Journal Journal: Away 1
I'm gong on two weeks' vacation to Thailand tomorrow. Expect my account to be very quiet while I lie on the beach, spend nights with Goy, and eat spicy seafood.
I'm gong on two weeks' vacation to Thailand tomorrow. Expect my account to be very quiet while I lie on the beach, spend nights with Goy, and eat spicy seafood.
OK. I took the Mac-head's advice and compared equivalent hardware versus the cost to see whether Macs come out "surprisingly competitive" as is often claimed. I looked at Apple, Dell, and HP because they were the first ones that came to mind for on-line ordering. I've never done this before or bought any of the brands I looked at, so I'm not a fanboi. The results:
Apple iMac 24"
* Cost: $2199
* CPU: 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* RAM: 2GB memory
* HD: 500GB hard drive
* DVD: 8x double-layer SuperDrive
* GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS with 512MB memory
HP IQ800t -- This is 26", not 24".
* Cost: $1939
* CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T8400 [2.26GHz, 3MB] -- This is slower than the Mac, but it's the highest offered.
* RAM: 4GB DDR2-800MHz system memory [2x2048] -- More memory
* HD: 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive -- same HD
* GPU: 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GS HD -- Better GPU
* DVD: Slot-load SuperMulti DVD Burner -- Probably the same, but who knows?
Dell XPS One 24 24" -- same as Mac
* Cost: $1899
* CPU: Intel® Coreâ 2 Quad Q8200 processor -- Quad core, newer chip, same FSB but 2.33GHz. Cores vs. GHz.
* RAM: 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800Mhz - 2 DIMMs -- More RAM
* GPU: 512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 9600M GT -- Newer GPU
* HD: 750GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Hard Drive --Bigger HD.
* DVD: 8X Slot load CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) -- Again, who knows?
The results are questionable because I don't see nearly as many specs listed for the iMac as for the other all-in-ones. Both the HP and Dell include stuff like remotes, wireless keyboards, and bluetooth. I assume the Mac has all these. Both Vista-based ones come with MS Works and varios other productivity software, while the Mac comes with iLife. I call it about even.
The bottom line, though, is that I can get a better CPU (I prefer cores over raw GHz), more RAM, a newer GPU, and a larger hard drive in the Dell for $300 less, or I can get a remarkably similar machine overall (slower CPU but better GPU and RAM) with a slightly bigger screen from HP for $260 less. Either way, unless you want/need OS X specifically, Macs seem to lose.
No, this isn't a comprehensive run-down. No, I couldn't get everything exactly the same. I only chose one model and looked at it. I chose one of the higher-end Macs because I've heard that's where Apple is competitive. Interestingly, the Dell includes some nice extras like in-home warranty service and remote access / on-line backup (which I guess equate to Apple's pay services).
I doubt this post will sway any of you guys, but there are the raw numbers. Oh, and I'd like to add that I don't plan to buy any of the models.
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED WITHOUT CHARGE FOR BETA TESTING PURPOSES ONLY AND THE PARTIES AGREE THAT THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS REPRESENT A REASONABLE ALLOCATION OF RISK UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.
The Premium Edition ToS: This is the supported version and the limits on liabilities are fewer (para. 14) and the word "beta" isn't mentioned anywhere in the contract.
Limitation of Liability.
The Education Edition ToS: This is the version free for schools. Paragraph 13 is identical to Premium's Paragraph 14.
The summary?
Thank you for you time. That is all.
I will mod <tt> trolls to get rid of the first seven points, then use the remaining eight points to mod good posters up.
I want to remain mostly positive, but the TT trolls really piss me off.
Why don't people get that being gay is a matter of the heart, not of your actions? I'm not gay, but if I were, I'd be damn proud of the fact.
(About Nogueira) I was scared for the first time in my life coming into this fight. I wouldn't have bet on myself. I have defeated a mythical creature.
(Turning to and talking about Lesnar) I'm going to break something on him.
Mir showed class and gave great respect to a great fighter, then turned to the pompous Lesnar and gave him none, all in one smooth movement.
Oddly, the models don't look as good as what's actually walking around the town.
"It is hard to overstate the debt that we owe to men and women of genius." -- Robert G. Ingersoll