Comments on: Debunking The “Apple-Tax” http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/ The Geek Collective Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Bart http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-841 Bart Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:36:34 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-841 Been on macBooks & iMac for years and while I think they aren't as bad as most people claim you can't deny that they are MUCH more expensive. Sorry but you didn't debunk anything. First of all, a PC isn't a Dell. Could be an HP or a self-built desktop. have you compared the price between a MacBook Pro and an HP laptop with similar features? Do you know how cheap desktops can be if you purchase a non-brand one, that will have EXACTLY the same components inside? The difference often is hundreds of $. Secondly, other brands also have their "trendy" computers and you will pay more for the brand (eg: Sony Vaio). The XPS isn't exactly Dell's cheapest. Last but least, Apple THEMSELVES admit to valuing profit over market share. If you want to promote Apple products do it with real facts: Nice design, much better interfaces than most other products, "user" friendly. NOT price... Been on macBooks & iMac for years and while I think they aren’t as bad as most people claim you can’t deny that they are MUCH more expensive.

Sorry but you didn’t debunk anything.

First of all, a PC isn’t a Dell. Could be an HP or a self-built desktop. have you compared the price between a MacBook Pro and an HP laptop with similar features? Do you know how cheap desktops can be if you purchase a non-brand one, that will have EXACTLY the same components inside? The difference often is hundreds of $.

Secondly, other brands also have their “trendy” computers and you will pay more for the brand (eg: Sony Vaio). The XPS isn’t exactly Dell’s cheapest.

Last but least, Apple THEMSELVES admit to valuing profit over market share.

If you want to promote Apple products do it with real facts: Nice design, much better interfaces than most other products, “user” friendly. NOT price…

]]> By: dan http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-712 dan Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:52:13 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-712 You put non essential software on there also windows vista 64 bit definitely does not cost 150 dollars more. At the time you did this they did NOT charge for vista it was with the computer. This error in of itself shows that this article is flawed. Also the gaming capabilities of that pc are much much better than that of that mac. Also u can build pcs urself. That same computer would cost me 700 dollars to build myself. You put non essential software on there also windows vista 64 bit definitely does not cost 150 dollars more. At the time you did this they did NOT charge for vista it was with the computer. This error in of itself shows that this article is flawed. Also the gaming capabilities of that pc are much much better than that of that mac. Also u can build pcs urself. That same computer would cost me 700 dollars to build myself.

]]> By: Why Apple’s Trackpad isn’t that Magical | The Modern Day Pirates http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-709 Why Apple’s Trackpad isn’t that Magical | The Modern Day Pirates Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:33:16 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-709 [...] a person who has time and time again defended Apple’s pricing, this advice may come as a surprise to hear from me, but that is [...] [...] a person who has time and time again defended Apple’s pricing, this advice may come as a surprise to hear from me, but that is [...]

]]> By: Nsight7 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Nsight7 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:31:16 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-397 Sorry, one more thing, I accidentally stated above that it was a i7 920, when in truth it was a HIGHER model i7, as the 920 is the cheapest quadcore in the line with merely a 2.67 GHz clock (I should know, one is in my current rig). This higher one specified above (a i7 940 if I recall) cost nearly twice as much as the time this "article" (if you could call it that) was written. Sorry, one more thing, I accidentally stated above that it was a i7 920, when in truth it was a HIGHER model i7, as the 920 is the cheapest quadcore in the line with merely a 2.67 GHz clock (I should know, one is in my current rig). This higher one specified above (a i7 940 if I recall) cost nearly twice as much as the time this “article” (if you could call it that) was written.

]]> By: Nsight7 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-396 Nsight7 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:05:55 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-396 I remember debunking this exact article for someone like a year ago when the produced it as evidence for the NON-existence of an apple-tax. My exact response was this: "LOL at the second link. It is so ambiguous. I was looking at the specific setups they espoused and they were comparing an i7 at 2.93 GHz vs a Core 2 Duo (not EVEN a quad) at the same clock, which is a very poor comparison. Even a i7 Quad vs Core 2 Quad at the same clock, the i7 wins by 20%-ish. No comparison vs C2D. Also a Radeon 4850 vs an Nvidia GT 120, another massive difference in processing power and an unfair comparison when attempting an apples-to-apples comparison (the Radeon performs MUCH MUCH better but also obviously costs more). Further, on the link they arbitrarily upgraded to a higher-level 24" monitor for a much greater cost. I doubt this is warranted but the LCD of the iMac may or may not be better, but again, it seems fishy in this comparison. Also lol at including the rebate for a printer towards how much the Apple wins by. This should not count at all. Further, you could easily get a cheaper wireless and install yourself, which is of course the beauty of a PC system." Summary - CPU comparison was done based upon clock rate ALONE! Dell was really sporting a quad-core i7 920 vs the paltry Core 2 Duo, a last-gen dual-core. - GPU comparison was done between a Radeon 4850 and an Nvidia GT 120. A 4850 is comparable to a 9800 GTX+, which is well OVER 10x's as good a graphics card as the GT 120 LITERALLY! - The rebates are NOT fixed variables here, they are necessarily time-dependent. Two weeks from the time this was written the rebates for things like printers might have been reversed (i.e. it might have been Dell offering the rebates on printers, et cetera). - The 24" SUPER upgrade looks fishy, but I will ALMOST allow it since Apple displays are supposed to be impressive. Still, one could shop a better price on a separate display NO problem. - None of this even mentions the fact that there is more RAM and hard-drive space on the PC, which costs a MUCH pretty penny on Macs for similar upgrades. Conclusion: The writer of this article either knows precisely DICK about computers or decided to hype the Mac at the cost of his intellectual integrity. Either way, I am disappointed. One more thing, the conclusions across the web are pretty unanimous, that an Apple-tax does in fact exist. This isn't necessarily bad, as the hardware and software are strongly coupled in an Apple system and typically last quite some time and run OSX very efficiently. The contentious point isn't whether or not the Apple-Tax exists (it DOES!), but whether or not it is worth it. In some cases, for some people, I would say it very likely is. I remember debunking this exact article for someone like a year ago when the produced it as evidence for the NON-existence of an apple-tax. My exact response was this:

“LOL at the second link. It is so ambiguous. I was looking at the specific setups they espoused and they were comparing an i7 at 2.93 GHz vs a Core 2 Duo (not EVEN a quad) at the same clock, which is a very poor comparison. Even a i7 Quad vs Core 2 Quad at the same clock, the i7 wins by 20%-ish. No comparison vs C2D. Also a Radeon 4850 vs an Nvidia GT 120, another massive difference in processing power and an unfair comparison when attempting an apples-to-apples comparison (the Radeon performs MUCH MUCH better but also obviously costs more). Further, on the link they arbitrarily upgraded to a higher-level 24″ monitor for a much greater cost. I doubt this is warranted but the LCD of the iMac may or may not be better, but again, it seems fishy in this comparison. Also lol at including the rebate for a printer towards how much the Apple wins by. This should not count at all. Further, you could easily get a cheaper wireless and install yourself, which is of course the beauty of a PC system.”

Summary
- CPU comparison was done based upon clock rate ALONE! Dell was really sporting a quad-core i7 920 vs the paltry Core 2 Duo, a last-gen dual-core.
- GPU comparison was done between a Radeon 4850 and an Nvidia GT 120. A 4850 is comparable to a 9800 GTX+, which is well OVER 10x’s as good a graphics card as the GT 120 LITERALLY!
- The rebates are NOT fixed variables here, they are necessarily time-dependent. Two weeks from the time this was written the rebates for things like printers might have been reversed (i.e. it might have been Dell offering the rebates on printers, et cetera).
- The 24″ SUPER upgrade looks fishy, but I will ALMOST allow it since Apple displays are supposed to be impressive. Still, one could shop a better price on a separate display NO problem.
- None of this even mentions the fact that there is more RAM and hard-drive space on the PC, which costs a MUCH pretty penny on Macs for similar upgrades.

Conclusion: The writer of this article either knows precisely DICK about computers or decided to hype the Mac at the cost of his intellectual integrity. Either way, I am disappointed.

One more thing, the conclusions across the web are pretty unanimous, that an Apple-tax does in fact exist. This isn’t necessarily bad, as the hardware and software are strongly coupled in an Apple system and typically last quite some time and run OSX very efficiently. The contentious point isn’t whether or not the Apple-Tax exists (it DOES!), but whether or not it is worth it. In some cases, for some people, I would say it very likely is.

]]> By: Steve Jobs http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-347 Steve Jobs Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:34:06 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-347 This is totally untrue. There IS an apple tax. -Steve This is totally untrue. There IS an apple tax.

-Steve

]]> By: S.M. http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-346 S.M. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:23:10 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-346 Wow, what a terrible article; the two "comparison" models aren't even similar. Massive fail. Wow, what a terrible article; the two “comparison” models aren’t even similar. Massive fail.

]]> By: Samus http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Samus Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:03:25 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-345 I'm a huge apple fan. This article blows. And Jerad, you missed the point entirely. Unnecessary, sure, but it's included with the apple package so you have to add it in for comparison. Look, any pc faggot will yell 'compatibility' all effing day, but the fact is, people who buy imacs don't give a crap. Gaming on a pc? yeah, no thanks. I’m a huge apple fan. This article blows.

And Jerad, you missed the point entirely. Unnecessary, sure, but it’s included with the apple package so you have to add it in for comparison.

Look, any pc faggot will yell ‘compatibility’ all effing day, but the fact is, people who buy imacs don’t give a crap. Gaming on a pc? yeah, no thanks.

]]> By: JC http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-344 JC Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:47:13 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-344 As an Apple-fan, this article is embarrassing and simply furthers the image of Mac Elitism. I'm going to assume this is anti-Apple meta-trolling. In which case, well done. As an Apple-fan, this article is embarrassing and simply furthers the image of Mac Elitism. I’m going to assume this is anti-Apple meta-trolling. In which case, well done.

]]> By: Mion S http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Mion S Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:45:58 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-343 are the people saying "haha great article" actually reading this at all are the people saying “haha great article” actually reading this

at all

]]> By: Bob http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-342 Bob Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:37:17 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-342 Let's try comparing two products that are, y'know, actually vaguely similar. http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/notebooks/laptop-studio-xps-16/pd.aspx?refid=laptop-studio-xps-16&s=dhs&cs=19 Studio XPS 16 Core i5 4 gig RAM 500 gig HD Radeon 4670 Blu-Ray $1200 http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro?aid=AIC-WWW-NAUS-K2-BUYNOW-MACBOOKPRO-INDEX&cp=BUYNOW-MACBOOKPRO-INDEX Macbook Pro 17 inch Intel Core 2 Duo 4 gig RAM 500 gig HD 9600 GT DVD $2500 Let’s try comparing two products that are, y’know, actually vaguely similar.

http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/notebooks/laptop-studio-xps-16/pd.aspx?refid=laptop-studio-xps-16&s=dhs&cs=19

Studio XPS 16
Core i5
4 gig RAM
500 gig HD
Radeon 4670
Blu-Ray

$1200

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro?aid=AIC-WWW-NAUS-K2-BUYNOW-MACBOOKPRO-INDEX&cp=BUYNOW-MACBOOKPRO-INDEX

Macbook Pro 17 inch

Intel Core 2 Duo
4 gig RAM
500 gig HD
9600 GT
DVD

$2500

]]> By: Jerad http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-341 Jerad Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:26:34 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-341 The article author is a complete idiot. The $200 printer and software package are unnecessary. And if you want or need a printer. You don't have to stick with the same bran considering BestBuy and Dell offer rebates or 100% free printers with purchases. Those computers aren't even similar with the Dell having MUCH better specs. You bought the priciest Monitor available when most PC users already have a monitor and wouldn't buy one anyway. Also, most people with a desktop wouldn't need a wireless card. But if they did, they would buy one for $30-40 at Wal-Mart, Staples, Bestbuy rather than one for $70. The author has absolutely no idea how to shop around which is one of the selling points of Windows. Not to mention the unnecessary addition of Windows Ultimate which 90% of users don't need. The article author is a complete idiot. The $200 printer and software package are unnecessary. And if you want or need a printer. You don’t have to stick with the same bran considering BestBuy and Dell offer rebates or 100% free printers with purchases.

Those computers aren’t even similar with the Dell having MUCH better specs. You bought the priciest Monitor available when most PC users already have a monitor and wouldn’t buy one anyway. Also, most people with a desktop wouldn’t need a wireless card. But if they did, they would buy one for $30-40 at Wal-Mart, Staples, Bestbuy rather than one for $70. The author has absolutely no idea how to shop around which is one of the selling points of Windows.

Not to mention the unnecessary addition of Windows Ultimate which 90% of users don’t need.

]]> By: Jim Perkins http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-200 Jim Perkins Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:43:43 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-200 proof. Funny how when The PC vs mac propaganda commercials make all kinds of false claims and Microsoft instead of crying like a little baby runs the Im a PC ad's that show that PC isn't all about buisiness. Hell the videogame indistry alone is proof of that. Macs (OSX) can only run games if they become a pc (run Windows) and also show that PC costs less than Mac. So what does Apple do they call Microsoft and cry about it and ask them to stop running the ad's that don't even lie about anything. I love how people always claim than OSX so superior yet they still have to use windows for *some stuff* and you never see a windows user that has to use OSX for anything. why when Linux is free and more secure then the freebsd based OSX that Apple claims as their own. Why woiuld I want to use a heavily modified freeBSD distro from a company that took one of the more secure operating systems and screwed with it so it can be hacked in minutes (Pwn2own). Even Vista lasted longer then OSX. Yeah any OS can be hacked, but not as fast as OSX. Yes macs do have a use. They are perfect for people that are computer illiterate. There are people that understand computers that use mac. I however have yet to hear a good reason to use a mac or OSX other than * I just prefer to use a mac* Te only competition that barely comes close is final cut pro, but not really because I can run Adobe products on a PC or I could get a Avid setup. Las time I checked CS4 will only run in 64 bit mode on windows, but that was awhile ago I am sure Apple has fixed that by now (August 17, 2009) P.S. caution Mac users claiming that someone is: 1. long winded and can't shut up about how Mac,OSX,Apple sucks. 2. a PC fanboy doesn't prove them wrong either. proof.
Funny how when The PC vs mac propaganda commercials make all kinds of false claims and Microsoft instead of crying like a little baby runs the Im a PC ad’s that show that PC isn’t all about buisiness. Hell the videogame indistry alone is proof of that. Macs (OSX) can only run games if they become a pc (run Windows) and also show that PC costs less than Mac. So what does Apple do they call Microsoft and cry about it and ask them to stop running the ad’s that don’t even lie about anything.
I love how people always claim than OSX so superior yet they still have to use windows for *some stuff* and you never see a windows user that has to use OSX for anything. why when Linux is free and more secure then the freebsd based OSX that Apple claims as their own. Why woiuld I want to use a heavily modified freeBSD distro from a company that took one of the more secure operating systems and screwed with it so it can be hacked in minutes (Pwn2own). Even Vista lasted longer then OSX. Yeah any OS can be hacked, but not as fast as OSX. Yes macs do have a use. They are perfect for people that are computer illiterate. There are people that understand computers that use mac. I however have yet to hear a good reason to use a mac or OSX other than * I just prefer to use a mac* Te only competition that barely comes close is final cut pro, but not really because I can run Adobe products on a PC or I could get a Avid setup. Las time I checked CS4 will only run in 64 bit mode on windows, but that was awhile ago I am sure Apple has fixed that by now (August 17, 2009)
P.S. caution Mac users claiming that someone is: 1. long winded and can’t shut up about how Mac,OSX,Apple sucks. 2. a PC fanboy doesn’t prove them wrong either.

]]> By: Jim Perkins http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-199 Jim Perkins Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:44:50 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-199 ohh boy this article is so Crapple biased and full of shit. All this article does is proves it that the author is either (this is the very very short explanation by the way): 1. is a total dumb shit when it comes to shopping for (and comparing)computers. 2. Totally gay for Steve jobs and configured this so it looks like the apple tax does not exist. I can really go into detail if needed. the other thing is that this was written in April 7, 2009 as of August 17, 2009 the Imac with these specs still costs just about the same while the XPS with these specs will cost a lot less. P.S. caution Mac users attacking a persons grammar does not magically prove them wrong. you actually need real ohh boy this article is so Crapple biased and full of shit. All this article does is proves it that the author is either (this is the very very short explanation by the way): 1. is a total dumb shit when it comes to shopping for (and comparing)computers. 2. Totally gay for Steve jobs and configured this so it looks like the apple tax does not exist. I can really go into detail if needed.
the other thing is that this was written in April 7, 2009 as of August 17, 2009 the Imac with these specs still costs just about the same while the XPS with these specs will cost a lot less.
P.S. caution Mac users attacking a persons grammar does not magically prove them wrong. you actually need real

]]> By: nick.pazoles.com » Blog Archive » Further proof there is no “Apple tax” http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-173 nick.pazoles.com » Blog Archive » Further proof there is no “Apple tax” Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:17:55 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-173 [...] recently stumbled upon this article that tries to “debunk” the Apple tax. They price out a comparable Dell (vs. a 24 inch [...] [...] recently stumbled upon this article that tries to “debunk” the Apple tax. They price out a comparable Dell (vs. a 24 inch [...]

]]> By: Robert Lendvai http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-171 Robert Lendvai Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:56:11 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-171 Let's not forget the Apple Store and the incredible service offered at the Genius Bar for Mac customers. I've had a few issues with my MacBook Pro (most of which I caused). Even though my machine is out of warranty they have replaced my hard drive for free. Replaced a battery that had served me well for almost 18 months for free. Replaced my screen (I dropped it but don't tell them) for free. That's not a tax --- that's just incredible commitment to service and a focus on a great customer experience. I just can't fathom what the process would have been like had I bought another Dell. Let’s not forget the Apple Store and the incredible service offered at the Genius Bar for Mac customers. I’ve had a few issues with my MacBook Pro (most of which I caused). Even though my machine is out of warranty they have replaced my hard drive for free. Replaced a battery that had served me well for almost 18 months for free. Replaced my screen (I dropped it but don’t tell them) for free. That’s not a tax — that’s just incredible commitment to service and a focus on a great customer experience.

I just can’t fathom what the process would have been like had I bought another Dell.

]]> By: Jim http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Jim Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:24:11 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-168 Awesome deep-dive analysis. After 15 years on a PC, I switched to Mac in 2007 and have never looked back. Love it. Awesome deep-dive analysis. After 15 years on a PC, I switched to Mac in 2007 and have never looked back. Love it.

]]> By: Lauren http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-166 Lauren Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:17:56 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-166 I was just talking about this with a friend the other day - thanks for doing all the research for me! Haha. I think I'm officially shopping a Mac for my next computer. I was just talking about this with a friend the other day – thanks for doing all the research for me! Haha. I think I’m officially shopping a Mac for my next computer.

]]> By: Chrissol http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/2009/04/debunking-the-apple-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-165 Chrissol Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:34:49 +0000 http://www.themoderndaypirates.com/pirates/?p=366#comment-165 not to mention the costly time wasted dealing with Windows. not to mention the costly time wasted dealing with Windows.

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