Another difference is, compare the bloatware that is installed with cheaper PCS. In most cases, if you build a PC yourself and use good quality parts, you will end up paying about what you do for a mac. On Apr 30, 2011, at 6:51 AM, Chris Moore wrote:
> Compare the build quality of a cheap PC laptop to a Mac and you will see that > you get what you pay for. The closest in build quality to Apple is Sony. > Computers are like cars, you can buy cheap ones, or you can buy luxury ones. > They all have 4 wheels and get you from A to B, just some do it quicker, > sleeker and with more styling and comfort. > On 30 Apr 2011, at 11:51, Scott Howell wrote: > >> Aman, >> >> For The best thing is you have choice. APple has not failed at all and in >> fact has made an absolutely significant leap in the market. THe numbers >> speak for themselves and based on that it is apparent many feel the Mac is a >> worthwhile investment. I understand your point concerning a mobile solution >> and you want something that is cheap, so if it is stolen or damaged, you are >> out hundreds instead of a $1,000 etc. That works for you and You are correct >> that a computer is a tool, but in purchasing any tool, you have to consider >> your needs and what you are willing to invest in the tool. An inexpensive >> machine might be perfect for you when traveling etc., and again you have >> choice, which is great. However, if you have the money or are willing to >> make the investment in a more expensive tool because it will better meet >> your needs, then at least you have options. I could not disagree more though >> that APple has failed to consider consumers. If that were the case they >> would not be in the position they are today. Is Bose wrong for charging what >> they do for their products? THey charge more for headphones etc. then most >> manufacturers, but there is again even in this space a price point to fit >> all budgets. Bose however charges what they believe is a reasonable price >> for their product and this holds true for APple. Just because someone cannot >> afford or wishes to spend the money does not mean the company has failed. >> Does this make sense? >> On Apr 29, 2011, at 10:34 PM, Aman Singer wrote: >> >>> Hi, Carolyn and all. >>> I do not use a Mac for two reasons. The first, and most important, >>> has nothing to do with this thread, but a second, and almost equally >>> important reason is one which Carolyn's message below hints at. >>> Carolyn writes >>> The Mac is a totally different system, and built to some stringent >>> specifications. You don't see any Macs for $300 as you do for PC >>> machines. And there's >>> a good reason. They're worth more. >>> >>> I think they are worth more. That's not to say that they're worth >>> what is being charged for them, but if you're saying that a Mac is >>> worth more than most netbooks, I absolutely agree. The problem with >>> Apple is, though, that they don't realize that technology needs to be >>> adaptable to be taken up by a large number of people. I want a very >>> good desktop and an adequate laptop. That's because I want to carry my >>> laptop around with me everywhere. I want it light and I don't want to >>> worry about damaging it, losing it, etc. I can use my powerful desktop >>> remotely and everything works well. A $300 netbook is just the thing >>> for me. No Mac is. The wonderful thing about both Windows and Linux is >>> that they are so adaptable. Your $250 netbook runs Windows, and your >>> $1000 laptop runs Windows, and your $2500 desktop runs Windows. Your >>> plug PC costing $50 runs Linux and your $500 laptop Runs Linux and >>> your $2500 desktop runs Linux. Obviously, I could say more, but I'm >>> speaking strictly as a consumer. Anyhow, this is where Apple fails. >>> Their products are adaptable over a narrow range. For many >>> circumstances, what you want is simply something that will do the job >>> cheaply and reasonably, and that usually isn't a Mac. Sometimes you >>> want the fastest/best components on the market and here, again, Apple >>> fails because of its stringency. For example, SSDs were available for >>> other computers for nearly a year before they were available for the >>> Mac. I think what Brant is pointing out here isn't that the Mac is too >>> expensive for what you get, though that may well be true, but is too >>> rigidly expensive for certain users, and too rigidly cheap for others. >>> The fact that he finds the prices high is just a symptom, the disease, >>> if I may be so fanciful, is that a Mac machine doesn't adapt to his >>> situation. If you want the very high-end or the somewhat/very low-end, >>> you don't want a new Mac. If you want to spread your money >>> differently, spending more on certain components and less on others, >>> you don't want a Mac at all. Of course, that also means that your >>> skill set on a Mac, and this is particularly as an AT user, isn't as >>> useful because it isn't used on as many devices and at as many >>> locations. >>> Now, you may argue that all of the above is well and good for the >>> ordinary user but that it doesn't apply to the blind user because of >>> the cost of screen readers and other at. The cost savings, though, on >>> AT, have been somewhat exaggerated, in my view. They apply most >>> obviously to a person who has never bought a screen reader or other AT >>> before, and who wants something a bit more complicated than NVDA. This >>> person saves money, and gets capability, with the Mac. Others don't >>> save money quickly, don't save it at all, or take a cut in capability >>> when they buy a Mac. An example of where the financial savings take >>> quite a while to kick in is where people have already purchased a >>> screen reader, Say Jaws or Window Eyes, and are purchasing a Mac >>> rather than purchasing an SMA. Depending on the cost of the Mac and >>> the SMA, their savings may not kick in for anywhere from 2-5 years. >>> Again, people who want multiple computers, even if it is two machines, >>> can, because they need only purchase the screen reader once, end up >>> spending less on the Windows option over all. The more computers you >>> have, the more the cost of a screen reader purchase is wiped out by >>> cheaper hardware. Again, people who run Windows for any reason do not >>> save money except possibly for upgrade costs in their screen reader. >>> Again, people who want fairly simple computing can buy a netbook, use >>> NVDA, and save large amounts of money compared to those who buy a Mac. >>> My point, as if I haven't belaboured it enough, is that the Mac is not >>> adaptable in the same way the PC is, and that what I hear from those >>> who say that "the Mac costs more because it's better than Windows >>> Machines", ignores the further question "Why should I care if I don't >>> need to pay for a better machine?". >>> Note that where Apple has been really successful, they have brought >>> out devices which either push forward a category in its infancy (the >>> iPad and iPod), or fit into a fairly narrow category (iPhone). They >>> haven't been general purpose, like PCs are. >>> I should say that I know about, but completely ignore, the cool/other >>> emotional factors in buying any computer. I understand that people buy >>> the Mac because they feel that they're supporting accessibility, or >>> that buying mainstream technology rather than specialized access >>> technology is somehow important/beneficial, or that they like Apple's >>> design philosophy, or that their friends have Macs, and so on. I >>> acknowledge that these are reasons for some people, they're just not >>> reasons for me. I am not emotionally invested in any platform or >>> computer, a computer is a tool, and the only questions that matters to >>> me is what can it do and how much does it cost? It seems to me that >>> the Mac is still on the high-cost end of the curve, and that its >>> capabilities do not justify the premium charged by Apple which, as I >>> understand Brandt, is what he is saying. >>> Aman >>> >>> >>> >>> On 4/29/11, carolyn Haas <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> Hi Brandt: >>>> Couldn't disagree with this point of view more. First you're comparing >>>> Apples and raspberries.:) >>>> The Mac is a totally different system, and built to some stringent >>>> specifications. You don't see any Macs for $300 as you do for PC machines. >>>> And there's a good reason. They're worth more. >>>> Secondly: you're buying mainstream technology, and not having to fork out >>>> the price of a second machine just to get it to talk. Voiceover is built >>>> into the system, not as an adaptation of the system. >>>> As such, Vo is intended to give the VI Mac user a more accurate picture of >>>> the screen. >>>> >>>> >>>> Finally, even at $299, if docuscan works as well as we're hoping it does, >>>> it's still a third of the price of your krzweil or openbook programs. >>>> >>>> Sorry, but I believe when you buy a Mac, you get what you pay for. >>>> >>>> >>>> Carolyn >>>> >>>> On Apr 29, 2011, at 12:33 AM, brandt wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi there, >>>>> >>>>> Yes, $299 is a fair bit of money, but how many actually went and bought >>>>> open Book or something similar back when ever for 3 ore 4 times more? My >>>>> biggest complaint is not the cost of software but the ridiculous prices of >>>>> Mac computers. I can and probably will go the Hakintosh route just because >>>>> of that. >>>>> >>>>> Warm regards, >>>>> >>>>> Brandt Steenkamp >>>>> >>>>> If you like country, oldies and the occasional modern track, you can tune >>>>> in to my show, "an Eclectic mess" every Wednesday afternoon at 3 PM UTC by >>>>> going to www.TheGlobalVoice.info >>>>> >>>>> Contact me: >>>>> >>>>> Skype: brandt.steenkamp007 >>>>> MSN: [email protected] >>>>> Google talk/AIM: [email protected] >>>>> Twitter @brandtsteenkamp >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: E.J. Zufelt >>>>> To: [email protected] >>>>> Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 5:23 AM >>>>> Subject: Re: For those who can actually afford this, DocuScan Plus is now >>>>> on the mac app store. >>>>> >>>>> I know nothing at all about this app. But, I suspect that a significant >>>>> portion of the cost is related to licencing a OCR SDK >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Everett Zufelt >>>>> http://zufelt.ca >>>>> >>>>> Follow me on Twitter >>>>> http://twitter.com/ezufelt >>>>> >>>>> View my LinkedIn Profile >>>>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/ezufelt >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On 2011-04-28, at 10:05 PM, Matthew Campbell wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Hello Listers. >>>>>> DocuScan is now mac compatible and can be found on the mac app store. >>>>>> Don't get too excited though, unless you have $299.00 to burn on it. >>>>>> Hope this actually benefits someone. >>>>>> the Infuriated Matt Campbell. >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> [email protected]. >>>>> For more options, visit this group >>>>> athttp://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> [email protected]. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> [email protected]. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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