple has begun to use lower and lower quality parts in their pathologically obcessive drive to further raise their already obscene margins at the expense of marketshare and quality.
The flat-panel iMac uses the Samsung LTM150XI LCD in the flat-panel iMac, it costs roughly $140 in commercial volume, it is the cheapest TFT LCD made, and is typically used in crappy laptops sold in Asia. Such as the ECS desknotes.
Optical Drives, Apple used to use drives made by Sony, Panasonic, Philips and Mitsumi. Today with the exception of the Superdrive made by Pioneer, Apple exclusivly uses drives made by Lite-On and Lucky Goldstar
Hard Drives, Apple used to use high end Seagate, IBM and Quantum Drives. Today Apple uses almost entirely inexpensive Maxtor and Western Digital drives.
Apple's nvidia videocards are made by LeakTek, and have over-all poor 2D quality compared to ATI cards because Leadtek uses poor quality filters
Apple CRT's, Apple uses crappy Lucky Goldstar displays in the CRT iMac and eMac, both have unnacceptable failure rates,
Apple Motherboards, Apple boards have very poor voltage regulation, which causes the near suicidal tendancies of the Blue G3 and G4 systems
Even if Apple used components in paralell quality to those they once used, their prices would still be insane
[quote] The flat-panel iMac uses the Samsung LTM150XI LCD in the flat-panel iMac, it costs roughly $140 in commercial volume, it is the cheapest TFT LCD made, and is typically used in crappy laptops sold in Asia. Such as the ECS desknotes. <hr></blockquote>
The reason this LCD isn't used by many laptops is that there isn't much laptop market for a 15" 1024x768 screen. Most laptops that are that resolution are 14" or less. It is a fine choice for a desktop, that is if you wanted a 15" at 1024x768.
[quote] Optical Drives, Apple used to use drives made by Sony, Panasonic, Philips and Mitsumi. Today with the exception of the Superdrive made by Pioneer, Apple exclusivly uses drives made by Lite-On and Lucky Goldstar <hr></blockquote> Uh Lite-On.... <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" /> sorry can't spin that one in a good way. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
[quote]Hard Drives, Apple used to use high end Seagate, IBM and Quantum Drives. Today Apple uses almost entirely inexpensive Maxtor and Western Digital drives. <hr></blockquote>
Quantum used to be my favorite drive maker, but they sold their hard drive manufacturing to Maxtor. There is enough that has been publicized to say why not using an IBM drive is a good thing. Seagates are probably the best currently, but are the most expensive. Some people really like WDs, but I've never been able to figure out why. Maxtors are ok. As long as Apple doesn't use some manufactures that didn't make your list, I'm satisfied.
[quote]
Apple's nvidia videocards are made by LeakTek, and have over-all poor 2D quality compared to ATI cards because Leadtek uses poor quality filters <hr></blockquote>
If you really like ATI over Nvidia, ATI cards are an option on Apple's store if you want them. 2 of Apples desktops come standard with ATI cards. All their laptops use ATI. Only the eMac and iMac use Nvida
About the rest of your coments, I haven't heard of Apple having a higher than average failure rate, but that doesn't mean you are wrong or right.
This is the ONLy pay he has received since coming back to Apple in 1996. Sure its more than you and i make but it is NOT an annual bonus. <hr></blockquote>
It is a one time event that won't be repeated anytime soon, unless Mircosoft does something like give Gates a Concorde or something <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
<strong>The reason this LCD isn't used by many laptops is that there isn't much laptop market for a 15" 1024x768 screen. Most laptops that are that resolution are 14" or less. It is a fine choice for a desktop, that is if you wanted a 15" at 1024x768.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
There are lots of laptops with 15" displays, but this particular display is not very popular because of it's low quality.
Put the iMac beside any other Apple LCD, it sucks.
There are lots of laptops with 15" displays, but this particular display is not very popular because of it's low quality.
Put the iMac beside any other Apple LCD, it sucks.</strong><hr></blockquote>
We have both the 17-inch iMac and a G4 with a 22-inch cinema display. The iMac display looks great. Do you have a specific criticism of the iMac display?
Regarding hard drives, I suggest you consider the Toshiba drives with liquid bearings. Some come with very large cache memory to help speed them up a lot.
The 17" iMac uses a better TFT than the 15" iMac, 17" TFT's aren't common enough for the asian manufactures to make cheap shitty ones yet.
Put the 15" LCD iMac next to any other LCD, you will see the problem, it is a low quality display used for no other reason than to pad margins, a much higher quality display could be used for only $20 more per machine.
<strong>Apple CRT's, Apple uses crappy Lucky Goldstar displays in the CRT iMac and eMac, both have unnacceptable failure rates</strong><hr></blockquote>
Do you know the cost of this CRT display ? Just curious.
Misinformation This is NOT annual, and guess what? This $43,000,000 refers to the Gulfstream V jet we all heard so much about which did not get transfered to Steve Jobs' ownership until last year. Do your HW.
Sorry, Steve, I can't ignore FUD when it's technical...
[quote]Originally posted by Stagflation Steve:
<strong>The flat-panel iMac uses the Samsung LTM150XI LCD in the flat-panel iMac, it costs roughly $140 in commercial volume, it is the cheapest TFT LCD made, and is typically used in crappy laptops sold in Asia. Such as the ECS desknotes. ... Not even Samsung who made the LCD uses it in their own monitors.</strong><hr></blockquote>
See, I don't get what problem people have with the LCD in the 15" iMac. I use one, and when calibrated properly, it's great, if a little low on PPI. And BTW, Samsung doesn't make LCDs - they use Toshiba's.
[quote]Originally posted by Stagflation Steve:
<strong>Optical Drives, Apple used to use drives made by Sony, Panasonic, Philips and Mitsumi. Today with the exception of the Superdrive made by Pioneer, Apple exclusivly uses drives made by Lite-On and Lucky Goldstar.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Er, no. A quick check of my machine, as well as all (13+) demo systems at work indicates they still have Sony CD-RWs or Mitsumi combo drives, apart from the still-Pioneer SuperDrive.
[quote]Originally posted by Stagflation Steve:
<strong>Hard Drives, Apple used to use high end Seagate, IBM and Quantum Drives. Today Apple uses almost entirely inexpensive Maxtor and Western Digital drives.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I remember complaints (myself included) about how noisy and "clacky" the IBM drives were, and nobody uses Quantum drives anymore, as they're not in business. Western Digital and Maxtor drives work perfectly, and my iMac's drive is incredibly quiet. In fact, I'd like to know of a non-IBM hard drive failure (under warranty) for the recent Macs.
[quote]Originally posted by Stagflation Steve:
<strong>Apple's nvidia videocards are made by LeakTek, and have over-all poor 2D quality compared to ATI cards because Leadtek uses poor quality filters.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I assume you mean LeadTek (which you corrected yourself with), and I assume you're referring to the singular Power Mac with an NVIDIA card, since everything else is either ATI or built onto Apple's custom logic board (i.e. iMac). As for the 2D quality, I'd still hate to be on a non-ColorSync PC...
[quote]Originally posted by Stagflation Steve:
<strong>Apple CRT's, Apple uses crappy Lucky Goldstar displays in the CRT iMac and eMac, both have unnacceptable failure rates.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Er, no, again. NEC/Mitsubishi tubes. A check of the manufacturing label on the tubes confirms this; how can you think otherwise?
...and I'm not quite sure what your point is about Apple being "even more damned" by comparisons to contemporary PCs. That's just it! Macs aren't contemporary!
<strong>See, I don't get what problem people have with the LCD in the 15" iMac. I use one, and when calibrated properly, it's great, if a little low on PPI. And BTW, Samsung doesn't make LCDs - they use Toshiba's.</strong><hr></blockquote>
We have some at work, in the office there is an old Apple 15" Studio LCD display, the original model, a 17" Apple LCD and the current iMac LCD.
If you compare the iMac's LCD to either of those you would be disapointed, you only think it is acceptable because you have no basis of comparison.
As for your statement that Samsung doesn't make LCD's, that would come as a consiterable suprise to Samsung.
[quote]
Seoul, KOREA ? Oct. 25, 2002: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world?s leading manufacturer of advanced TFT LCD panels, today announced the construction of a new TFT LCD module assembly plant at the Suzhou Industrial Park in China?s Jiangsu Province. The new module line will cover 100,000 square meters (1million square feet) of a 545,500-square meter (5.9 million square feet) site acquired for future facility expansions.
(Snip)
Samsung Electronics is the world?s largest producer of memory chips, Smart Card Chips, Display Driver ICs, TFT-LCDs <hr></blockquote>
[quote]Originally posted by Johnny Dangerously:
<strong>Er, no. A quick check of my machine, as well as all (13+) demo systems at work indicates they still have Sony CD-RWs or Mitsumi combo drives, apart from the still-Pioneer SuperDrive.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
This 533mhz G4 has a Lite-On CD-RW drive, and iBook's in stock have Lucky Goldstar drives and apprently the most recent iMac systems have Lucky Goldstar drives across the board, including Superdrive models. Although I can't verify that because we no longer keep the iMac LCD in inventory because no one is buying them.
But, you were also wrong about Samsung LCD's
[quote]Originally posted by Johnny Dangerously:
<strong>In fact, I'd like to know of a non-IBM hard drive failure (under warranty) for the recent Macs. </strong><hr></blockquote>
As of this past Tuseday we have replaced 37 failed Maxtor drives under AppleCare this year
And the issues with IBM Deskstar hard drives are so overstated it is literally a joke,
[quote]Originally posted by Johnny Dangerously:
<strong>I assume you mean LeadTek (which you corrected yourself with), and I assume you're referring to the singular Power Mac with an NVIDIA card</strong><hr></blockquote>
The nvidia cards Apple uses in the G4 towers are very poor quality compared to PC nvidia cards from top tier manufacturers and ATI cards in other macs, again if you don't have anything to compare against you won't be able to appreciate how bad the image quality is.
[quote]Originally posted by Johnny Dangerously:
<strong>Er, no, again. NEC/Mitsubishi tubes. A check of the manufacturing label on the tubes confirms this; how can you think otherwise?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Look at page 117 of the Service Source iMac Service Manual,
[quote]Originally posted by Johnny Dangerously:
<strong>and I'm not quite sure what your point is about Apple being "even more damned" by comparisons to contemporary PCs. That's just it! Macs aren't contemporary!
</strong><hr></blockquote>
and I am not sure what the hell your point is in demonstrating you don't have a clue what the hell you are talking about
A lot of what is being said here is really conjecture and simply untrue.
Apple has made a conscious decision to maintain a particular price point. Why? Because most people do still believe that "cheap" prices do equal "cheap" products. This has good and bad affects, cheap computers are getting more acceptance but the majority bought are still between $1000-$2000, so Apple is still pricing right for the majority of the market.
If you compare feature to feature it is generally true that a Macintosh is only slightly more expensive as most Windows PCs do not have feature parity with Macintoshes. In fact, in some cases the PC is much higher priced [once you are buying the same features on each]. A good example of this is comparing a highend iBook to a particular Sony Viao, to get all the iBook has standard you need a docking station, several add-ons and about $2200-2500 [a friend of mine was looking to buy a new one this past Spring and determined this]. And yes it is true this does negate processor speed as a feature. But tell me, what is more important, debating if your G4 and Pentium 4 keep pace or FireWire, DVD, CDRW, 100/1000T Ethernet, AirPort, battery life, screen size?
Comments
So in the end, Apple designs their own motherboards (not to mention other components) and has them custom made. They do pretty much everything themselves. PC manufacturers pick one off a shelf and slap their logo on the case.
[ 10-30-2002: Message edited by: apple.otaku ]</p>
My Dell (P3 800) that is 9 months old is already too slow to run XP and the programs I want at the same time. My last Mac (B&W 400) lasted me over four years, and is still going much better and more reliably than the infant Dell.
Mac users upgrade less often. Either they don't have to, or can't afford to. (Thus this thread) <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
Apple used to use high quality parts, however in recent years Apple has begun to use lower and lower quality parts in their pathologically obcessive drive to further raise their already obscene margins at the expense of marketshare and quality.
The flat-panel iMac uses the Samsung LTM150XI LCD in the flat-panel iMac, it costs roughly $140 in commercial volume, it is the cheapest TFT LCD made, and is typically used in crappy laptops sold in Asia. Such as the ECS desknotes.
Optical Drives, Apple used to use drives made by Sony, Panasonic, Philips and Mitsumi. Today with the exception of the Superdrive made by Pioneer, Apple exclusivly uses drives made by Lite-On and Lucky Goldstar
Hard Drives, Apple used to use high end Seagate, IBM and Quantum Drives. Today Apple uses almost entirely inexpensive Maxtor and Western Digital drives.
Apple's nvidia videocards are made by LeakTek, and have over-all poor 2D quality compared to ATI cards because Leadtek uses poor quality filters
Apple CRT's, Apple uses crappy Lucky Goldstar displays in the CRT iMac and eMac, both have unnacceptable failure rates,
Apple Motherboards, Apple boards have very poor voltage regulation, which causes the near suicidal tendancies of the Blue G3 and G4 systems
Even if Apple used components in paralell quality to those they once used, their prices would still be insane
<strong>I suspect padding Steve Jobs' wallet with his annual $43,000,000 bonus has something to do with it...
<a href="http://www.ecomponline.com/company.tcl?dir=Demo&compid=1357"; target="_blank">http://www.ecomponline.com/company.tcl?dir=Demo&compid=1357</a>;
He's currently THE highest payed exec...
<a href="http://www.erieri.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.Dsp_Release&PressRel easeID=78" target="_blank">http://www.erieri.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.Dsp_Release&PressRel easeID=78</a>
This is the ONLy pay he has received since coming back to Apple in 1996. Sure its more than you and i make but it is NOT an annual bonus.
The reason this LCD isn't used by many laptops is that there isn't much laptop market for a 15" 1024x768 screen. Most laptops that are that resolution are 14" or less. It is a fine choice for a desktop, that is if you wanted a 15" at 1024x768.
[quote] Optical Drives, Apple used to use drives made by Sony, Panasonic, Philips and Mitsumi. Today with the exception of the Superdrive made by Pioneer, Apple exclusivly uses drives made by Lite-On and Lucky Goldstar <hr></blockquote> Uh Lite-On....
[quote]Hard Drives, Apple used to use high end Seagate, IBM and Quantum Drives. Today Apple uses almost entirely inexpensive Maxtor and Western Digital drives. <hr></blockquote>
Quantum used to be my favorite drive maker, but they sold their hard drive manufacturing to Maxtor. There is enough that has been publicized to say why not using an IBM drive is a good thing. Seagates are probably the best currently, but are the most expensive. Some people really like WDs, but I've never been able to figure out why. Maxtors are ok. As long as Apple doesn't use some manufactures that didn't make your list, I'm satisfied.
[quote]
Apple's nvidia videocards are made by LeakTek, and have over-all poor 2D quality compared to ATI cards because Leadtek uses poor quality filters <hr></blockquote>
If you really like ATI over Nvidia, ATI cards are an option on Apple's store if you want them. 2 of Apples desktops come standard with ATI cards. All their laptops use ATI. Only the eMac and iMac use Nvida
About the rest of your coments, I haven't heard of Apple having a higher than average failure rate, but that doesn't mean you are wrong or right.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Brad:
I suspect padding Steve Jobs' wallet with his annual $43,000,000 bonus has something to do with it...
<a href="http://www.ecomponline.com/company.tcl?dir=Demo&compid=1357"; target="_blank">http://www.ecomponline.com/company.tcl?dir=Demo&compid=1357</a>;
He's currently THE highest payed exec...
<a href="http://www.erieri.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.Dsp_Release&PressRel easeID=78" target="_blank">http://www.erieri.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.Dsp_Release&PressRel easeID=78</a>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the ONLy pay he has received since coming back to Apple in 1996. Sure its more than you and i make but it is NOT an annual bonus. <hr></blockquote>
The bonus was the airplane Apple gave him <a href="http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2101729,00.html"; target="_blank">http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2101729,00.html</a>; He probably had to dig deep in his pockets to pay for the taxes on the thing.
It is a one time event that won't be repeated anytime soon, unless Mircosoft does something like give Gates a Concorde or something <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
<strong>The reason this LCD isn't used by many laptops is that there isn't much laptop market for a 15" 1024x768 screen. Most laptops that are that resolution are 14" or less. It is a fine choice for a desktop, that is if you wanted a 15" at 1024x768.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
There are lots of laptops with 15" displays, but this particular display is not very popular because of it's low quality.
Put the iMac beside any other Apple LCD, it sucks.
<strong>
There are lots of laptops with 15" displays, but this particular display is not very popular because of it's low quality.
Put the iMac beside any other Apple LCD, it sucks.</strong><hr></blockquote>
We have both the 17-inch iMac and a G4 with a 22-inch cinema display. The iMac display looks great. Do you have a specific criticism of the iMac display?
Put the 15" LCD iMac next to any other LCD, you will see the problem, it is a low quality display used for no other reason than to pad margins, a much higher quality display could be used for only $20 more per machine.
<strong>Apple CRT's, Apple uses crappy Lucky Goldstar displays in the CRT iMac and eMac, both have unnacceptable failure rates</strong><hr></blockquote>
Do you know the cost of this CRT display ? Just curious.
<strong>
There are lots of laptops with 15" displays, but this particular display is not very popular because of it's low quality.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
None of those laptops with 15" LCDs have 1024x768 as their native resolution though.
Not even Samsung who made the LCD uses it in their own monitors.
Apple uses it because it is the cheapest 15" LCD made, no other reason.
Seriously, stick a 15" LCD iMac beside any other Apple LCD display, then tell me you don't think it is shit
<strong>
Do you know the cost of this CRT display ? Just curious.</strong><hr></blockquote>
No, but I would estimate the price for a 15" Shadow Mask CRT tube to be around $40 in the quanities Apple bought them in
<strong>I suspect padding Steve Jobs' wallet with his annual $43,000,000 bonus has something to do with it...
<a href="http://www.ecomponline.com/company.tcl?dir=Demo&compid=1357"; target="_blank">http://www.ecomponline.com/company.tcl?dir=Demo&compid=1357</a>;
He's currently THE highest payed exec...
<a href="http://www.erieri.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.Dsp_Release&PressRel easeID=78" target="_blank">http://www.erieri.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.Dsp_Release&PressRel easeID=78</a>
Misinformation
[quote]Originally posted by Stagflation Steve:
<strong>The flat-panel iMac uses the Samsung LTM150XI LCD in the flat-panel iMac, it costs roughly $140 in commercial volume, it is the cheapest TFT LCD made, and is typically used in crappy laptops sold in Asia. Such as the ECS desknotes. ... Not even Samsung who made the LCD uses it in their own monitors.</strong><hr></blockquote>
See, I don't get what problem people have with the LCD in the 15" iMac. I use one, and when calibrated properly, it's great, if a little low on PPI. And BTW, Samsung doesn't make LCDs - they use Toshiba's.
[quote]Originally posted by Stagflation Steve:
<strong>Optical Drives, Apple used to use drives made by Sony, Panasonic, Philips and Mitsumi. Today with the exception of the Superdrive made by Pioneer, Apple exclusivly uses drives made by Lite-On and Lucky Goldstar.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Er, no. A quick check of my machine, as well as all (13+) demo systems at work indicates they still have Sony CD-RWs or Mitsumi combo drives, apart from the still-Pioneer SuperDrive.
[quote]Originally posted by Stagflation Steve:
<strong>Hard Drives, Apple used to use high end Seagate, IBM and Quantum Drives. Today Apple uses almost entirely inexpensive Maxtor and Western Digital drives.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I remember complaints (myself included) about how noisy and "clacky" the IBM drives were, and nobody uses Quantum drives anymore, as they're not in business. Western Digital and Maxtor drives work perfectly, and my iMac's drive is incredibly quiet. In fact, I'd like to know of a non-IBM hard drive failure (under warranty) for the recent Macs.
[quote]Originally posted by Stagflation Steve:
<strong>Apple's nvidia videocards are made by LeakTek, and have over-all poor 2D quality compared to ATI cards because Leadtek uses poor quality filters.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I assume you mean LeadTek (which you corrected yourself with), and I assume you're referring to the singular Power Mac with an NVIDIA card, since everything else is either ATI or built onto Apple's custom logic board (i.e. iMac). As for the 2D quality, I'd still hate to be on a non-ColorSync PC...
[quote]Originally posted by Stagflation Steve:
<strong>Apple CRT's, Apple uses crappy Lucky Goldstar displays in the CRT iMac and eMac, both have unnacceptable failure rates.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Er, no, again. NEC/Mitsubishi tubes. A check of the manufacturing label on the tubes confirms this; how can you think otherwise?
...and I'm not quite sure what your point is about Apple being "even more damned" by comparisons to contemporary PCs. That's just it! Macs aren't contemporary!
- Johnny Dangerously
<strong>See, I don't get what problem people have with the LCD in the 15" iMac. I use one, and when calibrated properly, it's great, if a little low on PPI. And BTW, Samsung doesn't make LCDs - they use Toshiba's.</strong><hr></blockquote>
We have some at work, in the office there is an old Apple 15" Studio LCD display, the original model, a 17" Apple LCD and the current iMac LCD.
If you compare the iMac's LCD to either of those you would be disapointed, you only think it is acceptable because you have no basis of comparison.
As for your statement that Samsung doesn't make LCD's, that would come as a consiterable suprise to Samsung.
[quote]
Seoul, KOREA ? Oct. 25, 2002: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world?s leading manufacturer of advanced TFT LCD panels, today announced the construction of a new TFT LCD module assembly plant at the Suzhou Industrial Park in China?s Jiangsu Province. The new module line will cover 100,000 square meters (1million square feet) of a 545,500-square meter (5.9 million square feet) site acquired for future facility expansions.
(Snip)
Samsung Electronics is the world?s largest producer of memory chips, Smart Card Chips, Display Driver ICs, TFT-LCDs <hr></blockquote>
[quote]Originally posted by Johnny Dangerously:
<strong>Er, no. A quick check of my machine, as well as all (13+) demo systems at work indicates they still have Sony CD-RWs or Mitsumi combo drives, apart from the still-Pioneer SuperDrive.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
This 533mhz G4 has a Lite-On CD-RW drive, and iBook's in stock have Lucky Goldstar drives and apprently the most recent iMac systems have Lucky Goldstar drives across the board, including Superdrive models. Although I can't verify that because we no longer keep the iMac LCD in inventory because no one is buying them.
But, you were also wrong about Samsung LCD's
[quote]Originally posted by Johnny Dangerously:
<strong>In fact, I'd like to know of a non-IBM hard drive failure (under warranty) for the recent Macs. </strong><hr></blockquote>
As of this past Tuseday we have replaced 37 failed Maxtor drives under AppleCare this year
And the issues with IBM Deskstar hard drives are so overstated it is literally a joke,
[quote]Originally posted by Johnny Dangerously:
<strong>I assume you mean LeadTek (which you corrected yourself with), and I assume you're referring to the singular Power Mac with an NVIDIA card</strong><hr></blockquote>
The nvidia cards Apple uses in the G4 towers are very poor quality compared to PC nvidia cards from top tier manufacturers and ATI cards in other macs, again if you don't have anything to compare against you won't be able to appreciate how bad the image quality is.
[quote]Originally posted by Johnny Dangerously:
<strong>Er, no, again. NEC/Mitsubishi tubes. A check of the manufacturing label on the tubes confirms this; how can you think otherwise?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Look at page 117 of the Service Source iMac Service Manual,
[quote]Originally posted by Johnny Dangerously:
<strong>and I'm not quite sure what your point is about Apple being "even more damned" by comparisons to contemporary PCs. That's just it! Macs aren't contemporary!
</strong><hr></blockquote>
and I am not sure what the hell your point is in demonstrating you don't have a clue what the hell you are talking about
Apple has made a conscious decision to maintain a particular price point. Why? Because most people do still believe that "cheap" prices do equal "cheap" products. This has good and bad affects, cheap computers are getting more acceptance but the majority bought are still between $1000-$2000, so Apple is still pricing right for the majority of the market.
If you compare feature to feature it is generally true that a Macintosh is only slightly more expensive as most Windows PCs do not have feature parity with Macintoshes. In fact, in some cases the PC is much higher priced [once you are buying the same features on each]. A good example of this is comparing a highend iBook to a particular Sony Viao, to get all the iBook has standard you need a docking station, several add-ons and about $2200-2500 [a friend of mine was looking to buy a new one this past Spring and determined this]. And yes it is true this does negate processor speed as a feature. But tell me, what is more important, debating if your G4 and Pentium 4 keep pace or FireWire, DVD, CDRW, 100/1000T Ethernet, AirPort, battery life, screen size?