# godDAMN, Macs are EXPENSIVE!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 20, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009 "2007-02-20T19:40:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/81 "2007-02-22T19:10:35Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] Dude, come on - because you know that Macs are better, and you _want_ to believe that they’re comparable in price. [/QUOTE] Macs are better for me. I’m not going to say Macs are better for everyone. However, when I finally decided on a Mac, I priced out all the parts for the PC and the equivalent Mac and I found exactly what the links in this thread have borne out: that PCs and Macs are comparable in price and, when you get to the high-end, Macs can even be cheaper. Plus, they save me money in time. Macs are not a status symbol for me–they are a prudent business decision. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/82 "2007-02-22T19:14:24Z")
There - I posted it! Now everyone relax. YES, a $7K mac CAN exist. Oh my GAWD! There were actually people challenging me to prove that such a mac could even be configured! Now, the comparable PC would be a dual-core processor, four SATA hard drives, a motherboard with built-in Firewire and a wireless card, and 4gb of ram. Easy to do for $2K. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/83 "2007-02-22T19:18:16Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] There - I posted it! Now everyone relax. YES, a $7K mac CAN exist. Oh my GAWD! There were actually people challenging me to prove that such a mac could even be configured! Now, the comparable PC would be a dual-core processor, four SATA hard drives, a motherboard with built-in Firewire and a wireless card, and 4gb of ram. Easy to do for $2K. [/QUOTE] Nobody said a $7K Mac can’t exist. I’ve seen Mac configurations up to $20K. You do realize that you’ve priced out two dual-cores on that Mac, right? Retail value on the processors alone would be $900-$1000 each, so that brings your PC to $1800-$2000 without any other parts yet. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/84 "2007-02-22T19:22:46Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] Nobody said a $7K Mac can’t exist. I’ve seen Mac configurations up to $20K. You do realize that you’ve priced out two dual-cores on that Mac, right? Retail value on the processors alone would be $900-$1000 each, so that brings your PC to $1800-$2000 without any other parts yet. [/QUOTE] But that’s the only option on the mac. ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/85 "2007-02-22T19:25:31Z")
4x 750 GB Hard drives alone would cost you at least $1200. Up to $1600, depending on which brand/model you get. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/86 "2007-02-22T19:27:51Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] Now, the comparable PC would be a dual-core processor, four SATA hard drives, a motherboard with built-in Firewire and a wireless card, and 4gb of ram. Easy to do for $2K. [/QUOTE] Er, what? Those processors _alone_ cost more than $1800 dollars the pair on newegg, without sales tax or shipping. Conclusion: you are an idiot. If by “I don’t want to get into a nerd-fest” you actually meant “I’m comparing apples and abstract concepts of metaphysics”, you should have just said that. I’ve made it up to $4k on newegg matching those components as best I can, and I still haven’t added a motherboard, soundcard, peripherals, OS, software, case… the list goes on. But hey, if you really can make a machine that cool for $2k, will you get me one too? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/87 "2007-02-22T19:30:25Z")
[QUOTE=Dead Badger] Er, what? Those processors _alone_ cost more than $1800 dollars the pair on newegg, without sales tax or shipping. Conclusion: you are an idiot. If by “I don’t want to get into a nerd-fest” you actually meant “I’m comparing apples and abstract concepts of metaphysics”, you should have just said that. I’ve made it up to $4k on newegg matching those components as best I can, and I still haven’t added a motherboard, soundcard, peripherals, OS, software, case… the list goes on. But hey, if you really can make a machine that cool for $2k, will you get me one too? [/QUOTE] I’m on board too. In fact, I’ll pay you $2500. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/88 "2007-02-22T19:31:11Z")
[QUOTE=Dead Badger] Er, what? Those processors _alone_ cost more than $1800 dollars the pair on newegg, without sales tax or shipping. [/QUOTE] I’m only using one dual-core, and it’s an AMD, not an Intel Xeon. That cuts the cost significantly. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/89 "2007-02-22T19:32:04Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] But that’s the only option on the mac. [/QUOTE] Then it’s not a fair comparison, now, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/90 "2007-02-22T19:35:05Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] I’m only using one dual-core, and it’s an AMD, not an Intel Xeon. That cuts the cost significantly. [/QUOTE] Uh … I don’t know if I’m veering into excessively nerdy territory here or anything, but you do realise that “one” is not equal to “two”, right? This is truly surreal. Are you really this dumb? ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/91 "2007-02-22T19:41:59Z")
To be fair, the premium charged on some of the upgrade components is ridiculous on the Apple configurator. The drives are fully double the price on Newegg, the memory is more than double and that’s not even taking into account that you should be taking away the cost of the basic 1GB. If ordering one of those myself I would certainly be buying the extras elsewhere. Even if I tried really hard I don’t think I could get the newegg equivalent much over $5k. But still, if the fact that you’re comparing one desktop spec chip with two server-spec chips strikes you as a “nerdy” detail, you really shouldn’t be trying to put these things together yourself. You might kill someone. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/92 "2007-02-22T19:42:10Z")
I was configuring a Dell 690 to try and match that Apple config, and wound up with a price of $7,299. > [@Dell](#): > > ``` > $7,299 > Lease for as low as $194/mo. (48 pmts)1 > > Learn MoreAfford the latest technology: Estimate My Payments | Apply now! > > ``` > > For 64-bit Operating System Click here > Update Price & Ship Date > Discount Details > Preliminary Ship Date: 3/5/20072 > Print Summary > > Components > Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5160 3.00GHz, 4MB L2,1333 > Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5160 3.00GHz, 4MB L2,1333 > Genuine Windows® XP Professional, SP2 with Media > 256MB PCIe x16 nVidia Quadro FX 3450, Dual DVI or Dual VGA or DVI + VGA > 4GB, DDR2 SDRAM FBD Memory, 667MHz, ECC in Riser (4 DIMMS) > 16XDVD AND 16XDVD+/-RW, w/ Cyberlink PowerDVD™ and Roxio Creator™ > C3 All SATA drives, Non-RAID, 4 drive total configuration > 750GB SATA 3.0Gb/s,7200 RPM Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst Cache™ > SATA/SAS Integrated Card - For Connecting Internal Hard Drives > 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s,7200 RPM Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst Cache™ > 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s,7200 RPM Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst Cache™ > 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s,7200 RPM Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst Cache™ > No Monitor > Accessories > USB Entry Quietkey, No Hot Keys > Dell USB 2-Button Mechanical Mouse with Scroll > No Floppy Drive > No Speaker option > Software > McAfee SecurityCenter 30 Day Trial > No Resource CD > Service > 3 Year On-site Economy Plan > No Onsite System Setup > Purchase is not intended for resale. > Also Includes > None > Precision 690N 1KW 64Bit > Genuine Windows® XP Sticker ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/93 "2007-02-22T19:42:50Z")
Also, why the heck buy all that crap from Apple anyway? If you’re going to go through the trouble of building your own PC, you might as well compare that with building your own Mac. Just buy the bare bones, eBay the parts you don’t need, add the RAM and hard drives you found on your own, etc. A fair comparison would be to compare two fully built machines, as I’ve seen on preview, that’s just been done. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/94 "2007-02-22T20:02:59Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] Ok, ok, I figured out how to “print-screen” and do it. [http://i13.tinypic.com/2q0lieo.jpg](http://i13.tinypic.com/2q0lieo.jpg) That should be it. [/QUOTE] You’ve been going on about how you can build the equivalent of a $7000 Mac for $2K yourself, and you just figured out how the ‘print screen’ key works?! Gotta agree with the multitudes: you’re a uniter, not a divider. Mac users, PC power users, Linux geeks, and even a low-end PC user like myself - we can all see you’re full of shit. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/95 "2007-02-22T20:50:30Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] Then it’s not a fair comparison, now, is it? [/QUOTE] Life’s not fair. Apple does not appear to offer a desktop that isn’t a server or a “for dummies” all-in-one “awww, it lives in its monitor!” e-machine equivalent (the I-Mac); there’s no middle ground between two dual-core processors at $1,000 each and one single-core “awwww, it’s a monitor AND a computer that even Mom can figure out!” ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/96 "2007-02-22T21:02:31Z")
You consider 4 750Gb hard drives and 4Gb of memory a “middle ground” configuration? ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/97 "2007-02-22T21:12:35Z")
[QUOTE=Cheesesteak] You consider 4 750Gb hard drives and 4Gb of memory a “middle ground” configuration? [/QUOTE] For simultaneous multitrack audio recording and video editing - absolutely. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/98 "2007-02-22T21:14:39Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] Life’s not fair. [/QUOTE] Yep, sucks for you, then. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/99 "2007-02-22T21:20:25Z")
I’m still trying to figure out the magic you must be pulling to make your specs into a $2000 computer. So far, I’ve got $800 for the processor and $1200 for the 4 drives. That’s two grand. And we haven’t gotten into the motherboard, the graphics card, the case, the OS, the RAM, the keyboard, the mouse, the DVD drive, etc, etc, etc… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009/100 "2007-02-22T21:30:29Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] But that’s the only option on the mac. [/QUOTE] Also, why price out two 3.0 GHz Dual Cores? Why not two 2.0 GHz dual cores? Would that not be a fairer comparison with a single 3.0 dual core? (I actually do not know the answer to this question, but somebody with a better understanding of computer architecture could hopefully comment on whether two slower duals are better than one faster dual). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-macs-are-expensive/393009.md?page=6)