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that was those cheap ass plotters from signwarehouse, LOL
-------------------- You ever notice how easily accessible people are when they are requiring your services but once they get invoice you can't reach them anymore
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Hahahah, Glenn, you love this stuff I see. That was actually a good review. Interesting. I noticed a description in Windows 7 about "Jump Lists" and "Multi-Touch" that sounds cool. I'll probably never really know what Win 7 is like, but I'm pretty sure OSX actually has this feature in Leopard (I may be wrong). The Multi-Touch feature came out on the MacBooks track pad and the Jump List feature sounds like "Stacks" in Leopard.
There was also more Vista trashing in there, but I have to say, I did a lot of work in Win 98, Win 2000 and XP. I hated all of them with a vengeance, but last year my dad was visiting and I caught him catching up on our "home news" on-line! This was crazy cuz he's afraid of computers. He asked about what computer he should get to bring back to his small port in Newfoundland so he can always check the news on-line. I brought him to a computer store and pointed him to a Toshiba laptop with Vista... that's right.... mainly because of price and if it crashed, he's have an easier time finding someone in this small port to fix a Windows machine. I set it up for him and thought to myself "Vista is not that bad"!! I haven't put it to the test but I liked it much better then any other Windows I've used.
Another note. I've been using MS Office X on my Mac for a long time, it's been great, even with the change to Intel Mac Processors. However, since Vista and the .docx I've realized I need to upgrade my MS Office. A few weeks ago a friend of mine bought iWork 09 for his Mac. I asked him about docx files. He created a bunch of docx documents on his work computer and emailed them to his house. I sent him a few Power Point documents and an Excel sheet. He opened all of them in iWork with no problem and re-saved in different formats. Sent them back to me and I could open them in MS Office. With that said, I think I'll be saving $100 and getting iWork 09, not the new Office for Mac.
Back to Computer price (this will be my last point, I promise) A few months ago I priced a few good computers on-line. Looking at options for CAD work. I was very surprised to see this (in US Dollars):
MacBook Pro 15" Laptop 4 gig RAM 350 gig Hard Drive 9400 Mg Graphics Card = $1749.00
When getting an equal computer, price does not seem to be an argument anymore.
Anyway Glenn, this is not an argument, just stating my opinion. That was actually a good post you put here. Honestly, I think Win 7 may be a fine upgrade to the Windows family, but I'll never know personally.
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I thought it was a pretty fair review. The author gave the edge to Mac in the end but he was very fair in his criticisms and praise on both OS, IMHO.
MacBook Pro 15" Laptop 4 gig RAM 350 gig Hard Drive 9400 Mg Graphics Card = $1749.00
When getting an equal computer, price does not seem to be an argument anymore.
Why are you comparing it to one of THE most expensive PC brands out there. One of the great things about PC is options. For example:
Dell 15" Laptop Core 2 duo 2.53Ghz (I think that is the same as the mac you are citing) 4GB Ram 320GB HD ( a little smaller but close) 256MB ATI Graphics card (Mac's 9400 Mg is also a 256MB card) Plus all the other same features like wireless networking, back-lit keyboard, DVD burner etc...
for $934 and if you include the dell stackable coupons you can find just by doing a Google search you can save at the least an additional 25%
$701
[ October 28, 2009, 11:15 AM: Message edited by: Joseph Diaz ]
-------------------- Joe Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, IL 61764 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 538 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Aug 2005
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Again, not trying to argue here, but yes, most people know Dell makes the cheapest computers. But I personally used a few different Dells and I truly didn't like their performance. Now I know there are people out there that have had great success with their Dells lasting a long time. I however, usually had to do several "re-boots" and also used a brand new XPS (actually a nice Dell) but had the Hard Drive completely die in less then one month. I later heard some bogus story that Dell shipped the first round of XPS machines with bum hard drives (might not be true) but it was enough to spoil my opinion on Dell. I did the math and realized that I watched 3 Dells drop dead in the life span of my one PowerMac G4 (which was sold to a guy 8 months ago and used as a server, still working!).
3 Years ago I worked on a slide show for a wedding on an Alienware Laptop. It was very fast and beautiful. I asked the owner what he thought of it, he said he paid a little extra but it was worth it. I couldn't argue with him, it was a nice machine. I know Dell bought Alienware, I don't know what the new machines are like, but I won't bash them, they make great computers.
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But is a Dell vs Alienware vs MacPro a fair comparison? Sure they may list the same "4 gig RAM, 250 gig Hard Drive, 1 gig Graphics Card" but are the components identical?
What about the motherboard? I've seen prices for them range from as little as $50 and as high as 10 times as much.
Is there really such a thing as an apples to apples comparison?
For a long time Gateway had a reputation for making a good computer. Then the reputation went to crap. Now they are suppose to pretty decent again on par with Dell.
I bought a Gateway 6200 (quad-core, 8gig ram, 750gig hd) for $900. Two days before the warranty ran out the computer quit reading the hard drive. I took it back to Best Buy and have the Geek Squad guys looking it over. They've had it for over a week and still can't figure out what is going on. The hard drive diagnostics say its fine. Diagnostics on the motherboard and other components say they're fine. But still nothing works.
Is the computer a victim of "cheap" components or is it "just one of those things"?
Alienware has always been pricey. But is it because its using pricier components than the MacPro or are they pricing it that high because they know they can get it?
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Fine then compare it to an Alienware. I'm not sure where you got the $2149 price tag though.
Alienware M15x Intel Core i7 720QM (which is a newer faster quad-core processor vs the Core 2 duo that comes on the mac you are comparing.)
512MB NVIDIA Ge Force GT 240M (which is a much faster Graphics card then the 9400 Mg)
500 GB Hard Drive (that is an extra 150 on the mac)
4 GB Memory
for $1624.
-------------------- Joe Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, IL 61764 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 538 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
Regardless of the quality of hardware you are getting, just like when you buy almost anything else, some companies charge for the name. Alienware is one and yes Mac is also one.
-------------------- Joe Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, IL 61764 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 538 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
Those are great questions Glenn. I also feel that Toshiba makes nice computers, but I have heard people say they suck. I recorded bass tracks on an album with a friend of mine in Toronto a few years ago. He was using a real nice Toshiba laptop, I don't know what it cost, but he was doing sound production for TSN for a few years so I think he may know a few things about that stuff. We recorded 12 tracks (none of which you would like). I don't know what program he used but the computer compressed some large files and didn't have a problem. So yes, finding the perfect fair comparison could be difficult.
Todd, I have not heard of this program, but thanks for sharing this info. I actually enjoyed MS Office X for Mac, my wife uses it much more then I do and she likes it as well. But I must say, I was impressed to see iWork open new Word Files and Power Point. I'll check out this free program you speak of but I might still buy iWork 09. Thanks again Todd.
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Some computer manufacturers put their components out on bids. How cheap can you sell us 10,000 hard drives. If you think the hard drive manufacturer isn't going to cut corners to try to win the bid, I have a few bridges up for sale. If you believe that say Pioneer Optical drives are all equal in quality, again I have some bridges up for sale. Everyone has top of the line and budget line components in their stables.
I wouldn't doubt that part of Alienware's high price is because of their name, but part of that price could also be better components.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
Just got a call from the Geek Squad about my computer a few moments ago. They've determined that the hard drive has crapped out. They'll be replacing it and reinstalling the OS for me all under warranty. They're going to give me the old HD so I can try to recover any important files.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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