Mass Microsoft Defections to Apple Possible 722
An anonymous reader writes to mention a MacWorld article covering research by the Forrester group. Their report shows that mass dissatisfaction with Microsoft and its products could lead to defections from the company. From the article: "Over all, only Apple and Tivo saw their brand trust rise in the last two years, according to the report. The final tally saw Bose, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Panasonic and Sony earn the highest marks, while Microsoft, Gateway and LG ranked lowest. The low scores for Microsoft could mean good news for Apple as consumers showed their distrust of the Redmond-based software-giant."
Re:No way (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Convicted monopolist (Score:1, Informative)
Microsoft is a convicted monopolist.
Microsoft was convicted of including a BROWSER in their operating system. Roll that around in your head for a second -- doesn't that seem utterly ridiculous from the vantage point of 2006? Can you imagine an operation system that doesn't include a browser as a fundamental tool? (I personally thought the whole thing was ridiculous at the time).
Because of Microsoft's illegal coercion tactics toward OEMs in the 90s, superior products weren't allowed to compete, and Microsoft cheated to achieve 95+% market share.
No doubt Microsoft did some coercion (though it wasn't illegal), but that's not why Microsoft won. Microsoft won because they were COMPATIBLE. Pure and simple. Windows 3.1 killed all the competition at the time because it was the most compatible with DOS. Windows 95 killed everything because it was STILL the most compatible with DOS and Windows 3.1.
Look at OS/2. IBM, with every computer they sold, included OS/2 as the default operating system and also Windows 3.1. People had to go out of their way to delete OS/2 and use Windows 3.1 instead. And they did it! They deleted something that was clearly superior in every way. You know why? Because OS/2 was INCOMPATIBLE with a hell of a lot of software and drivers.
People don't want to throw away their whole software investment. No one cares about operating systems -- they care about applications, which is what they use for *work*. All people see of operating systems is that it's a program launcher.
Microsoft won because they were smart enough to give people an upgrade path, and secondarily they treat the development community very well (Apple was notorious on crapping on developers and treating them like second class citizens who should be honored for being "allowed" to develop for the Mac).
Re:It's a Macworld article... (Score:1, Informative)
You shouldn't.
I can't wait for that +5 informative mod.
Re:Are we reading the same data? (Score:3, Informative)
The Dell was $1,400.
The MacBook Pro was $2,500.
I use both, but that's a very big price difference.
Re:Are we reading the same data? (Score:2, Informative)
Well, here's what I do everytime (I should just bookmark these links)
Macbook [apple.com] Pro:
Dell XPS M170 [dell.com]
Please note: The expensive thing here is the lcd display and the Dell's display is even bigger. Also note: it's a little over 1,500, but I didn't make the %60 clame. You will probably bitch that the Dell has a 60 gig vs Apples 100 gig harddrive, don't worry: you're still wrong; you can upgrade dells for 30 bucks.
Overpriced? No way, OSX is definately worth $1,000. [/sarcasm]
Re:Convicted monopolist (Score:2, Informative)
"Informative"?!?? "Flamebait". "Troll".
Re:Trying a Mac (Score:3, Informative)
I assume your talking about the menu bar (which can be configured to hide itself anyway).. but what your not considering is that under windows or x11 the menu is inside of the window itself, whereas with osx it's always in the same place at the top of the screen, so appwindow+menubar on osx is equivalent to appwindow (with included menubar) on windows or x11.
More accurate price comparison (Score:5, Informative)
When I match the specs/features, I get $2,075 for the Dell and $2,399 for the Apple or a difference of $324. That's hardly 66%.
Here are the specs/features I used for each:
Apple
----------
$2,399
Dell
----------
$2,075
These really aren't even exact matches, but they're very similar and moreso than the prices you quoted.
* The Mac includes a backlit keyboard, remote control, OS X install disk, CD/DVD RW, Bluetooth, and ATI video standard while the Dell does not, which is why, aside from the backlit keyboard they're added to the Dell. Although the remote on the Dell won't work with XP Pro supposedly.
** Despite the limited web hosting ability of XP Pro, OS X more closely resembles WindowsXP Professional over the Media Center version. Macs always include an OS X install disk while most (if not all) PC vendors charge extra for the Windows disks.
Re:Are we reading the same data? (Score:5, Informative)
Other differences: the Dell still doesn't have a built-in hi-res webcam, an IR remote control, optical digital audio, integrated Bluetooth, a tilt sensor to automatically park the hard drive when you drop it, or a backlit keyboard.
Re:Are we reading the same data? (Score:5, Informative)
Inspiron E1505
Intel® Core(TM) Duo processor T2500 (2MB Cache/2GHz/667MHz FSB)
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm
15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display
100GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
256MB ATI MOBILITY(TM) RADEON® X1400 HyperMemory
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
Remote Control for Windows XP Media Center Edition
Standard Features: IEEE 1394, 4-USB 2.0 4-pin, 5-in-1 Combo Card through ExpressCard, 15-pin VGA connector, S-Video connector, Integrated 10/100 Ethernet, Integrated v.92 56K modem
HxWxD: 1.44" x 14" x 10.45"
Weight: 6.18lbs
Total: $2180 (after a "special offer" $200 discount)
MacBook Pro
2.0GHz Intel Core Duo with 2MB shared L2 Cache, 667MHz frontside bus
1GB (single SO-DIMM) 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
15.4-inch TFT display with 1440x900 resolution
100GB 5400rpm Serial ATA hard drive
Slot-load SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW) [Apple doesn't state this explicitly, but it's 4x and not dual layer]
ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB GDDR3 memory
Standard Features: iSight, wireless networking (802.11b/g), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, ExpressCard/34 slot, dual-link DVI video out, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and optical digital and analog audio in/out.
HxWxD: 1.0 x 14.1 x 9.6
Weight: 5.6lbs
Total: $2500
Dell advantages:
S-Video
More USB 2.0 ports
Better DVD burner
Modem
MacBook advantages:
Higher resolution screen
Better GPU
Lighter and smaller
Single DIMM preinstalled
DVI
iSight
Gigabit Ethernet
So, a whole $300 difference (on special), and you be the judge of those differences.
OK, what am I missing? (Score:3, Informative)
I gave Dell the benefit of the doubt for the LCD quality, and left it with the cheapest. I added a DVD burner and Bluetooth, like the Mac has, and a 128MB Radeon to approximately match the Mac's video. I left the Dell with the cheapest battery, even though it has less capacity than the Mac's.
The resulting price is $1891, vs $1999 for the Mac. That's including an "instant $200 discount" from Dell. So when you actually configure them similarly, the Mac is about 6% more expensive than the Dell.
And I strongly suspect that you really need to go for the better LCD on the Dell, in which case the price premium for the Mac drops to just $8. And that's for a machine that's thinner and weighs less.
Re:Are we reading the same data? (Score:4, Informative)
From http://www.allonlinecoupons.com/st/dell/ [allonlinecoupons.com]
SAVE $750 on Select Inspiron(TM) notebooks $1999 or more (before tax, restocking fees, shipping & handling)! Not available on XPS notebooks or Spotlight Savings offers. This offer is not combinable with other dollars off, percentage off or mail-in rebate offers. Only one coupon may be applied per cart at checkout. Coupon code expires after first 4000 uses, or when the limited time offer expires, whichever is earlier. Offers subject to change. View details in My Cart. Enter coupon code at checkout to receive this offer in Dell home
Enter Dell Computer Coupon Code: 1CS4WZBB5$LVSS
They are also offering a $100 rebate and free shipping.
I just ordered nearly the same laptop as you speced out from Dell on Monday. Total cost after tax, discounts and rebates: $1202.77. I have the invoice to prove it. Yes I know the Dells are overpriced to begin with so to say you're "saving" money is not quite correct.
Since when does Apple give you a deal like that?
Re:Are we reading the same data? (Score:3, Informative)
The Dell is sitting on my desk right now. Arrived 5 days after I placed the order with free shipping. The charge on my credit card is $1067.
Re:Trying a Mac (Score:1, Informative)
From the link you provided, that system only has a single-core CPU:
"CPU CPU Type Athlon 64 Installed Qty 1 Max Supported Qty 1 CPU Speed 3500+ L2 Cache Per CPU 512KB CPU Socket Type Socket 939"
AFAIK there is no such thing as a 3.2GHz dual-core AMD CPU. There might be an FX model Athlon coming out (or just came out) that might reach that speed, but unless you overclock your CPU you won't get that high.. not to mention that the FX chip would probably $1000. Maybe you are referring to AMD's speed rating, so maybe a 3200+ ?? Even then, if you were to get the lowest price dual-core AMD chip, it is still going to be almost $300 just for the CPU [newegg.com]. Intel Duo chips are cheaper, but in my opinion Intel is a piece of shit. I'm an AMD fan I guess.
P.S. - Even though I am an AMD fan, and not really into Macs, I would buy a Mac over a piece of shit Acer anyday, even if it costs more.
Re:Are we reading the same data? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Are we reading the same data? (Score:1, Informative)
In gentoo:
USE="xine" emerge totem (or any other xine player)
in FC/RH:
rpm -i [path to livna RPM]
yum install totem-xine
Suse:
Go to YAST, install xine.
Now that wasn't that hard was it?
5 million subscribers? Warcraft? (Score:3, Informative)