OSNews

I agree. I have 2 GHz Core Duo MacBook I bought in 2007, and it does whatever I want. Yes, the graphics could be better, but besides that I have no complaints.

If I HAD to buy a PC, I'd install Linux, which I can use but don't enjoy as much as OS X. To me there is no reason to buy anything but a Mac, I have thoroughly enjoyed every one I've owned (I'm on my fourth).

You do know Macs ARE PCs don't you?

Not all sub-$1000 17" laptops are crap though.

The MBP is much more expensive not because of higher build quality, it's just got a lot more features and powerful configuration. Things most people don't need on their personal computer.

No, not all sub $1000 PCs are crap, but none are high end.

Microsoft it trying to compare low end PC's to a high end Mac. Silly.

I had a Mac mini, it costs me as much as a Quad core C2Q6600. Regarding noise and style Mac is way beyond PC. But putting Linux, 3D desktop, as development machine, as fun machine, as gaming machine, nothing was comparable. Also, buying a 60 euro video card, it blast even more (I've bought a nice looking DX10 game: Devil May Cry).

I bought a nice laptop, namely Samsung NC10: 6 hours battery life, everything works without a glitch, I've put the second display, no problem. Price: 400 euros.

What my wanting to say: if you go low end of PC/laptops at least, they offer much more value than the corresponding Mac crap mini. The PCs are even in a price range that Apple can compete only with iPods, even they are touch or no, or at the same (low end) price, the PCs offers a lot more.

One entry level workstation (bought using AMD components) last year: Phenom 9950 quad core, 8G RAM, HDD: VelociRaptor 300G, Ati 4850 1G Video, custom alien-like case, in rest are standard components, price: 1150 euro. Adding a 20 inch display, it will add the price as big with 1300 euros.

What you can buy as minimalist desktop on macs (this year, after the update of configurations, I will not say nothing that the components I have right now can be found cheaper)
iMac 20 inch
Core2 Duo 2.0GHz
2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x1GB
320GB Serial ATA Drive

Really, I know that are laptop components in macs, but the price standpoint, and the look and feel, of Vista (I like to use Linux as I'm a freak ) it feels much more instantly than the OS X. Not because Vista is fast, but because OS X is a low spec machine.

So for me, I never feel bad that I've stand with PCs... as ugly as they were.

So the point is: at low end Macs have no value, and the point of the ad is really true. At their price point, PCs have no competition, excluding that you can put Linux on them

Dell's are junk, try a Thinkpad.

Bullshit. We keep hearing this over and over. I had a Mac craze and bought two Mini's (one for me, and one for my SO), and we have one MacBook. Within a year one of the Mini's had a defective CD-ROM drive. In little over a year the top layer of surface around the mouse and keyboard of the MacBook starts come off. And it isn't even heavily used, I think my girlfriend uses it only about once per one or two weeks. I am very glad a shelved out a freaking 300 Euros for two years of extra warranty, but I still have to see if they are going to fix this.

I never saw such a think happen *within a year* with the HPs (only business models) and Thinkpads we have. And these were usually in the 500-600 Euro range, about half of what I paid for the MacBook.

There are a few times I'd agree with Steve Balmer, but you are really paying 500 Euros for the logo and operating system. The fabled high quality of Apple hardware is in contrast with my experience with three Macs.

Edited 2009-03-28 08:57 UTC

I bought a Lenovo Thinkpad for ~500 dollars. It has been a great laptop, never had a single issue with it. The moral of this story is that price does not dictate quality, price is a direct correlation of the /perception/ of quality, and the value that the consumer applies to a product.