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Doing the Math On the New MacBook
Technologizer writes "Apple's new MacBook is a significantly different machine than its predecessor — a slicker laptop at a higher price point. But does it carry a large price premium over similar Windows PCs? I did a painstaking spec-by-spec comparison versus three roughly comparably-configured Windows machines, and came to the conclusion that the value it offers for price paid is not out of whack with the Windows world." The article uses the phrase "Mac tax," which one commenter points out is a recent Microsoft marketing canard.
That's a quote from Apple's website, not TFA (I ran a search on all 3 pages of the article before googling for the phrase). So why are you quoting that as if the article is biased? There are a couple of sections where he just says "I like this" rather than being objective - and I have no idea how he could like the crappy toy keyboards on the Macbook - but he does give the other machines their due when they deserve it, and admit what the Macbooks don't have.
Oh, and I didn't laugh. Do I win a prize?
Disclaimer: Yes I have a Macbook Pro, and it was of comparable price and specs to the Dell Precision that I would have bought otherwise - which surprised me after hearing people bang on about Apple's always being overpriced. I wonder if those same people complain about Sony VAIOs, Dell's XPS range or Alienware being overpriced. Probably do..
which is totally what she said
OSX is what userland Linux should be.
No it is not.
SJW n. One who posts facts.
At the risk of repeating the obvious and previously cited, hardware comparisons are only half the story. Consider the OS, the hardware longevity (I'm still running my 'Tangerine Toilet Seat' iBook) and the fact that you get a complete set of developer tools free with the operating system - the very ones used to build it - the value proposition favors Macs. Add the cost of a seat license for MS Visual Studio to the price of a laptop, you are starting to hit price parity between the two. We haven't even gotten into the whole 'running open source software' on OSX - sure you can install CYGWIN and recompile, but even leaving this out, on a what-did-the-original-manufacturer-give-me comparison (iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, XTools, a real shell environment, quality hardware) you get a lot more and a lot better with a Mac, even if you hate the design.
I somehow doubt there was an onslaught of people who needed new workstations right after the release of Intel Macs that couldn't wait until optimization caught up.
I'd like to believe your theory, but considering the same thing happened when Apple phased out the ugly multicolor combo units, and there was no change in architecture, I have to go with my explanation. Namely, that there are a lot of Mac zealots out there who weren't happy using the same technology as everyone else.