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Apple charges premium for MacBook Pro

updated 08:50 pm EST, Mon February 13, 2006

Apple charges premium

Apple's MacBook Pro is nearly $1000 more than a similar Dell notebook (after using a coupon) or just over $400 without coupons, according to a blog entry at ZDNet. While the debate rages, the Dell Core Duo notebook offers a larger 17-inch screen, faster graphics, and a faster optical drive. "pple lovers will always feel that the extra money is well spent and they will always believe they have the superior product. PC shoppers with more realistic budgets will always prefer the cheaper product (with mostly superior specifications) that can run all of their existing software. The difference is that the latter will always outnumber the former by more than 10 to 1. Apple has always managed to charge a premium for their hardware because of superior branding and a diehard fan base, but they will always be priced out of the main stream. A lot has changed in the last year with Apple Macintoshes running on an Intel Pentium M platform (which I predicted), but the more things change the more they stay the same."

by MacNN Staff

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Mac Elite

Joined: Oct 1999

0

02/13, 09:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
OK?

I give, the Dell is better, but it runs windows, so.............

I just never get it, slam Apple for the hardware, slam Apple for the OS, but there is a h*** of a lot to be said for a company that makes a complete package. I have never, never use a PC (to this day), that doesn't have OS/hardware issues, conflicts, whatever, there is always something. My mac just works and works well. Mac bashers will always deny this, but I have to use PC's, yep, that is a reality of the corporate world, but my mac is a part of me 'cuz I can do what I want to do without some lame message or obscure issue. The Apple machine, with the OS is a better machine, and worth more than a Windows machine with faster hardware, who has time for all that?

eddd
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2001

0

02/13, 09:20pm | report spam | close Reply |
here we go...

Get used to this... you'll be hearing it again and again for years and years. Now that both machines run on the same processor, many will say they're the same hardware, which simply isn't true. But the processor will invite comparisons that were more difficult to do before Intel.

macpkaso
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2005

0

02/13, 09:29pm | report spam | close Reply |
Pleeeeeeaaaaaase!!!

Shame on you MacNN for just copy/pasting from a kid's blog who didn't even do proper research!

Please read a follow up response from a real reporter @ http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/02/13/pricecomparison/index.php?lsrc=mwrss

BTW: I'm a reader at both sites.

kw99
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2001

0

02/13, 09:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
Forgot to include

the OS in the comparison chart. Apple has Mac OS X. The Dell has Windows. THAT makes all the difference in the world. I could go into the unique features included in the price for the Mac, but that's all I need to say, really... Apple has Mac OS X; Dell has Windows XP.

Does the author stop to think why Dell needs to offer $650 rebates just to unload their hardware (and why Apple will sell all MacBooks it can make at the "regular" price)? It's not that Apple "has always managed to charge a premium for their hardware," it more like Dell being forced to offer steep discounts.

ddukes
Junior Member

Joined: Aug 2000

0

02/13, 09:39pm | report spam | close Reply |
Dell's prices are low...

Because of all the advertising space they sell on the desktop.

My relative bought 3 NEW Dells for under $1500 and he lamented at the fact that each one has a dozen icons (yes a dozen) on his desktop that advertises some trial period software. Even the virus protection on his machine only lasts 30 days until he's "not protected".

What a bunch of crock. I spent a total of an hour and a half removing all that c*** from 3 machines since he just doesn't have that kind of time or knowhow.

MacnTX
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2004

0

02/13, 10:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
Whatever...

The MacWorld article referenced above pretty much refutes this so called comparison from this kid's blog. When you accurately compare them they end up being about the same price. As for including coupon/rebate savings into the equation, you can get $150 off at Amazon on the MacBook Pros too, something that the blog comparison fails to mention of course.

thetman
Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: Dec 2003

0

02/13, 10:16pm | report spam | close Reply |
cheap because

the reason dell is so cheap because like ddukes said each one of those trials is paid for by that company so dell gets kick backs for including that software.

AppleCello
Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: May 2001

0

02/13, 10:31pm | report spam | close Reply |
Cheapie

Please, dont bother to mention the cheap plastic case, massive thickness, and overall cheap build quality of the dell.

ibnabouna
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2006

0

02/13, 10:39pm | report spam | close Reply |
Not only that...

... but Apple cannot seem to ship the Macbook Pro at a reasonable time. There is a frenzy of users over at the Apple discussion forums wondering when their new Macbooks will arrive.

Nonetheless, I would rather pay the premium and put up with this over using Microsoft Windows and Dell PCs on an everyday basis.

danrnw
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2004

0

02/13, 10:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
MacNN as Journalists?

The headline to this article has no question mark. So we are to assume MacNN is saying FOR CERTAIN, the Mac laptop costs more.

This site is becoming less and less useful for realistic information. It's all about hype for hype itself. Guess what MacNN, there are other places we can get our Mac news.

Dan

t_hah
Mac Elite

Joined: Dec 2000

0

02/13, 10:42pm | report spam | close Reply |
coupons...

You can buy a lot of stuff from Dell using coupons.. but in the end, it is still just a Dell. It still cannot run Mac OS X... so it is still not worth it. :-)

gentryfunk
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2004

0

02/13, 10:55pm | report spam | close Reply |
Definitely NOT....

you can check out Dell for yourselves, but here's the scoop: the Inspiron E1705 STARTS at $2,221.

Hmmm.....

jscotta
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2002

0

02/13, 11:00pm | report spam | close Reply |
Inspiron no Latitude

The notebook compared is the equivalent of an iBook. The Inspiron is Dell's low-end line consumer line. A more accurate comparison (if you can compare OS X to Windows, which is the real comparison, to me) will be capable when Dell releases their Core Duo Latitude line.

aristotles
Grizzled Veteran

Joined: Jul 2004

0

02/14, 12:27am | report spam | close Reply |
Dells are subsidized

They are subsidized with "free" lite versions installed on the machines to entice people into buying the full version. They also get money from the stickers on their boxes. Tacky boxes, tacky coupons.

LouZer
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2000

0

02/14, 12:52am | report spam | close Reply |
Icons? Icons?

That's your biggest complaint about the Dell, there were icons on the desktop. Did you tell him he could just drag them to the freakin' trash?

And you can complain all you want, the point is true that Apple's products are going to cost more then comparable Dells (and I say comparable as in 'basically the same', not the lame "Let's load up the dell with a bunch of c*** no one wants so that it matches all the c*** no one wants in the mac but are stuck with it because apple doesn't believe in lowering prices, just adding c*** like built-in cameras".

BTW, if you look at the Macworld comparison, you'll see all they customized on the dell to "match" the mac. Can you imagine if you could customize the macbook the same way? Instead, we get "upgrade memory" and "upgrade harddrive". Ooohhhh. (oh, and for some reason, they went high-end on the 17" display, probably just to push the price higher).

macmad
Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Dec 2000

0

02/14, 01:43am | report spam | close Reply |
shipping?

The MacBook Pro isn't even shipping yet - how can people draw comparisons with non-existant hardware?

rtbarry
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

02/14, 02:10am | report spam | close Reply |
louzer = troll

don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll. don't feed the troll.

+ he can't afford a dell either, so why is he in this debate?

BWhaler
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2003

0

02/14, 02:37am | report spam | close Reply |
MacNN is a total disgrace

MacNN, at least do your homework before posting such vile, unless your objective is just to drum up traffic. Either way it's pretty pathetic.

OK, here are the flaws (done after 5 minutes of investigation)

1. The coupon code is bogus. There is no $650 rebate coupon. (And think about it for a second, Dell has razor thin margins...how would they give 30% of a hot, new product...and WHY would they.

2. Price the Dell yourself. It is $2,105. A few hundred dollars cheaper.

Now factor in:

Better GPU iSight iLife Illuminated Keyboard, Firewire

etc, etc.

It is at BEST a square deal.

Again, MacNN is getting pittiful nowadays, and this site is one more article like this away from being dumped from my bookmarks. It basically is a link aggregator nowadays anyhow...

BWhaler
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2003

0

02/14, 02:39am | report spam | close Reply |
oh....

other, small details.

4" thick.

9 pounds.

Yeah, they're the same.

Great article MacNN. Get your act together and stop helping the PC guys by spreading false stories.

JulesLt
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2005

0

02/14, 04:08am | report spam | close Reply |
OS/X Cost

On the question of the OS/X premium:

The Mac Mini also comes with OS/X and iLife. OS/X typically sells for less than a Windows XP Upgrade. It is about 50% of full Windows XP (retail not OEM). Apple also own it.

While it is certainly the source of part of the premium for purchasers, I've always found it a hard one to justify. I can't understand why it becomes a percentage on top of the machines price - you would expect the higher end machines to be better value than MacMini and iBook - instead, it feels the other way.

(It is possible, of course, that the OEM Windows price for Dell is actually lower than the cost of OS/X for Apple).

The real value, of course, comes in the industrial design - I need only compare the USB ports on the Mac Mini with the ones on a far more expensive Acer laptop.

Or read an interview with Jonathan Ives where he talks about the effort put into creating the base for the cinema display and G5 (a single piece of metal, yet also making sure it wouldn't slip on a smooth surface).

Of course that puts the price up, but to an extent I think people are crazy to buy 23 and 30" displays that are in ugly cheap casing - it's like buying a cashmere jumper and saying it's about the wool and if it keeps you warm, rather than how it fits.

Dfrakes
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2006

0

02/14, 05:21am | report spam | close Reply |
Macworld comparison

"Can you imagine if you could customize the macbook the same way?"

It's true: Dell offers more configuration options, including the ability to remove features you don't need in order to save money.

"(oh, and for some reason, they went high-end on the 17" display, probably just to push the price higher)."

No, we upgraded the screen because the MacBook Pro is a "pro" machine with a higher-quality screen built into the price. In order to get comparable color accuracy and brightness on the Dell, you need the UltraSharp display. When there's an Intel-based "consumer" laptop from Apple, we'll configure the Dell with the stock "budget" screen :-)

P.S. Yes, MacNN is in my RSS reader :-) Dan Frakes, Macworld

gprovida
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Feb 2006

0

02/14, 05:39am | report spam | close Reply |
MacNN Article on Cost

http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/02/13/pricecomparison/index.php

when all the items are included, dual DVI, 30% less weight, illuminated keyboard, optical digital audio, microphone, builtin isight the cost looks like:

$2500 MacBook and $2700 Dell. Note for a real sharp shopper discounts may be found to discount this by $100s of dollars for the Dell and Dell can be configured.

However, the Dell comes with little to no software, the Mac with iChat, iLife, etc. which there is not real comparison on PC side, but might be replaced with $100s of dollars worth of software.

In general, article points out price are similar. Also for my buy at work the price is much closer to $2500 than the lots of hunting discount reported in the BLOG

porieux
Baninated

Joined: Mar 2001

0

02/14, 06:41am | report spam | close Reply |
i gues i can stop coming

i don't care to hear 'reporting' on worthless blogs from idiots

ClevelandAdv
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2004

0

02/14, 07:43am | report spam | close Reply |
BMW Charges Premium....

Yes it is true that BMW is charging a premium over Ford for a similarly equipped model.

as someone who had owned both BMW and Ford, Dell and Mac I can tell you either compairson is nonsense. Drive a BMW or work on a mac and the difference is clear, just like any premium product you get what you pay for.

ibugv4
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2003

0

02/14, 08:37am | report spam | close Reply |
another car anology...

I could go on and on about the car/computer comparisons, but I'll just say you CANNOT compare a Ford to a BMW in any class because BMW does not make a sub-$25,000 car BRAND NEW. If you want to compare a car company with apple, pick one that also stabs it's loyalists in the back: volkswagen.

note: i own and operate both apple and volkswagen machines, don't hate on me because you know it's true.

itguy05
Forum Regular

Joined: Apr 2005

0

02/14, 09:21am | report spam | close Reply |
Poor Analogy

While BMW Makes great driving machines, the Ford and BMW will be about as reliable. The VW will have a reliability rating worse than a Hyundai. Source: JD Power 2005 Dependability survey.

Doesn't matter to me - I drive an Infiniti - a driving machine that's every bit as good as a BMW, is a great value, and will be more reliable than a BMW, Mercedes, or a Toyota.

bigmig
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2004

0

02/14, 09:37am | report spam | close Reply |
COUPON CODE INVALID

Did anyone even bother to check his coupon code?!? It's completely invalid!!!

I will give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that it was valid for a couple hours on the day he posted the article, or that it was valid for the X hundred purchases that day. But as soon as the fire-sale was over, his article ceased to be true, and must be removed.

The accurate comparison for my residence (CA) is:

Dell E1705: 1.83 Ghz/512 MB/80 GB/DVD-RW/BT/7800Go/Remote $1911 + 157.66 tax - $250 mail-in rebate = $1818.66 (Dell.com)

MBP 1.83 ($1999 model, just upgraded today!) 1.83 Ghz/512 MB/80 GB/DVD-RW/BT/X1600/Remote $1999 + $0 tax - $200 mail-in rebate = $1799 (Amazon.com)

Wow, turns out they are within $20 of each other, not $1000! What an idiot that guy is.

Of course, the Dell has a larger screen and faster video card, but the MBP is 30% lighter, has faster memory, much better build quality (Latitude is ok, but Inspiron is awful), OS X, and a host of features not even available from Dell (backlit keyboard, SMS, MagSafe, scrolling trackpad).

Personally, I'd take the Apple, but I guess if you really love bulky, heavy laptops and want the extra 1.5" of screen you might take the Dell.

Heck, even if I wanted to run Windows I'd still take the Apple and just wait for someone to come out with a hack to install XP (or, if that never happens, Vista).

ezylstra
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 1999

0

02/14, 10:34am | report spam | close Reply |
Responsible Journalism

I have to echo sentiments of a couple of the posts so far. MacNN needs to be clear on whether they post stories without vouching for their accuracy. I have read, enjoyed, and trusted the stories on MacNN for a number of years now.

I can use Google and get daily junk.

jhorvatic
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2005

0

02/14, 11:34am | report spam | close Reply |
Go to maccentral

Go to maccentral.com and you will see the other side of the story and how the Macbook Pro is actually way cheaper than Dell! No applications included with the Dell versus Apple includes the OS and iLife apps, plus all of the standard software that apple includes with the OSX. And still a few extras on top of that. With the Dell you get a dull box and that's it.

dsteinman
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2004

0

02/14, 11:43am | report spam | close Reply |
Apple charges premium..

and my supermarket charges a premium for steak over hamburger.. this is news ?

resuna
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2005

0

02/14, 12:31pm | report spam | close Reply |
"apart from the screen"

I can't believe this guy. "Apart from the screen, the Mac is a better computer". Wake up, man, at least half the cost of any laptop is in the screen, to the print where we simply don't bother repairing laptops with broken screens unless they're under warranty... it's always more cost effective to buy a new computer.

Byt42
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2001

0

02/14, 01:40pm | report spam | close Reply |
More FUD

Its very disappointing that MacNN would post something like this without doing ANY fact checking. The comparison is flawed on its face because its a special discounted price of the Dell vs the max published price at the Apple store. Second, as has been mentioned, once you configure the Dell to match the MacBook its a little MORE. Yes, you get a larger screen on the Dell but at a cost of more than 2 pounds. I don't mind news that makes Apple look bad as it keeps them in line, but posting pro Dell propaganda is disgusting.

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Apple charges premium for MacBook Pro

updated 08:50 pm EST, Mon February 13, 2006

Apple charges premium

Related Articles

Recent Articles

OK?

here we go...

Pleeeeeeaaaaaase!!!

Forgot to include

Dell's prices are low...

Whatever...

cheap because

Cheapie

Not only that...

MacNN as Journalists?

coupons...

Definitely NOT....

Inspiron no Latitude

Dells are subsidized

Icons? Icons?

shipping?

louzer = troll

MacNN is a total disgrace

oh....

OS/X Cost

Macworld comparison

MacNN Article on Cost

i gues i can stop coming

BMW Charges Premium....

another car anology...

Poor Analogy

COUPON CODE INVALID

Responsible Journalism

Go to maccentral

Apple charges premium..

"apart from the screen"

More FUD

Login Here

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