If they do it by pricing products at a highly inflated rate, yes I think they are being douches.
If they do it by pricing products at a highly inflated rate, yes I think they are being douches.
tesscaline
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Hate to break it to you, but the Mac Pro uses the 5500 series of Xeon, not the 3500. Try again
Hate to break it to you, but the Mac Pro uses the 5500 series of Xeon, not the 3500. Try again
For the dual processor they use the 5500. For the single processor they use the 3500. I am correct.
tesscaline
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You said "to" not "about". daSkeptic is a Mac owner, and you were talking crap TO him about Apple products.
not daSkeptic
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Why? Is there something inherently wrong with the practice?
I just think that purposely pricing a product at an outrageous rate so some people won't buy it is a douche move for a company that is supposedly consumer friendly. They are free to do as they please, and you are free to disagree, but there isn't really much more to be said.
jimtron
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Thanks for posting this. Which Mac Pro are you comparing this to? Here's a link to the entry level, current model. I think you forgot:
I can't find the specs of that motherboard--does it have this stuff (eta: I see the case has what looks like 1 FW 400 port and 2 USB ports, but not the following) (eta2: I see the board has 8 USB ports; but still missing the 4 FW 800 ports):
- Four FireWire 800 ports (two on front panel, two on back panel)
- Five USB 2.0 ports (two on front panel, three on back panel)
- Two USB 2.0 ports on included keyboard
- Front-panel headphone minijack and internal speaker
- Optical digital audio input and output TOSLINK ports
- Analog stereo line-level input and output minijacks
- Two independent 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45) interfaces with support for jumbo frames (eta: found them on your board)
- Bluetooth 2.1 + Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)
Here are the MP specs: http://store.apple.com/us_smb_78313/browse/home/shop_mac/family/mac_pro
eta: I don't think your burner is double layer; the MP's is.
eta 78: I think your board has 2 PCI slots; the MP has 3:
- One PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot
- Two PCI Express 2.0 x4 slots
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not daSkeptic
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Other than your personal opinion, do you have anything else to support the notion that this is not a legitimate reason for having high prices?
tesscaline
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Indeed. You are correct.
But Jimtron's post does address a bunch of things that you don't seem to include in your list.
The motherboard you're using only has a single firewire 400 port (IEEE 1394a), not the 4 firewire 800 (IEEE 1394b).
I can't tell about the audio from the specs yours list.
And the case does not have
. Honestly, I'd be curious if you could even find that anywhere for retail purchase outside of Apple...
not daSkeptic
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Let us not forget matters of quality. Are we comparing identical components or only similar ones? What about product grades? Manufacturers often have varying levels of quality in their product runs -- Gateway has been known to use lower-grade components in order to cut cost. And then there's quality of workmanship in the integration and assembly. Are we expecting the average consumer in their home or office to be meeting the same standards as a purpose-built factory?
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jimtron
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I think people often overlook stuff like FW800 and optical audio ports when making comparisons. I'm looking for a comparison with a PC that has all of the same features. Also keep in mind, that it's going to take a considerable amount of time to buy and assemble all of these parts. To some that would be a fun project; to others a waste of time and maybe major headache. Also, though the parts will be under warranty, there's no warranty and support for the whole system (what if the components don't all get along perfectly?).
Also; longevity and resale value of Macs; probably longer/higher.
Also; longevity and resale value of Macs; probably longer/higher.
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That would be a combination of motherboard and case.
(The specifications are on an tab called specifications)
From what I can see this combo has:
- Four FireWire 800 ports (two on front panel, two on back panel) [/quote]
Two. One on front, one on back.
Eight Two on front, six on back.
Forgot to include keyboard.
Minijacks, yes. Speaker, no
Under S/PDIF Out, it says: 1 x Optical, 1 x Coaxial. I am not quite sure what that means.
I think so.
Yes.
No.
It seems as though the Mac Pro has a slight edge here. Surely not worth the difference though.
I would compare identical ones if I could (I did where possible). That is, if Apple would make it easy to find out exactly what components they use in their computers.
If you don't mind if I use a Core i7 (they are really pretty much exactly the same as the Xeons) I'll find one as similar as possible.
ETA: Also it would really take a long time to put together, and I already put together the list.
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not daSkeptic
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This means one TOSLINK port and one RCA port, both for output.
No.
tesscaline
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Indeed. I definitely agree with what you're saying here. It echos some of what I said earlier.
Personally, I don't overlook things like FW800 (because we do actually use these things over here). I'm sure there are plenty of people that do, but those are not generally the people who would be purchasing a Mac Pro. Those people would generally be perfectly content with the base model iMac, if not a mini.
The time spent searching for the parts is, yes, considerable. Look at how much time we all, in a concerted manner, have spent just trying to figure it out. Give that task to someone less experienced, with less knowledge about computer hardware, and less knowledge about components suppliers... It becomes a gargantuan undertaking.
jimtron
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Ah ha, now I see the specs for the motherboard.
Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 17-watt high-efficiency amplifiers
Built-in microphone
Optical digital audio output/headphone out
Optical digital audio input/audio line in
eta: support:
Every Mac comes with complimentary telephone technical support within 90 days of your Mac purchase. In addition, a limited hardware warranty covers your Mac and all included accessories against defects for one year from the original purchase date.
Genius Bar — Available at every Apple Retail Store, it’s the place for free advice, insight, and friendly, hands-on technical support for your Mac, iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV.
Those are 400, not 800. To recap, I think you need to add:
- high quality keyboard and mouse
- four FW 800 ports (IEEE 1394-b)
- optical in AND out (don't think the motherboard has both)
- Bluetooth
- double layer optical drive
- might be missing some stuff
Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 17-watt high-efficiency amplifiers
Built-in microphone
Optical digital audio output/headphone out
Optical digital audio input/audio line in
eta: support:
Every Mac comes with complimentary telephone technical support within 90 days of your Mac purchase. In addition, a limited hardware warranty covers your Mac and all included accessories against defects for one year from the original purchase date.
Genius Bar — Available at every Apple Retail Store, it’s the place for free advice, insight, and friendly, hands-on technical support for your Mac, iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV.
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You really think all that's worth $1360? I am sure that if I looked around more, I could find a case/mobo combo that has all of those but I think that I have proved my point.