Thanks for visiting and leaving a thoughtful comment.

Microsoft’s ability to get their OS pre-installed on computer systems is just plain marketing success and is only a small part of their recipe for success.

They did something that many people overlook. They developed a framework in which applications have a similiar look and feel. Navigation throughout the majority of MS applications is standardized, reducing learning curve significantly. In addition, integration with other applications, even Non-MS has a standardized approach.

This above all, is what is important to the user community!

Just my two cents,

Regards,

Keith

Thanks again for the comment.

Right now I’m looking at a Best Buy ad offering a Dell laptop with an Intel Core Duo 2 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 250 GB hard drive and a dual-layer DVD/CD burner/player running Microsoft Windows Vista home edition for $799. Which Mac comes close to that price? Nothing.

Is that Dell a better machine than the Mac regardless of price? No. I agree the Mac in many cases is a better machine. But try to make the case to the average consumer and it’s near impossible. The average consumer views a computer as nothing more than another electronic device they need in their home. The car analogy might work but most consumers will still go for the cheaper machine because it’ll get the job done and there is a common belief that any computer will be obsolete within a year so why pay top dollar.

The point of the post was not to slam Macs or Linux. I like them both, matter of fact I love them both. But until they address the cost and ease of use issues, they will remain a niche market appealing only to certain computer users.

Try to put aside any Mac or Linux bias you might have for a moment and consider this question. If grandma comes along and says, “Dear, I think it’s time to get a computer. I want to send some emails to my friends and surf the web a little bit. What should I buy?” Does grandma really need a Mac or Linux machine? Wouldn’t she just be better off with the $449 Compaq laptop running Windows and pocketing the money she saved by not buying a Mac? The Mac might still be better, but it is really necessary?

Thanks for the extensive price research and thoughtful comment. I appreciate your participation.

First of all, let me say that I priced laptops that had almost exactly the same specs as the MacBook. The Dell laptops with 13.3 inch screen had no option for 2 Gigabytes of RAM, so I defaulted all the models in the comparison to 4 GB. I also couldn’t find an HP laptop with a 13.3 screen, but I think the comparison still proves my point. I also defaulted the Dell and HP models to Vista Ultimate because as you probably know, OS X comes with ALL the features in one version. There is no Home or Professional edition of OS X. This is what I came up with:

Dell XPS M1330
13.3 inch display
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Vista Ultimate
4 GB RAM
200 GB hard drive 7200 RPM (No 250 option for Dell)
CD/DVD Burner
128 MB nVidia GeForce 8400M GS

Price: $1,824.00

MacBook
13.3 inch display
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
OS X Leopard
4 GB RAM
250 GB hard drive 5400 RPM
Double-Layer SuperDrive
144 MB Intel GMA X3100

Price: $1,799.00

HP Pavilion dv2700t
14.1 inch display
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2
Vista Ultimate
4 GB RAM
250 GB hard drive 5400 RPM
DVD/RW Double Layer
128 MB Nvidia GeForce 8400 GS

Price: $1,884.99

In the Mac Pro comparison, I also sought out machines made by Dell and HP that had similar specs. Because it was so difficult to find a Dell with specs above Quad level, I defaulted all the processors to around 2.8 GHz Quad processors, which is the lowest processor that Apple offers for their Mac Pros. This is what I came up with:

Dell XPS 720
2.93 GHz Intel Quad Core
Vista Ultimate
2 GB RAM
500 GB hard drive 7200 RPM
CD/DVD Double Layer Drive
nVidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

Price: $3,529.00

Mac Pro
2.8 GHz Intel Quad Core
OS X
2 GB RAM
500 GB hard drive 7200 RPM
Double-Layer SuperDrive
nVidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

Price: $2,599.00

(Note: Apple’s default model is a 2.8 GHz 8-CORE model, but there is an option for a 2.8 GHz QUAD model for $500 less if you go to the configuration page on Apple’s web site.)

HP Blackbird
2.93 GHz Intel Quad Core
Vista Ultimate
2 GB RAM
500 GB hard drive 7200 RPM
Super Multi-drive
nVidia GeForce 8800 GT 512MB

Price: $3,544.00

I am well aware that you can build desktops for much lower than the ones shown here, but the majority of people DO NOT build their own computers. My purpose is to show that products with similar specs from competing PC manufacturers don’t offer desktops that are priced significantly lower than Macs. Macs just seem more expensive because outside of the Mac Mini, Apple does not cater to the low end market. If you want to use the car analogy, Dell and HP are like GM, which makes both low end Buicks and high end Corvettes. Apple is more like BMW, which makes only high end sedans and roadsters. In other words, there are no Mini Towers in Apple’s lineup, but if there WERE, they would likely be priced just as reasonably as their PC rivals.

Furthermore, in my opinion, Macs trump the PCs in this line-up because you have the added ability to run both Windows and Linux natively, which gives you access to ALL software and games on the market. So if anyone wants to understand WHY people may prefer Macs over PCs, you might want to consider this.

Thanks for stopping by and adding to the decision.

History says that if a competitor tried to get their OS installed with these vendors, Microsoft would threaten them, raise the cost of doing business with them and many other mafia-like practices.

Once you’re number one, it’s very difficult to force a switch. Now that some options are slowly opening up for Linux in the retail distribution markets, changes will happen but very slowly. It’s amatueristic to think otherwise.

I’m writing this as a Windows XP user who tires on the spin given to stories like this.