iMac or Dell? It sure is a tough one...
I can’t afford it. I can’t afford it. I can’t afford it. That’s what I have to keep telling myself after seeing things like this (and this).
Apple designs have a way of making decisions seem so obvious. Oh and, Amie, just so you know, I’m not plotting to get a new iMac, despite how beautiful (and fast and crisp and clean) they are ;)
Amie Thursday, 09 Aug, 2007 Posted at 05:43AM
Can I have one, too??? :(
Jusitn Thursday, 09 Aug, 2007 Posted at 05:45AM
To be really honest, I can’t afford it either. However, at home, my wife and I are in desperate need for a new machine. So, I pretty much have her convinced that for Christmas, our present to each other will be a computer.
As far as the iMac goes, she wants one more than I do. So that means we will end up with an iMac.
Almost used my real name Thursday, 09 Aug, 2007 Posted at 06:34AM
Not talking about which one to choose, but the dell could easily only have a few wires as well. For the sake of the ad though, I guess Apple decided that the XPS wouldn’t have wireless mouse or keyboard. It would have a printer and speakers and any other peripheral that can possibly go into the back of a computer.
I guess the iMac has a lot integrated into it, but personally I like to be in control of my hardware. Maybe it is easy to upgrade something on an iMac or even fix something as simple as bad memory. I obviously don’t have experience with it.
You are more graphics and creative oriented than me though, and you aren’t a gamer at all. So maybe it is better for web design and I know you love some of the software you get with it.
I can’t say I’ll never get one, because who knows, maybe something will happen where I feel it’s necessary to go away from Windows.
I guess it all comes down to comfort. I know what I can do with my hardware, I know that the software I want will be available for my computer. I know if my computer breaks it won’t cost me much to fix it either.
You already knew all this though.
Ryan Thursday, 09 Aug, 2007 Posted at 10:01AM
Rick: Actually, Apple compared them option for option. They didn’t include anything extra on the Dell that the Apple didn’t have—that’s the point. Otherwise, it would be comparing apples to oranges, and they’re better than that. It’s just good design on Apples behalf; that’s why it doesn’t look fair.
Of course, it absolutely would make sense for Apple to put the XPS to shame in their own ad, but they didn’t need any extra help—they played by the rules on this one.
I think anyone with a standard PC could take a picture of their setup, and it would look almost exactly like that. I know that’s the case with both of my computers, anyway.
And you could argue that one would typically have a wireless mouse/keyboard, but with the PC, you would still need a peripheral from the back of the tower for the wireless hub. So it would have looked even worse if they’d have gone wireless, because the Apple would then only have ONE wire for everything.
However, I completely agree with the comfort thing. I’m timid to make the switch mostly for the reasons you’ve stated above (the price tag doesn’t help). But when I think about it, I haven’t opened up my computer in nearly 5 years (or whenever we built it), so I can’t base anything on that. The fact that the OS is so different also makes me hesitant, but just like everyone else, I’d figure it out. Besides, all of my “computer time” is either reading, developing, or working with photos, and the Apple is suited perfectly for that (it even comes with Ruby/Rails/Capistrano/etc built into the OS).
In conclusion to my book, I think I’d feel better having Apple on my side. You should buy me one so I’d know for sure.
And yes, Amie, you can have one, too… just put it on Rick’s tab.
AUMRN Thursday, 09 Aug, 2007 Posted at 10:21AM
I’ll give you $300.
You can go build yourself a nice computer or make a payment to Steve Jobs’ hair stylist.
Ryan Thursday, 09 Aug, 2007 Posted at 11:14AM
Sounds good. When should I expect that $300? Before or after retirement?
AUMRN Thursday, 09 Aug, 2007 Posted at 11:23AM
When are you retiring?