rob53

MacPro said:

The argument that Apple computers are overpriced is a tired one.  On many occasions, I have bought a PC with quality specifications similar to a Mac (well, as close as you can get), and they cost an arm and a leg. Just because cheap and nasty PCs proliferate does not equate to overpriced Macs.

I'd like a breakdown of costs in the new M-series Macs. Almost everything is on the SoC, no external storage or memory (if you count the storage as being part of the SoC). There's hardly anything of value once you pay for the SoC. If you look at the M2 Mac mini teardown on iFixit (https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Mac+Mini+M2+Teardown/157365) there's hardly anything there that requires a person to install. From what I can see, all the semiconductor components should be able to be able to be robotically installed. Even the peripheral port components. About all a person needs to do is insert the board and screw it together. Labor is usually the most expensive part of construction other than the main SoC. How much does packing cost? How much does Apple pay for advertising? How much profit??? Should a Mac mini actually cost what Apple is selling it for?

schlack said:

The Mac Mini is an outstanding value at $600 ($500 educational pricing).

But it's got a narrow use case. Older parents, office workers, businesses, server farms, etc.

Most folks who want desktops are looking for more power (GPU/CPU/RAM/etc.) or easy customization.

Your comment makes no sense. The new M4 Mac mini is the same as the M4 MBPs, just without the keyboard, trackpad and display. The M4 and M4 Pro are the exact same SoCs. The iMac is using the base M4 SoC, not even the Pro version so the mini is actually more powerful than the desktop iMac. As for customizations, Apple only has one customizable (after purchase) Mac and that's the Mac Pro. The Mac Studio might be able to upgrade its storage but not necessarily easily. Every Mac, especially the M4 Mac mini, has the ability to connect multiple external devices. 

As for "folks" who want desktops for more power, the new M4 series of Macs have plenty of power, in fact more power than all consumer PCs, which I assume you're talking about, and almost as much power as specialized PCs, which end up costing much more. 

apple4thewin said:

ssfe11 said:

The Trump Administration will not allow the American companies EU bullying to go on any longer. You can bank on that. He already spoke with Tim about how once elected that is not going to happen anymore. 

This discussion has already been exhausted in this article/comment section https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/10/17/trump-says-tim-cook-complained-to-him-about-the-eu

And yet AI still posts articles about the EU cartel.

spheric said:

Cesar Battistini Maziero said:

The EU needs a clear message to not fuck with American companies.

Right now, it's American companies getting a very clear message not to fuck with European customers. 

Since when is the EU the global dictator for how things are made and what is sold? If you don't like it, don't buy it. I need to investigate whether I actually buy any products manufactured in EU companies. I don't buy European vehicles, don't buy European wine (CA and other USA states make fine wine), don't buy EU made bikes, don't buy any cosmetics from any country, don't buy any knives either, in fact I found a website that showed several country's products and I don't believe I ever bought any of their products. 

phillyfanatic09 said:

In the end, Europe could simply price Apple out of their market. Apple is a for profit company. If the fines exceed Apple’s profits in Europe, why do business there?

Fine with me. Once Apple leaves the EU cartel, the people will start screaming or simply find a way to get Apple products outside of the EU. Use a VPN to download software and treat your devices as being in the US. 

There's no real reason to "catch and kill" Pixelmator Pro because it uses as many of Apple's Mac technologies as it can: Apple silicon, Metal, Core ML, Built with Swift, Core Image and Swift UI. It doesn't use any of the antiquated Adobe software. Pixelmator can already be accessed through Photos for editing so there's no reason why Apple couldn't simply merge Pixelmator with Photos, creating the best photo editing software for Apple products along with their constantly upgrading Photos app for storage and photo database. 

For those of you who haven't used Pixelmator Pro, I'd try it out as a replacement for the discontinued Aperture. Once Pixelmator and Photos are tightly integrated, it should be a pro-level replacement for just about any photographer.