Would you pay $849 for a new MacBook?
A report last week that Apple (AAPL) is preparing to slash prices on its entry level MacBook and iMac models has triggered a flurry of speculation about what the new price points might be.
According to AppleInsider's Kasper Jade, Apple sees the cuts — which could come in the next month or two — as an "interim solution" to the growing popularity of netbooks, those sub-compact laptops that Steve Jobs once dismissed as "a piece of junk" but which are flying off the shelves at $299 to $349 apiece.
For example Acer, whose Aspire One netbooks are Amazon's bestsellers, saw its U.S. market share grow 49.4% (to 13.6%) in the first quarter of 2009, according to Gartner Research, even as Apple's share shrank to 7.4%, down 1% year to year. Mac sales actually fell last quarter for the first time in nearly six years.
How low will Apple go to turn that around? Jade's reporting — based on unnamed sources "familiar with the matter" — is fuzzy on that point, but in the comment stream he makes it clear that he's talking about price reductions in the range of $100 to $150.
Applying these cuts to the current entry-level machines, we get:
- White 13-inch MacBook: $849 – $899, reduced from $999
- 20-inch 2.66 GHz aluminum iMac: $969 – $1,019, reduced from $1,119
With gross margins last quarter of 36.4% — up from 34.7% in Q1 — Apple can certainly afford to sacrifice some profit to grow share. As AppleInsider points out, Apple last month started selling 2GHz iMacs to the education market for $899.
The real questions is, will it work? Will consumers who are buying $349 Acers — or like Microsoft's (MSFT) Lauren, $699 HP (HPQ) Pavilions — give the MacBook a second look if it's priced at $849?
Would you?
Msi Wind U100 – $249.99
additional 1gb ram memory – $12.99
Seagate Momentus 500gb 7200 rpm hdd – $109.99
Apple software OSx retail Leopard – $89.99
9 cell 7900mAh extended battery module – $65.99
$528.95 total I spent – one 10" MacBook Nano that I take with me everywhere I go.
Apples and oranges, I agree. I've always used a Mac. Still have my iMac I bought in 1998 that I use for old OS9 games I have. I don't think many people have a PC hanging around that long. My eMac is probably 5 years old now and shows no signs of crapping out. I have to use Windows at work and just hate it. It's just a matter of taste. The $ is irrelevant if the computer is kicking around after 10 years and still working. A few people have said their Macs have died or whatever, but they just got a lemon. Personally, I know of noone with a Mac that has died or regretted it. I know plenty of people who wanted to kill after Vista.
everyone says that mac are much more money
but where are the cheaper pc with:
decent c2d
nvidia video 9 series
13 inch screen
less than 5 pounds
more than 4.5 hr of battery life
what I found is:
dell studio xps 13 (expensiver)
hp dv3510 (almost same price)
so where are the "much cheaper pc" or the same specs.
(I don't care about ram or disk, and I specially care about the nvidia card)
I own a dell studio 15 in laptop running windows vista with 4gb of ram and this piece of crap is still slower then honey at room temp do you know how much 4gb is that`s a lot of memory!!!!
Yes. Even a MacBook is much better than any computer, running Windows. I don't go Mac for the hardware, I go for OS X.
Apple will always be priced higher than people want or expect. They are like Mercedes or BMW or Lexus. They can demand a premium and get a premium because there are certain people who like the brand, like the ease of the OS, or like the design. Apple will never go away because of their market share. And compared to a macbook, a netbook is a piece fo junk.
OH NO!
If Apple lowers the price that will mean batteries and power adapters will no longer be of the amazing High Quality all Apple owners know and love!
Now I'll have to buy replacements every 3 months instead of 6?
(But I'd still live with the defective bats and adaptors so long as I never EVER have to own and use Microcrap!!!)
Apple is wrong to ignore the netbooks. Even the smallest Macbook is too large and too heavy to breezily carry around the city. As much as I love Macs, I will buy a Dell Mini if Apple doesn't come out with a netbook in June.
I bought an Asus 1000HE (1 GB RAM, 160GB HD, 10 inch screen) 2 months ago from Amazon for $374, to use as my secondary computer. Its battery works for 9 hours before recharging. Its keyboard is as comfortable as the old IBM thinkpad. It weighs less than 3 pounds, fits into my purse, is very sturdy, stable, and I bring it everywhere. I use it for web access, email, note taking, blogging. Its webcam is useful. The price is right. Apple is wrong to dismiss netbooks. The netbook fills a niche at a great price.
@Matt
"While the debate can rage on forever on if macs are more secure than pc’s, the fact is most mac users have never had a virus"
How would a Mac user know if they have a virus, trojan, spyware, etc. if they don't have the software to detect such threats?
I would definately purchase another MacBook at a lower price. I currently own and use 2 Mac quite often but cannot upgrade as often as I would like due to the price. I would love nothing more than to have Apple lower prices on their machines so we can purchase replacements more often!
Its almost like they are starting to realize that one of the biggest problems with their stuff is the price. The netbooks at low prices are almost like an impulse computer buy. You don't just impulsively buy a 1Grand+ laptop. duh!
Very true.. i read some of the leaked material on the new Mac line on http://thenoz.wordpress.com
Well, im so sick and tired of Microsoft and Vista, im going to buy a MAC even if they dont cut prices. The key thing is that you get what you pay for…most of the time. Those $300 laptops are for ppl who just want to surf the web and be on Facebook, So it works for them and the MAC would be overkill
i love mac. i used it at work although ireally cannot afford to buy one ;i am planning to buyh hp 2140 though. 
I've owned two white MacBooks – one had the hard drive fail on me, the other now has a broken motherboard after just 18 months use. It's out of warranty and would cost a staggering 600 euro to replace. For that money, I can buy a faster, bigger, better HP or Toshiba.
I've lost all faith in the build quality and reliability of Macs, where the former manufacturing quality has been usurped by cheaper production to maximise profit.
PCs are easier to repair yourself. Macs have lost a loyal customer in me, simply because their goods don't stand up to the test of time!
Mac is a great notebook. It is reliable. It has a cult following.
It is proprietary and costs 2-3times more. No doubt it is for those who can afford it.
For most cmmon man, Asus and the netbooks with Xp just rocks and does what it is supposed do.. help in basic computing. The debate can be there…
There is a market for BMW and there is a market for Toyotas and the same is applicable here.
No. The MAC OS and styling is still not enough to make up for the same power and speed of other PC's. A well known fact among MAC users, they still have just as many updates as PC's Windows. And everytime I turn around their is a considerable update to the MAC OS and Quicktime / ITunes, in the size of 120 mb or more. Don't let them fool you. As a user I own both and utilize both in my projects. But I don't see anything special about a MAC over a Windows PC. Don't believe the hype.
I have a MacBook Pro with Mac Os X, and still opted to get an Asus 1000h with an Intel Atom CPU for "Kicking Around". As much as I enjoy the Mac I really like the Asus. The XP Home OS X is decent (performs well with 1Gb RAM), and the Asus performs great for what it has (Atom CPU). But I installed Ubuntu Linux v-9.04, and dual boot between XP and Linux. It is nice with XP, but rocks with Linux. The Mac is highly priced (I can easily afford it), but for most folks an Asus with dual-boot is more than adequate (Linux = poor man's Mac, flat out rocks). Bit, that said, I enjoy the Asus more than the Apple – as much as I appreciate and enjoy the Mac.
After 2 years with my first computer, a Dell Inspiron 5150, the laptop stopped working because of a design flaw that caused the soldering that connected the computer to the power source to sever after repeated use of an extremely common key. While I was already getting tired of Windows OS, I took this as a sign to finally switch to Mac.
If it were even simply for the ease of apple's tech support, I will never leave Apple again. But add to that a full spectrum of media development tools included in the OS. I'm sure that if I had purchased a less expensive computer with Windows the secondary cost I would have had to pay would have easily negated the difference between windows and mac.
Now I know that not everyone would use the Video, Music, and Photo editing software, but if someone is just buying a netbook for basic computing and media viewing away from your desktop, buy an ipod touch and find out what you've been missing by not using mac.
I think you would be suprised. With the number of people owning ipods, and iphones, a lot of those will naturally want to buy an macbook.
While the debate can rage on forever on if macs are more secure than pc's, the fact is most mac users have never had a virus. They are extremely user friendly, and if the computer is for someone who is older, or someone who gets fustrated easily by popups and such there is only one answer. A MAC.
While due to the current economy netbooks might be selling like hot cakes, eventually people will realize they is little to anything worth doing on a slow stipped down piece of junk netbook.
People want there information now, not later, they want there computer to work now, not after the virus scan is done running, they want it to work when they walk out the door, not after it updates or they build there linux kernel. That leaves only 1 answer… a MAC.
Yeas I would buy one, it has a 13" screen, stable and a Mac. Netbooks are junk, so I don't ever considered them, I have no use for them, regardless of price.
@Mike: Also, virus arguments are useless because if Macs were as popular as windows, they would have just as many viruses. So don't say that Windows is flawed because more people use it. Macs are some of the most un-secure computer for the simple fact that you people believe they are invincible.
@Mike: Actually, you are wrong, the average Macs are made with the same parts as most windows PCs, they are just more expensive. If Macs have such a better build quality, explain why they heat up to the point that you can get minor burns? That seems to me that it is a bad thing. And trust me, I know, because it's my job to fix both Macs and Windows PCs. I'm pretty sure that I have more experience than you do.
What most everyone here (mac fans and mac haters alike) fails to recognize is that there are different products that means different desires and different needs. For some people price is a key factor. For others it's simplicity. For others it's reliability. For others its software availability. and there are dozens more reasons.
I honestly don't see a lower price on a MBP helping make a dent into netbook sales because they really are two different things. i want a netbook. Why? I'm tired of the crappy internet experience on cell phones. I want a 2nd computer in the house to get on the net. I also have lots of photocopies that are all in various folders and when i go out to do research I bring the whole folder of reference material. I'm in the process of scanning them into pdf's and if I had a netbook I could just pull up the pdf on the fly. I also like the idea of being able to watch a movie in the car/on the plane, and I probabaly could do all of this on a iPhone but it's got a small screen (plus you couldn't pay me to use AT&T)
A netbook will let me do all that and I don't need it to do anything more. If I was working and needed a laptop I'd take the MBP in a heartbeat.
But I'm not.
So there's no point in me spending 2x as much to gain things I don't need/won't use. Now if they make an actual netbook (especially if it's a tablet) I'd be willing to pay 500 for it. but not 850.
No they are junk, just built on a smaller scale than pc thus, less problems http://thenoz.wordpress.com
The article talks forgets to mention the form factor of the netbook as being a plus. Price is just one factor. The small size and low weight are important for those who don't want to lug around a bigger laptop. Just because a computer can fit on your lap does not make it a perfect mobile tool. Something the size of a day planner that can easily slide into a backpack or purse is a better form factor for those who want a computer everywhere they go. Macbooks are huge and heavy be these diminutive standards.
I bought a Fujitsu P8010 because I wanted a lot of horsepower in a small package. The Fujitsu is about 2 inches shorter and 2 pounds lighter than a Macbook. It is so nice to carry everywhere and has the power to do everything that I need.
The Macbook Air is not the right form factor. It is still 13 inches and lacks a dvd drive like the Fujtisu. If Apple came up with a laptop that had an 10-11 inch screen, a keyboard that is 80-90% of a normal size keyboard, that came in at under 3 pounds, has all the ports and drives that should be there, had the horsepower, and came in at about $800-900, they would not be able to keep them on the shelves for a long time. That is the game changer that I hope to see.
Would I?
I am not quite sure,because quality meets price,and wit an "Apple"-Computer,half of the price is because of the brand.Of course,because of the operating system you won't have much problems with malware and so on … but if I buy a 500$ notebook and install Linux on it,I would have the same results in security combined with better price 
Users buy computers to fill specific needs. I need a $2000 laptop, my father needs a $600 desktop. My business runs Windows, friends and family use Mac. So the real question – would you buy a MBP to accomplish the same computing goals as a netbook, and is the premium worth it? What is the best solution, dollar for dollar, for what you are trying to use the computer for? I don't care if anyone else likes my bicycle or car, and I sure don't care if anyone likes my choice in computers.
So, for web surfing and email – the netbook market – it's very tough (for me) to justify the price premium for MBP simply because it's "cool" or "the best software ever". But hey, if the O/S works for you and Windows/Linux netbook does not – get it and don't look back.
A $150 price cut isn't significant. $850 will buy a better-performing, better-featured laptop PC. If Apple cut $450, they can compete feature-for-feature (and that includes any "cool-factor" premium).
After paying small amounts for PCs for years and years, and getting a degree focused around PCs, I finally bought a MacBook Pro. I paid a lot. I will never go back to a PC. The price is completely indicative of the quality.
Wow – that price makes Macs affordable even for IT purchasing. Still Mac's are undoubtadley a fashion statement for free thinking corporate types
http://iloveclosing.com/2009/05/03/fashion-disasters-in-corporate-america/
Cheers
The Closer
We've been Mac owners for 10 years nowing running a MBPro and 20"iMac both C2D. I also have the Lenovo S10 with 9 cell battery plus some PC desktops. While my major, sensitive work is done on the MBPro, that machine heats up to 70 degrees C and even 80 degrees sometimes. Apple says to use the MBPro on a cool surface. Thanks, Apple for telling me I can't tote around a $2k+ without worrying about overheating. So I went looking for another full size notebook alternative. Dell sold me an Inspiron 15 C2D with 4Gb ram, 250Gb hard drive, bluetooth, & 9 cell battery delivered with CA tax for just under $700. Hard to believe I can get just as much power, more ram, and a battery that gives me 5hrs+ running wireless on very bright screen for a third of what I paid for the MBPro. Of course there's the usual need to take preventative measures when using MS but I've been doing that for 20 years and have never had a virus. So as others have said, why be impressed with an $850 Macbook?
$999 or $849, it's still overpriced, unwarranted Apple snobbery. Sorry guys, but I'm not sure what the appeal is with Macs unless you often find yourself feeling insecure in rooms full of hipsters and emo kids!
It's really sad to see how many attacks there are against both these systems. My parents have always run with Mac while I have always had PC. At the end of the day, it's all about what you intend to use it for.
Mac's are great for novice computer users (more idiot proof OS) and excel in photo/movie editing if that's your thing. Also tend to be more secure from virus and spaware attacks.
PC's are far superior for gaming and versitility of use. They also tend to be cheaper (even with anti-virus software included) and more widely used with more available software.
Both systems will do the basic email, document editing, web surfing, etc.. decent enough for the average user. In the end, it all comes down to what you want to use the system for.
Concerning the article – it is really apple to oranges, as the netbooks are NOT the same as laptops (they don't even have CD/DVD drives). Netbooks are just for the basics – email, document editing, web surfing. A great price if that's all you intend to use it for.
Having used computers extensively – as an end user, from DOS based forward, I can honestly say my little G4 Macbook is the best equipment I have ever used, easiest, most trouble free, elegant and a joy to work on.
Once you go Mac you'll never go back. A bargain at any price.
Once all the taxes where all said and done my baseline macook came to 1400. I'd pay it again. Nothing beats a mac
Its not about the price at this junction. We have been paying premium for Macs for so many years, what's $100. I will be excited if Apple does roll out a 7" or 8" Macbook, with all the works and preferably touch-screen, and priced it between $500 – 600. This is also a good size in terms of portability. That said, I look forward to a MacNet !
I use whatever platform is handy- my personal computer is a MacBook 13", 2.2 GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD. My wife's PC is a netbook with 1.5 GB RAM, 40GB HDD, and XP. My desktop is an Atom 330 dual core, 2GB RAM, 250 GB HDD running Linux. I am comfortable on each machine, plus I have to run XP at work, so that's what's on my work lappy…
For my personal netbook, I have a Lenovo S10 that can run XP, Win7, Linux, and Mac. Each has pros and cons, and is used according to what I need to do. For running around to remote locations, it's easy to put the S10 in my coat poket, or in a knapsack, and just go. I have a 9-cell battery that lets me compute all day long.
Each does certain things better than others, the only one I have problems with is the XP netbook- and that's just because of the myriad virii that target Windows.
um yup sure would cause windows does not work hence windows 7 os x wins hands down no matter what you get even if its a hackintosh you still are a apple fan netbooks are for kids more like a toy and my macbook is still worth more than a netbook with a cracked screen or water damage maybe even both.The w in windows stands for waiting
I'm a big Apple fan – been using them for a long time.
That said, sorry, $100 isn't compelling on a $1000 purchase, or, more specifically, a 10% off sale won't convince people who don't need a new Mac to get one.
I have an Acer Aspire One we bought to bring on vacation and use as a storage device for our pictures. (The fact that some manufacturers still get $$$ on storage-and-screen-only devices astounds me.) It has WiFi. It is tiny. It's great. It was $329 at Wal-Mart.
Apple may have a distinct quality advantage, but I believe a large segment of their buyers is previous owners of Apple products, and a little discount won't convince long-time users to buy rather than wait and pay a little more for the next-gen system, or, inevitably, their first tablet.
yup i would the w in windows stands for waiting netbook does not compare to a macbook or any other apple pc an apple is a pc no matter how you look at it and netbook do not have disk drives so there goes importing your movies or music from your disks i paid 1299 for my new aluminum macbook and it was worth every penny and runs fast oh ya and even if i spill coffee on it its still worth more than a netbook wooosh
I have an aging Mac Powerbook. It's great. Does what I want it to do.
But I also have a kickin' Asus Eee PC 1000 (running Linux — Ubuntu Jaunty at this point) I got for just under $400. I find myself using that WAY more often than my powerbook. Not that my powerbook isn't good, but the portability factor of the netbook is fantastic. I bring it on every flight I take — it's no bigger than a thin hardcover book. And it works.
I still use my Powerbook for audio production and other related workhorse things, but for simple web browsing, email, listening to music, or just screwin' around, this netbook is probably my favorite and most-used tech gadget I've paid money for in years (even my blackberry, which I use a lot, too).
So, $850 is totally worth the price of a macbook, but that's only for when my powerbook takes a nosedive… if it ever does. As of right now, I don't see that happening for a while.
Heck, there is an article that came out last year in MacWorld that explicitly stated that the current Mac OS X isn't actually much more secure then the current VISTA. What people fail to see is that MS is actually improving it OS, and this article admitted that in a 'lot of ways' Vista is just as secure as their OS X.
Can you also customize your mac? Can i take off the back of the macbook and upgrade my ram, change out my hard drive, etc? I can build a system that is more powerful with a great data bus, and awesome screen resolution. One that literally would destroy your cute little mac's. I think that this is more of a fad thing. I enjoy Windows because it has more compatible gaming, is customizable, i can easily upgrade the video card, and Win 7 is moving towards a touch screen interface anyway!
I have messed with my parents nice huge Mac, it didn't impress me. It seems to me its more of a fancy nice looking toy, and it wasn't easy to get around in the OS. The speed wasn't impressive either. I can't believe those in silicon valley like these pieces of junk so much, esp. when they could build something that kicks more butt! Whatever happened to Linux fans btw?
Revisited this blog again..wow ! So many people got hypnotized by Mac Apple. I used hackintosh too (hacked version of Mac OS X that can run on any PC) and you have to know that Mac now use intel chip that build for Windows !
After all, in this bad economy, find the cheapest to get things done ! Apple/Mac is not a good way to spend your money. For people saying ROI by buying Mac product, I think your ROI is going south now… like most of my friends here, the look is more important than the contents. Btw, that's American's way ! Shock and awe..and fail :]) Always look carefully what the fundamentals in buying computer (or everything)!
…in other word.. why Bush won for 2nd time ? because 80% of people are morons! and 80% people got trouble when use Windows ! and part of this 80% pick Mac! Only 20%, like me who can find the best mix on cheap hardware, Linux+Windows side by side.
My iBook has never given me any trouble, it has crashed once during a OS installation, and had the dc-in board replaced, and that's it. The thing is almost 5 years old. I upgraded the RAM, and it runs my music sofware like a champion. When my iBook dies, a $850 Mac would be able to take it's place, some $350 Acer would not run Reason 4 and ProTools very well, if at all. My friend has a $500 Acer and it has problems running simple programs, it is agonizingly slow when compared to my old Mac. His mouse pad is erratic, sometimes stops working, and needs to be replaced. I think I'd rather use an iPhone to surf the web, based on watching people surf with both devices.
It's not a bad price if you're going to use it constantly.
I tend to get them through freebies though. Easy and works out well if ya have a good following
I would definitely buy a new Mac book for that price. Is there a catch? http://tinyurl.com/dyflwl
My Novell Netware Server has two+ years uptime on it, and no anti-virus required.
Oh, the article was talking about end-user devices. Sorry! I mistook the responses to mean there was better uptime with a MAC OS X box vs. a Microsoft OS box.
On THAT subject: My daughters' school is using PCs based on their contract, so I purchased a new Windows laptop for them. I use Windows based apps, with a few Linux/Solaris capable versions, but since my work only supports Windows, that's what I use. I do have a Linux box and a Solaris x86 box at home though.
I avoid using Laptops unless it is a work laptop as I don't get the same performance for my Video Editing software at home – which is about the only PC specific application I have left.
Dave
Here, here Jack of NJ.
I couldn't have said it better myself…well, I did say it myself about 30 comments ago, but kudos nonetheless.
I haven't read the other comments yet, so I don't know if someone mentioned this yet..
I work at a electronics retailer in Canada (Future Shop). Truth be told, we do sell a lot of netbooks. However, what this article doesn't mention is the fact that there is a return rate of at least 50%. So Steve Jobs is correct in stating they are garbage.
It would take a lot more than just lowering the price on one product. I would have to see a history of affordable products. Unfortunately, Apple has a reputation of high prices and there going to need to change that…
yeah. i might take a second look if i was an idiot. Cutting the prices only by a 100-200 on entry level model is not sufficent enough. for that price you can get a pc with triple the memory and hard drive space and so in all reality it's not that good of a deal.
Macs always had a premium price point because of it's image. Which my fellow youth blindly shell out cash for. People that use them for design/work is another thing. But most buy it because "it looks cool" and are paying hundreds more.
This article is STUPID trying to compare apple to orange. Netbook is not a laptop! Netbook, as the word implies, is a device for surfing the web. Sure, it can do some other stuff, but would you if you have a laptop or desktop available to you?
Netbook is cheaper because it uses a slower but more energy efficient prcessor (e.g., Atom). It typically has a smaller hard drive, less memory, no disk drive, smaller screen, cheaper graphic card…etc. It's almost disposable like a cell phone. In fact, I treat my Acer network like a cell phone because I know the thing is so damn cheap.
Don't get me started on the PC vs Mac discussion. It's also stupid. I have both PCs and Macs for home and for work. In the end of the day, it's all the same @#$% as long as you get the job done. It all depends on what you use the computers for.
Yes I would. I'm not a computer wiz, I just want a machine that will do what is advertised, reliably. My real issue is with the operating system. If you want a disposable machine, the PC is definitely the way to go. When the operating system implodes on itself, well just apathetically buy a new one. You get what you pay for. I have had too many PC's self destruct, it's really not cheaper.
To those of you criticizing owners that had negative experiences are rather petty and sad don't you think? Blaming it on user error while others say its impossible to have user error w/a Mac? Computers are inherently complex devices and Apple uses the same suppliers as any PC manufacturer at this point. The components themselves are commodities and while you may think Apple may have more control over suppliers…Dell, HP, et al all sell more boxes and could likely exert far more influence on the quality of the product.
My new out of box mini has been trying to install software updates all evening and can't get through w/o hanging. The slick aluminum case, ultra white LED, and mirror finished plastic top have nothing to do w/ whether or not the damned thing hangs all the time. I'm a software engineer and I needed the Mac for a specific project but it's not meeting my minimal requirements at this point. I've killed my fair share of Dell notebooks…mostly through constant use (40 min compilation processes tend to cause overheating) but I don't look at it as oh Dell sucks b/c I pegged the processors. In 10+ yrs of buying various Dell's every sing desktop is still running down to my PIII 450Mhz. I should be somewhat concerned that a new $600 Mac w/o any accessories can't even update itself right when I've reinstalled original XP on 7yr old machines that update themselves just fine. In fact my MSI Wind Hackintosh was working better than this.
Hilarious. It is so funny how Mac users have become like a cult. Anything that has total blind conviction is not good. Its like people that vote for someone because of their political affiliation. Why not pick the right person for the job? I am not saying Macs aren’t good, but why do Mac users have to be so “Macs are the only thing on this planet!” PCs have their place too. I have used both. Macs are nice, but to hard to find software for, or to configure to make run what I need on them. I have a friend who is an avid Mac cultist and the amount of work he has to go through just to get it to do normal things is awful. No normal, non techy, person can run it. It’s like having to have 10 remotes to just watch TV.
Has anyone else figured out that part of Microsoft's new ad campaign is an army of minions that have been hitting the comments section of every article related to MS vs Apple?
It's become a war of the "fanboys"… Personally, I'm really getting tired of the BS these idiots continuously spout ad nauseum…
At the same time, it would appear that MS is getting desperate.
The answer is not a simple one of price. It is about purpose, value, and utility.
I don't need a MacBook of any sort. I need a MacBook PRO. My training job requires me to use high-end audio and video editing tools in the field, along with Windows apps. So the perfect tool for me is the 15-inch MacBook Pro, equipped with a large, fast hard drive, a 26-inch NEC monitor, maxed out with RAM, and loaded with Parallels Desktop 4 so I can run Windows XP Pro apps while running those high-end Mac apps. This allows me to capture PC screen shots and video grabs of software I'm documenting, then drop them into Final Cut or Photoshop or Word or whatever…
However, my daughter, a freshman college student, would love a less expensive MacBook. She can't stand PCs, having grown up around Macs all her life… She's always bringing home horror stories about her friends' PCs that have just imploded due to some virus or software conflict or whatever… Meanwhile, her ten-year-old PowerMac G4 just keeps on surfin' the web, helping her do her homework. It stays up for weeks at a time, and only gets rebooted for software updates.
PC's still offer laptops with high-end hardware at sub-$1k prices – Apple still doesn't. They're getting beat to heck in the 15.4" and 17" – bumping the price on their 13" changes nothing.
It's still expensive. If the metal ones were $849 that would be excellent value but the polycarbonate ones are just a bit too last generation now.
For all the people who are saying that you only buy a mac for fashion purposes, well you are wrong. You buy a Mac for the OS. It is superior. Windows may be about to release 7 but Apple is about to release Snow Leopard so even on the off chance that Windows 7 does beat Leopard (very unlikely) Apple will once again lead with Snow Leopard.
I owned a Vista machine and it was terrible. XP wasn't anything to shout about either. Ever since I have used OS X and I love it. It's seamless. Why would you want anything else? Well, if you're poor, but otherwise.
Jason S., you are exactly right. Oranges (Netbooks) aren't trying to compete with Apples because they are in a different Universe. The MacBook won't fit into a purse or backpack easily, and it cost 3 X as much. A MacBook doesn't have 9.5 hours battery life like the Asus EEE 1000 HE. Net people like that. The latter comes already partitioned to make it easy to add Ubuntu 9.04 side by side with XP. It has wireless-N and Bluetooth. If people want a real ultra-portable, then go Netbook; if they want a top of the line laptop, then go Mac.
Apple needs to pull the industry's underwear over its head (once more). I don't think they can compete with this type of product as its not the same class of device. But the common man (or Woman) is easily fooled and to many Netbook = Laptop.
So Apple (as per rumors) needs to get a device out for about 350$ and make it a wireless touchpad built on the iPhoneOS. With that, the game is changed (again).
I use both Macs and PC. The Mac is definately a better build quality. It is lighter and thinner than a comparable PC laptop. The Mac also gives you a greater range of software. Why? Because my Mac will run Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, and Unix. In other words it will run any operating system that a Windows PC will run plus Mac OS X. The Mac is better built with the one piece aluminum body. It has a larger trackpad, and it is multitouch. 2 finger scrolling is great. The Mac has a high screen resolution, better viewing angle, better brightness, and higher contrast. It has a faster bus speed and uses the fastest memory DD3. It has the wireless N and Gigabit ethernet. Also no problems with viruses. It includes the iLife suite which is widely reviewed as the bets photo and movie management software on any platform. I recently sold a 3 year old MacBook Pro for over $1000 so I actually eneded up paying lless for all of these features. Macs hold value way better than PCs. Finally there is substitute for what I consider to be a much nicer user experience. I drive a Mercedes. I could buy a hyundai for less but it would not give me the same user experience or reliability. If you are a hyundai person and discount the advantages of BMW or Mercedes than a PC is probably for you. Just be aware that you will also need to purchase antui-virus software, do more maintenance, it will depreciate faster and will not give the same user experience.
This issue is apples and oranges. The netbooks are completely different devises than the laptops; they have different positions in the market.
You would never choose between one or another based on cost effectiveness. It would be analogous to choosing between buying a minivan or a convertible.—you wouldn’t, you would consider one OR the other—or possibly buy both.
Apple is just hoping to break into some of the netbook market share (the 13” Macbook is about the same size as many of those netbooks. Yes, it has a larger screen, but is thinner than most and weighs about the same)
The same can be said for the droves of idiots reporting the benefits of PC or Apple products. Nobody posed a question regarding which OS is better or what hardware is better. This is not the forum for you to complain about “Mac People”
Answer me this smart guy. Which is better: a Bentley or a Ferrari?
You see, they serve a different purpose. Both have pros/cons that can only be sorted out SUBJECTIVELY! For all you numbers people, this means there is NO correct answer. It is an opinion not a fact.
All of you that think you are being so smart by spitting out spec after spec need to understand that this issue of Mac or PC is not an objective matter, it is a subjective one.
You just sound like angry school children screaming on the playground—grow up.
I might pay that much for a MacBook, but I'd have to have Windows on it to run the programs I use to make my music because they only run on Windows. I use these same programs because I have been using them for over ten years and I know them better than anything else.
I don't have to worry about spyware or viruses on my computer, because I never download or install any software unless I know it comes from a trusted source. You don't have this problem on Macs only because you don't have the wide variety of software that Windows offers.
My system runs smoothly all the time. The only maintenance I have to do is to run a registry cleaner every week or two. It's a process that takes me about ten minutes to complete.
I am running Vista. I have been for two years.
@Mark from KY: If your mac is crashing often that's not normal and you probably have bad RAM or are running lousy apps. My Macs' uptimes number in the weeks and months — the only restarts I do are for upgrades. My current uptime is over 10 days as I write this. My other MacBook has an uptime of 13 days. I use both machines quite often.
As far as your iPods go that's also atypical behavior. Have you considered that maybe you got lemons? No manufacturer is immune from producing lemons.
@kamanashi: Just because something is a bit faster doesn't mean it has a better build quality. PC users are quick to forget the the Average Mac is built of higher quality components and has more features than their conterparts. Everything from the screens which have better resolutions as well as brightness and viewing angles to the batteries which tend to last much longer. Whenever you compare a comparable PC to a Mac, you tend to only be off about $100-$200 which is easily made up for in the fact that it includes the full featured OS, and iLife, AND you don't have to spring for antivirus.
So, really this idea that macs are under powered and overpriced is erroneous at best. I should know I spec machines for purchase.
"Netbook PCs today and I stress “today” do[es] NOT have the processing power to view some websites. 1.6GHZ is not enough these days."
Uh, no. Stress all you like, but an Atom 270 processor runs at about the same speed as a Pentium 4 at 2.8ghz. The Atom also has hyperthreading, processing as a virtual dual processor, and has other architecture that renders video and audio without stutter while other applications are open. It's not as fast as a Core Duo, but it also eats less power and produces less heat. The only thing these netbooks can't run well are high-end games and high-resolution video — things that the $999 Mac also has trouble with. These Atoms run so well they have Intel worried — enough to cause Intel to force computer makers to agree not to use them in systems that would otherwise force out the use of more expensive processors.
So your argument that netbooks "can't" run "some" websites is total baloney. You obviously don't use one, because if you did, you would realize how fast these babies are in shredding webpages, especially if your netbook also has an SSD. And when the real dual-core Atoms start showing up in netbook form, Mac may be a thing of the past.
As for battery life, the netbook I am typing this on will last 3+ hours on a 3 cell battery. If I need more, I pop in a second 3 cell — less than the size of a CD case and about as heavy — extending the battery life to six hours. The netbook and an extra battery combined would still be 2 lbs lighter than the old-tech Macbook.
The answer to the question is no, it will not work. But I don’t believe that is the objective. The only advantage to lowering the price would be to make it a little easier in this economy for someone who wanted to buy a Mac anyway to pull the trigger on a purchase they've been delaying – and Apple truly believes this is the cause of the Mac’s sales slip. But the customer for a $300 netbook is not all of a sudden going to fork over an additional $500 – $600 for a Mac because 1) perhaps they cannot afford it, and 2) they don't see the value in it, and never have. And I think as far as Apple is concerned, that's OK. If Jobs and Cook are to be believed, it's a market in which they've chosen not to compete.
But for those Windows users who can afford it, the whole point of Apple's "Get A Mac" campaign is to foster Mac brand recognition and to let those users know that there is an alternative computing experience to the one they've become used to. Price is not the focus nor is it an issue.
That's why Microsoft's new ad campaign will not accomplish much in the end – it's preaching to the choir: those for whom price is the primary differentiator would never have purchased a Mac anyway. But then again, I cannot really blame Microsoft – it's the only market segment they can target in which they can claim a competitive advantage.
I’ve stated on many threads that whatever new product Apple enters into this fray would be something running the iPhone OS, positioned between the original iPhone price and the current MacBook price. With all the information now circulating, it appears that this will be the case. This would still give it a price well beyond that of the average netbook, and, knowing Apple, it will be a product which seeks to justify the cost (and margins) by re-defining what a netbook is. So if you were expecting Apple to begin marketing its products based on price any time soon, don’t hold your breath.
I read every post dated before May 4, as I considering buying a new computer soon.
The post seem to divide into two groups: (1) those reflecting a delight in complexity and tinkering–PC gearheads; and
(2) those focusing on end user experience–gee-whiz Apple gadgeteers.
Since I only need a computer to update my iPhone, I favor the latter group, but must answer your question, "No," as I probably will wait to see whether there is any truth to the rumor that Apple has a cool new tablet computer up its sleeve.
PCs are just OK, but the Macs are excellent. The trouble of not having to deal with stupid Windows is worth it. A mac is a basically a UNIX machine and it runs great.
A mac is a cross between a tank and a porsche.
BTW, I am a professional programmer and in Silicon Valley. Everyone here uses Macs even if they don't work at Apple.
To all the mac users: noone is bothering to write viruses for a OS that has such a low market share. BTw I have not had any virus for an eternity as I have a "virus scanner" installed on my pc….
People get viruses cos they dont install essential pieces of software…
And btw I have been on computers stating with a CPC…
Pee Cee'ers,
How's that VIsta coming along? Oh, better not focus on that and its comparison to Win ME. Better concentrate on Windows 7. That will be a lot better. Ha ha!
It may be that Macs cost enough to price a lot of folks out of the market. To which I say, "So what?" Clearly, there are enough Mac users out there right now to support every kind of software you could possibly want. In addition, with Macs, you truly get what you pay for: elegant hardware and software that's a joy to use, and an operating system that doesn't get in the way. What separates the Mac OS from every version of Windows to date is that it more elegant in form, fit, and function, and those of us who believe that an elegant machine is a superior one will always buy Macs. Let Microsoft and it's hardware partners cater to those who can't afford Macs, and to those who can't comprehend why Macs are so much better. Leave the Macs to us.
I wouldn't buy an Apple notebook regardless of the installed operating system, or what operating systems you can install later. Pretty isn't sufficient cause for me to own Apple hardware. Lastly I won't encourage or endorse their monopolist behavior (their OS only works on their hardware and you can only buy their upgrades for your current hardware) with regard to their computers and devices (iPod, iPhone, etc.)
If someone were to give me a brand new Apple Macbook I'd sell it for the cash and buy a notebook that's configured how I want it and put my OS of choice on it.
Apple? Thanks, but no thanks.
From all the comments that have been made, I think there are 2 sides to this.
On one side, there are the people who do not feel so strongly as to how the laptop and operating system look and feel, and so they go with the cheaper, more "logical" (I say logical lightly; by logical, I mean more bang for your buck) buy.
On the other side, there are those people who feel strongly that in order for a laptop to be worth it, it must look and feel good, and buy the laptop that does not have alot of bang for your buck, but has a lot of "eyecandy."
So if you the guy (or girl) who is all about getting your worth from a laptop, then getting a cheaper netbook is probably the right solution for you. But if you the guy (or girl) who is all about the looks of a laptop, then spending a little extra on an MacBook or or iMac is probably most attractive to you
@Brian: A 9400GT isn't that great. So, the MacBooks are still underpowered and over priced compared to most Window's PC of the same price. It's people like you who make me hate macs more and more each day. Just because you like them doesn't mean they are more powerful. Read up on computer hardware and you will learn that typically Windows PCs and Linux PCs have better speeds and hardware.
Within the past 18 months I have purchased a touch, iphone 3G, and a Macbook. The touch and iphone failed within 3 months and had to be replaced. The Macbook failed within 14 months and cannot be repaired and has to be replaced ($280 plus tax). The service has been excellent, but I doubt that I will buy another Apple product at any price.
The question isn't which computer is better, the question is whether Apple is pricing itself out of a large market segment by having only higher priced computers.
A enormous segment of the population doesn't want to spend more than a thousand dollars on a computer. And as the Q1 notebook sales numbers indicate, that segment of the marketplace is growing while the group that is willing to fork out the dough is shrinking.
Someone mentioned that you can't buy Aston Martins for GM prices, well you have to remember that Aston Martin has been unprofitable for a large part of it's history.
Form follows function. If you are doing autocad or graphic artist work, then a netbook will not do. But in a school environment where web based applications and research, maybe word processing is needed, netbook price points are hard to beat. Through on a Faronics deep freeze like product and force authenticate the web browser against your web filter and you will have a product that will reduce total cost of ownership, and maintain the majority of functionality needed in education.
When you consider that probably 90% of people use computers just for the Internet and checking their email from it, it boggles the mind why a $$$$ pricey Mac would be needed anyway.
Apple just had a phenomenal quarter. There is no reason that prices should be slashed.
Other companies are barely surviving because of netbooks but the margins are almost zero. The best bet for the company is to keep the price points and remain highly profitable. The targeted audience (which is not everyone) will pay an extra $100 to $150 to get a quality OS.
Don't you just love it when Mac fans make ridiculous claims about how Macs are cheaper to own in the long run because the supposedly run more reliably. That's just total hogwash. I've owned both PCs and Macs and Macs do indeed crash as often as PCs and I spend no more time maintaining my PCs than I do my Macs. Of course, I'm not a computer illiterate so maybe that makes the difference. Some people are just too dumb or too lazy to find out how to properly configure a computer.
It's simply amazing how many people just can't admit that they've been suckered in by Apple and the media's hype. More secure? Not really. Apple's form of virus protection is their anemic market share. It's been shown many times by experience hackers that Macs are really less secure than PCs. More reliable? Not hardly. I've had constant and serious problems with Apple hardware. The few problems I've had with PCs through the years have always been simple and inexpensive fixes.
Take the iPod for example. I was dumb enough to buy a 1st generation iPod. Lasted about 18 months. It was never dropped once. It just died. I refused to buy another for a couple of years. I finally broke down and bought another one for myself and one for my daughter. Hers is a generation newer than mine, but nearly identical. They both still work. When they feel like it. Both are extremely sensitive to temperature. In low temperatures (not even below freezing), both will lock up constantly, but will work again after a reset. There's been days when I've had to reset my iPod like 5 or 6 times. At that point, I'm about ready to throw it against a brick wall. In high temperatures, I'd say above 85 degrees, forget it. They'll stop working and you can reset them till the cows come home and they won't work until they cool off. That just goes to show you the real quality of Apple's superior hardware components. Just think of the temperatures that your car's electronic components work in. My car still starts in sub-zero weather and my radio/cd player works just fine too. Same with extremely hot temperatures. Above 100 degrees outside. So you can only imagine how hot the electronics probably gets sitting in the sun all day long. Apple products look great, but in reality they're very shoddily made.
But to answer the question, would I buy a cheaper Mac book. NO!!! The only way I'll ever obtain another Apple product is if Steve Jobs starts handing them out on a street corner for free. Even then, I might just chuckle a little and keep right one walking by. No, I'd probably take it and sell it on eBay to some Apple sucker.
Apple surely has to do something about the state of Mac sales. Here's some very insightful analysis that shows that the recently Q2 Mac numbers were actually quite horrible. I had no clue that notebook shipments absolutely tanked.
I'm surprised that the mainstream outlets haven't reported this.
A highly recommended read:
Mac shipments lowest in 1.5 years – first year-over-year drop in 5.5 years
YES. With regard to the cost effectiveness of the hardware, consider that the Macbooks often have higher front side bus speed, RAM architectures with higher throughput, and better graphics cards than "faster" Windows machines with which they are compared. In other words, Apple appears to invest in real performance and solid foundations as oppose to large numbers for CPU speed, RAM size, and hard drive size to look pretty on the box. I personally run Ubuntu on an older machine, but suggested the aluminum Macbook to my sister (an engineering student) and she is very pleased with both hardware and OS. My next computer will likely be a Mac.
wow it's amazing that everyone who knocks macs clearly doesn't actually even realize why they are better. coming from being a windows guru for years, and even writing the very first 24 bit display driver for windows 3.1, on my 3rd MacBook Pro now and there has never, ever, been a better notebook made by anyone. would you buy cheaper shoes if they were uncomfortable? macs go to sleep reliably; the LED backlit screens are 2nd to none… EVERYTHING takes less clicks to get to than windows.. and 2 finger trackpad scrolling and backlit keyboards… these are the things that improve quality of worklife. stop comparing specs and look at real-world use. buy one used to save $ but save your comments until you've lived with both.
I have been using a series of PC's for work as a designer during the last 10 years, they work well, if they are top end. I got so fed up with slow downs, defragging, disk errors, crashes, viruses, etc. they I just gave up and bought a Mac. Took me about 2 weeks to get up to speed and have never looked back. Cost of Ownership is high to begin, but the ROI is well worth it. Now 3 other designers have given up the PC and are 100% Mac, speed of production is up, so profits are up.
@a11n00bz@jobz@usa@3rdwelrduzers
im nu 2 forumz hear bu7 if u want g00d performance @gamez n@skool u must get @mac cuz g00d peepol use @mac @a11timez inna@ghetto like @xconcertz
All I can say is, I owned Windows PCs for 15 years and hated every minute of it. I got an aluminum Macbook and fell in love, and couldn't move all my stuff over fast enough. For me, the question isn't, would I pay the price for another Macbook. It's "how much money would they have to pay you to switch back to a PC?"
This is a very poor question. Truth is, If i were in the market for a labtop, definately the ibook would be an excellent choice.
Here is the problem, you're basically asking netbook buyers if it's worth upgrading to a notebook… regardless of who is the maker, a netbook buyer has already made tat decition.
It would be similar to ask if i should pay 100.00 for a 19" CRT TV or 350.00 for a 26" LCD TV.
No, I will pay the price for my Mac Book Pro and Quad G5 desktop. Best computers I've ever owned and by the way if the one person will read the articles on Office for Mac they will find out that the Mac version is better than the PC version. Get your facts before you cut something down.
No I would not buy one for that cost. If you think Macs dont get virus' or other spyware you are crazy. It is just not as often due to the low market share. Netbooks are not weak machines, look at the original Mac Air, hmmm same specks as most Netbooks. I even heard a rumor that a Gremlin installed OS X on a MSI Wind Netbook. And I bet it runs great. Also Mac does not have the latest hardware available. My personal gaming computer cost me $800 to build and Mac cant touch the same specs for $2500.
Apple fans pay for pretty and software. Also yes I do own some mac products
Many people look at cost side and time to administer / use each laptop. Truth be told, the pc and mac will do about the same ting. The pc costs about half for more power and applications. Apple is doomed
"Apple targets the rich upper class with its lines of products. It is a luxury to have these computers at home."
So you do admit that I'm rich upper class? Finally. I'll let you go back to eating cake.
@ Craig
It is what I am using now. I have a PC running Ubuntu 9.04. In case I need to run some Windows specific application I use a virtual machine for Windows XP.
I agree with Craig. You can have everything for far less – dual boot Windows and free Ubuntu. Mac is only for those morons who don't want to slightly apply themselves to tweaking Ubuntu. You also can't escape Windows for some things either.
Mac is an overpriced laptop and for people who put fancy as his priority, and Windows is a very bad operating system with a lot of security holes. My decision is Linux with Windows inside it on 600 dollar machine with free virtualization software. A mix of powerful and efficiency for working and internet. Guys, you have to learn how to use computer !
"The real questions is, will it work? Will consumers who are buying $349 Acers — or like Microsoft’s (MSFT) Lauren, $699 HP (HPQ) Pavilions — give the MacBook a second look if it’s priced at $849?
Would you?"
Nope, Macs are ridiculously overpriced pieces of hardware, all made in Taiwan like any other PC running Windows or Linux. Apple targets the rich upper class with its lines of products. It is a luxury to have these computers at home. No matter how you look at it and how they put it, the great majority of the consumers are not going to buy them.
It's all about fashion with Mac, even for those staid folks in the world of business:
http://iloveclosing.com/2009/05/03/fashion-disasters-in-corporate-america/
Cheers
The Closer
It's called TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and MacBooks by far offer a lower TCO than Windows PCs with similar configurations. The ONLY compelling reason to buy a PC is Microsoft Office which, I'm sorry to say, totally sucks for Mac.
MN Says: 1.6Ghz not fast enough to view web sites? What a load of fanboy crap. I have a 3 year old Pentium Mobile 1.6Ghz laptop from Toshiba that I run EVERYTHING on, including, multiple sessions of virtual machines, Office 2007, Windows Vista, all on 2GB of RAM and a 120 GB hard disk. Now, back to the story: no I wouldn't pay that much for a Macbook; drop it to 649, or something similar, and I'd be inclined to buy one. But for 900 bucks I can get a must faster, much more capable, and more expandable(regardless of what the fanboys say) Windows mobile laptop that will permit me to use all of my existing software investment.
You don't get an aston martin for GM prices, sorry
People who save $300 by buying a PC, spend an average of 3 hours/month rebooting, scrubbing the hard drive of viruses and dealing with all ilk of inconvenience over the 3 year lifespan of their PC, when Macs last 4 years. My time is worth more than $3-$4/hour
No I wouldn't. I'd still buy the Mac in whatever class with the most RAM and Disk that fit in my price range. I've been buying Macs in the price range of $2.5-3.0K since I bought my first Mac: a Fat Mac (512K RAM) with a printer and external drive for $2500 on an educational discount. I have never been disappointed.
Mac is a photo storing file gathering grab drag drop copy paste poof I'm done now be back later lights all ways on what can I launch for ya now droid. What was the other thing we were talking about?
I'm a mac person and bought an Acer Aspire One. Its exactly what I have been waiting for. Super small, light, extremely long battery life, capable of tons of mods, etc. After my mods, I use it to surf the net, download RAW image files during long photo shoots, run all my Adobe software for basic work, and use it to teach classes. Basically, you can't compare a MacBook to a netbook.
If Apple came out with a netbook, I would have preferred that machine any day. Anyone that owns a netbook can tell you its an accessory to your main machine, whether its a MacBook or a desktop. My main machine is a MacBook Pro, so no I would not buy a MacBook just because they drop the price a couple hundred dollars.
Now for a student, who uses it to type papers, surf, IM, video conference, etc. I could see them benefiting from a price drop, but a netbook will be plenty for a majority of them. Then you have to convince the parents to shell out the extra $500 or so for the upgrade to a MacBook.
Nope. Would not even buy it for less.
Why? First there is the the Apple tax (the extra price you pay for the same hardware or software just to buy Apple). Funny, they say Microsoft has a monopoly – they ain't got nothin on Apple who controls everything with such a tight fist.
Then there is the question of options. With Windows or Linux I've got lots of options – including lots of low cost and free ones. With Apple way fewer (and they cost more). Then ther is the puzzling user interface. I'm pretty good with computers – most of my friends call me to help them out of a bind and I rarely, if ever, let them down. I sat down in front of a Mac and could not figure out how to do stuff. And they say it is user-friendly? Maybe for some, but certainly not for all. And finally, I suppose this is a bit of a repeat, but I like freedom – not the opressive control of Apple.
$850? Only if it came in a tablet format with a pressure sensitive screen. A Mac is fine for surfing and drawing, I use it as such, but for business I can't afford to be marginalized. Sure you can use a right hand drive car on US roads and look cool but you don't buy one for everyday commuting or if driving was your business.
I'm tired of MacBooks being compared to netbooks. If you only need to surf the web and send email, by all means, get a netbook. That's all you need. I'd like to see you buy that and then try to do work or anything substantial on it then. A MacBook is not an overpriced netbook, it's a full-fledged computer with power to do a lot more than look at a few websites. The comparisons in this article are worthless to anyone actually looking to make their next computer purchase.
When you buy an inexpensive PC you not only end up with junky hardware but Windows OS. I do not think too many people who've used a Mac after using a PC would race back into a WIndows environment.
It's about the software, stupid. Once you see what macs offer automatically for free – mac mail, ical, iphoto, ichat, photobooth, garage band, backup, virus free, stable, fast, self maintaining and more, all free with the computer – well any windows pc – from netbooks on up, is just a piece of hardware. It doesn't do anything.
This summer I'll buy a new lower cost imac for myself to replace my windtunnel xp machine, a new macbook for my college bound son, upgrade my iphone to the newest hardware and software.
I"m looking forward to it!
D
I would buy the MacBook.
Also, Windows 7 isn't cheap or free. Users have wasted countless hours configuring, maintaining, and living with Vista for months… there is a cost associated.
While the Apple blogs have been aflutter with how 'lame' and 'bad' Microsoft's new ad campaign has been, arguing how much better Apple products are, I think as much as this move can be seen as Apple responding to the Netbook Challenge, this could also be seen as vindication for Microsoft.
It's ads, in conjunction with Netbooks are taking a bite out of Apple. I think this is valid reasoning because Netbooks are also taking marketshare from larger more powerful PC machines. The heart of Microsoft's campaign is not just that PC is cheaper, but that with PC you can buy the machine you want. Many purchasers are deciding that the Netbook is what they want and need, and is even cheaper than "Lauren's" $699 HP machine. This reality simply reinforces Microsoft's ads that Apple is non-responsive and too much for what they do provide.
2 apple computers on my desk (iMac and MacBook Air). Use them for work and private stuff. Oh, and 2 desktop pc's (Acer and Compaq). I run win 98, XP, Vista, Ubuntu, and of course, Mac OS X.
Guess what I would buy?
When I bought a new car, I bought an Audi. And the 2 before it. The quality, design, and performance are amazing. I could have easily gotten a cheaper Ford.
That is also why I use Macs. Apple controls every piece of hardware and tirelessly re-writes code as opposed to putting out bloated updates. The best, most elegant OS on the planet in my humble opinion, seamless integration at every turn.
I've used them for 25 years to build a very successful business…
Would never trust my business to Microsoft, a truly failed American company despite their $$$. Where's the innovation? Buggy, clumsy, and downright ugly.
PCs by nature are decent computers, but the OS is a Ford Focus compared to my S4, IMHO. Worth every penny.
Buy an overpriced weak-ass (but pretty) Mac when I can have a decently priced laptop (but only ok-looking) with Linux on it? Never …
No, I wouldn’t. Macs are overpriced piece of machines still. I’d rather buy Windows 7 which, if early indications ae ture is going to be a superb piece of software for much lower price.
Good news DK, Windows 7 (a gussied up version of Vista, but dont take my word for it, google 7 reviews) is going to be free, so they can get you away from Vista and XP.
And just to be clear, Macs can run any version of Windows, be it XP, Vista or 7.
And this article wasnt about Windows 7, it was about Apple lowering their prices.
Im still waiting for that fancy Mojave software I saw in all those commercials that every one loved. WHERE IS MOJAVE!
Use patterns for today's net book is surfing, because most of todays traditional software is too heavyweight, so user with a need to work on the device choose laptops.
Come Web 2.0 with SaaS – Software as a Service – now the two are more equal. All software lives on a server, all documents are in the cloud. The net book is just a connector to your productivity tools.
The iPhone is more like the net book, but it is hard to read and type because it is too small.
A slightly bigger device with a touch screen and SaaS and mini-Apps will be a powerful tool – and that is what Apple is doing next for that segment.
There was a time when the computing power you needed for a job would not fit in a regular home. Today it fits in a purse – and sometimes in your pocket.
The world is changing and it is getting smaller.
No, I wouldn't. Macs are overpriced piece of machines still. I'd rather buy Windows 7 which, if early indications ae ture is going to be a superb piece of software for much lower price.
Netbook PCs today and I stress "today" does NOT have the processing power to view some websites. 1.6GHZ is not enough these days. Plus it's slow as if Windows itself doesn't make the computer slow enough. I used to have a PC for 8 years which was a DELL laptop and it did fine in those days but as websites and software got more and more sophisticated you need that processing power. Plus, this is very important for a laptop – battery life! Most PC netbooks at best lasts only 2 hrs and more likely around a little over 1 hr! A mac will go outlast the netbook PC's battery way more. Expect about 4 hrs or so providing if you don't play DVDs on it but for just regular webbrowsing and basic application work. Most people when they look at the netbook will fall in love with it's small size. It's so portable. Well, yes but the battery power isn't any good. So what is the point of having something so portable physically but will not let you enjoy using it for a long time on the road. My suggestion is that netbooks are not where it's at yet. It's not worth it. Yes, they are cheaper but again still it's not worth with all it's shortcomings. This 2.0ghz white macbook for $849 would be a good deal. The laptop is a bonafide true laptop and yes enough at minimum to enjoy all of the sophistication of some websites today. If you need MS office applications such Word, Excel, just use Open office. Go download a free copy of openoffice.org. It's completely compatible.
How can Microsoft be losing money on netbooks? The incremental cost of new netbook licenses is $0.
Furthermore, you're going to see a new round of netbooks in the $100-150 range, using ARM chips, based on platforms like Ubuntu Netbook Remix and Android. That's going to be a better platform for netbooks than either Windows or OS X, and at a lower price.
So basically Apple is going to cut their Macbooks by $100-$150 while you can buy a Netbook for almost the same amount.
Is this market share by units, revenue, earnings? If you wish to be a going concern, it seems the latter is what's important.
It's widely believed that Microsoft is losing money on netbooks. I wouldn't want to play that game for long.
Surely computer ASPs will continue to fall, but who's in the best position to offer enough value to slow that decline?
ex ped: Units. (The Gartner link in the story answers all these questions.)
I attended a "hobby" convention in January that is typically attended by folks 50+ and older. I was amazed at the number of netbooks being used for e-mail/web browsing. While I have struggled to understand the attraction to these small screens/keyboards, others seem to see the value of them. I would love to see Apple lower their entry points and see a boost in market share. But, I would not bet on it.
No I wouldn't.
The Taiwanese outwitted the Americans this time. They're more inovative than their US competition. I bought an Asus. I'll give them credit, some sell for as little $200 in Taiwan. They've made computers afordable for just about everyone.
It's light, it's small and if I should ever loose it, oh well.
Why don't you include what Acer's overall market share is – to compare it to Apple's 7.4%? Also, let's look at the average price per machine for their 49.4% vs. Apple's 1%. I'm not a math guy, but is it possible that the total $ spent on Acer's 49.4% is the same figure as the 1% that Apple shrank? $300 netbooks vs. $1000-2000 MB/MBP…
I know a few people who have bought a netbook as a toy computer. Most of us have Macs (one or more) already…
ex ped: Done. (Acer's U.S. market share is 13.6%, up from 9.1% in 2008 Q1.)
I dont understand what took so long for these companies to figure out we all wanted a cheap, light affordable lappy to do basic functions on. I remember looking a year or 2 ago trying to find a tiny laptop and the cheapest was 2k. These new netbooks definitely serve a specific purchase and will continue to steal market share for those just looking to surf, blog and write notes.
With that said I having been using and working on PCs for 15 years now and i used a buddies Imac for one day and fell in love with it. I bought one myself and now dread turning on my PC. I am a small business owner and there is no way i would ever go back to PC for anything. I still have yet to buy quickbooks for mac and have to fire up the pc once a month to do my books and its a chore and nightmare and ill never look back.
I want to buy a mac laptop but am waiting for this hyped tablet or new release and wont buy anything till they release this new beast. I hope it comes in under 800 and is light and has all the basics. If make makes a netbook i would certainly buy that as well.