Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2003 07:29:12 -0700 From: B&D <NO_SPAMnopsamCOM> Subject: Re: A Macintosh Computers and A Saab?
On 4/13/03 1:22 AM, in article b7b6s9$ci8cc$1nopsam52899.news.dfncis.de, "Grunff" <grunffnopsam.com> wrote: > B&D wrote: > >> Whizzy industrial designing, yes, but it seems to have the computing power >> to back it up. Not sure why you figure it would be useless - can you >> elaborate? > > I will elaborate. Much of my computing need is of a > scientific/technical nature. This means not using the kit out of > the box, but modifying it and/or adding to it's functionality. I can see that - I am an engineer, and while Matlab is on both platforms, many of my main program I use is only PC available - but that is why I have a computer at work! :) Scientific and technical uses, based upon software alone, the Mac just is not there. > So, say I wanted to interface a piece of equipment with my > computer. With a PC, it's a doddle, the open architecture means > the bus is standardised, and I can do whatever I want. With a > Mac, unless I can buy the correct card from Apple, no chance. Fair enough. Since I have not done extensive modifications with either one, I will trust your judgement. > This is just one example, but the principle holds true for many > things. In essence if you want to use the machine out of the > box, as is, and you have no interest in ever upgrading beyond > what Apple will let you do, then a Mac is fine (but still > overpriced). That's why so many designers like them. Actually most GRAPHIC designers like Macs because a lot of the press equipment only works, and when it works with both, works better with Mac than Wintel (kind of like a role reversal in this market niche). And until recently (like last year or so), there were a lot of programs that were not available on Wintel, so the established base is Mac, and the experience base is with Mac as well. Also, even today, though Macinstosh boast a lower clock speeds (1-1.5GHz-ish per processor) image processing is still faster on the Mac - though while the software gap has closed, the processing power gap remains but should be irrelevent in the next few years. I was also just informed by my wife that a lot of graphic designers tend to do their own system troubleshooting (A large outfit doing graphic design is rare, so multi-skilled people is the name of the game) - and the Macs are a lot easier to troubleshoot than Wintel if you are not a computer-based technical professional. (Given the great lengths we go to to keep the network functioning at work which is Wintel, I can see this). I still don't buy the overpriced comment - I recently priced out a Dell computer v. a Mac and came up within a hundred dollar of each other (Dell being higher, out of about $3500 - I tend to go high end due to the image processor). Comparing a Mac to a low end PC is like comparing the Saab 9-3 to a Toyota Corolla - no comparison except on basic function. And only until you get into the details can you see the difference. I do see your point, though, and hope you see mine. Since this is not a forum for discussing the mertis and demaerits of computing platforms, I will put you down on the "Do I own a Mac and a Saab" questions as NO with an exclamation point. >> Interesting that a Saab owner would feel it that way - after all, Saabs have >> never been inexpensive cars - and if you want inexpensive functionality - >> there is always Korean and other Asian cars... (I mean no disrespect here - >> I am curious at this dichotomy) > > Totally different situation. I like quality, and I don't mind > paying for it. I buy the best tools and equipment I can afford. > With a Saab, there is (not true across the whole current range, > but still true of say the 9^5) a direct correlation between > price and quality. I agree. And with that kind of argument, you might find yourself the proud owner of a BMW one day as well! > However, I've yet to see any such correlation with Macs. It > seems to me one pays a (very significant) premium for two things: > > [a] a pretty looking box > [b] to be a member of the exlusive Mac owners club I am sorry you feel that way - there are some hard realistic reasons why Mac people are the way they are. Given the limited professional appeal of them, those that are not professional users of them (publishing, and other production uses) tend to be the hard core. With the new OS, it has won over some UNIX people as well, but whenever a product has a certain coolness (and this coolness predates the Steve Jobs reign #2) or funtionality, those that are left are the hard core. And given the continuous falling of Saab purchases [recent rebound noted], and given the nature of this group, I had noticed a number of parallels - the Saab is unconventional (turbo I-4, not the V-6 or V-8 in this class), front wheel drive in a awd/rwd segment, radical styling compared to the typical aerodynamic sedan shape, and other things that are nice and handy when you get used to them, but make a lot of journalists use the work "quirky" since they are just a bit different and in many ways more functional. And AFTER we had bought our car, and I was chatting with the sales guy after I had paid the money, he had mentioned that he felt that way about the line (he had no idea I owned a Mac). I am truly sorry you reacted to loudly and vitriolically to this rather innocent question. > I am not the type of person who would pay a premium for either > of these features. I want a good processor, plenty of RAM, a > good quality chipset, etc. etc. If you didn't need to modify and run scientific software, and did a real feature-to-feature comparision, and used conventional benchmarking of computing power to marketing clockspeed, as well as efficiency of memory useage, you would find that the Macintosh computer is a lot more price competitive than you figured. It would be like comparing a BMW 330i base price to a Saab 9-5 Aero base price. Makes the Bimmer look more affordable, but when you go into the details and try to make an apples to apples comparison, the Bimmer comes out a few thousand more expensive. Either way - I do understand where you are coming from - I do think if you care to, you should do some homework offline to see what I am talking about Mac not being as expensive as you think. I will mark you down as "No, I own a Saab and not a Mac and never plan on ever getting one" then, shall I? :)
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