Are Apple computers a rip off?

Question

Compare - bottom level iMac £679, honking Dell for about the same price. http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/desktops_best?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

Answer 1

Nope.

Best computer system available to the general public.

Guess you've never used one for any length of time.

Answer 2

If You Mean: Are You Paying Too Much For An APPLE® Computer Vs. A (Windows) PC? There Is No Simple Answer, Apple Computers Give You A Lot For The Money, Including Virus/Spyware/Malware Protection That's Actually Part Of The OS Not Just An Add-On. You Also Get Much Better Hardware Overall Than Many PC Boxes. If You Were To Get All Of The Same Hardware/Software On A PC And A Mac (Apple) The Price Difference Would Be Smaller Than You Think. And (I Believe) The Apple Would Still Perform Better And Have Fewer Crashes/Freezes. But, PC's Are More Prevalent And Therefore, You CAN Get Cheaper Components And Software. HOWEVER They Are CHEAPER, Not Necessarily BETTER. As For Not Being Able To Use Anything But Apple Parts - HOGWASH!! I've Changed The Hard Drive, RAM, Disc Drive, Video Board And Sound Card In Several Macs With NON - APPLE Parts. And Never Had A Problem With Any Of Them.

Answer 3

Lets see, can dual boot Windows and Mac OS natively using the most user-friendly boot loader out there (some versions of Linux can also run on them), runs on Intel can seamlessly emulate any PC app or game, comes pre-loaded with a fully working secure out of the box system with iLife (which includes iMovie for video editing, iTunes, Garage Band for professional quality audio editing). And killer hardware. What more do you want? You can get a Mac Mini for $599

Answer 4

There has been research that shows the cost of ownership of Apples, in a working setting, is lower than for other makes and operating systems. This is because they usually give significantly less trouble and require less support. When you pay the apparently higher price up-front it should be considered an investment - less time wrestling with Windows problems or suspect hardware later.

http://www.macobserver.com/article/2002/06/13.9.shtml

While nothing is perfect, Apple users tend to be happier about their computers.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1851295,00.asp

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NEW/is_1994_Dec_12/ai_16308965

And finally...

Alexander Chancellor
Friday June 8, 2007
The Guardian

While in New York, I paid a visit to a glamorous downtown computer shop in the hope of being tempted. Although I have a laptop that works perfectly well, I wanted an excuse to buy a new one, especially as computers are much cheaper in America than they are in Britain.

With my friend, Mike, a patriotic believer in the American way of commerce, I approached one of those knowledgeable and personable young salesmen that Macintosh employs to encourage customers to part with their money.

"What kind of computer do you have?" asked the salesman. "A PowerBook G4," I replied. "A PowerBook G4?" exclaimed Mike, striking his forehead with his hand in mock horror; for he knew that I wanted to be persuaded to replace it. "That's a good machine," said the salesman. "How old is it?" "About five years," I said. "Five years old!" shrieked Mike. But the salesman said: "I'd hang on to it if I were you. It should be good for a while yet."

"Who on earth trained you to be a salesman?" asked an astonished Mike before we left the shop empty-handed; the young man just smiled. I am beginning to be worried about the future of the United States.

in: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,2098261,00.html

___________________
found on yahoo answers - anti-vista

http://www.jibjab.com/view/111288

Answer 5

In what sense?

Everything is a rip off of something to some extent.

Steve Jobs stole the idea of the GUI (graphical user interface) and mouse from Xerox. He stole the name Apple from the Beatles.

Bill Gates and Microsoft stole the idea of DOS from Unix.

Answer 6

By many, I'm given to understand they are. Yet there are many Apple fanatics, who've used them for many years (some of my friends among them, one of whom is a pro photographer who swears by his Mac's graphics abilities on a 24" screen). I suppose it depends on whether you're willing to put up with Apple's proprietary hardware (meaning, you HAVE to use THEIR hardware, you can't just get an Apple from anyone, whereas you can get a PC from any of several companies...) and there's more software packages available for a PC than there is for a Mac. On the other hand, a Mac is supposed to be much easier to use and much more immune to viruses... but I investigated and saw it's about 1.5 times more expensive on average... YOU decide.

Answer 7

This is a personal preference question. For mac's you pay more for less power from your hardware, but you get a sizeable margin of stability over PC's. When you buy a PC you get more for you money power/hardware wise, but you get the inevitable less stability. Honestly it all really comes down to a personal preference of style of operating system. Unless you're looking to play games or run a specific program, Apple computers do just fine.

Answer 8

nope , but remember you have to deal with apple exclusivly if anything goes wrong.. due to them not allowing clones to be made..

they are very good at branding/design/marketing though.

a computer is a computer.. depends what the end user does with it , at the end of the day.

i still dislike how they bought out emagic, made logic mac only... is my one big gripe with them... no matter... steinberg and propellerheads got my money instead. why should i be forced into buying a mac.

and whichever mac evanglist downgraded my answer.. i used to service apple macs... and know how it runs... so perhaps learn up on apple's and facts, before doing such things.

Answer 9

nope they r good machines for home or graphics use however I would prefer a PC for availability of software

Answer 10

Nope. Even just on specs, they have caches that can't be beat.