New Macs – am I excited?
I have a Mac Mini G4 512MB, bought Q1/2006 – it was slow when I bought it, and it’s slow now. (At least it hasn’t “degraded” in performance!)
At least 4 of my friends bought new Macs yesterday as they brought out new models. My Mini is in line for replacement (well, it was from the first day I bought it really, I mean it essentially “doesn’t work” due to its speed..)
So I was considering buying a new one but check out the comparison:
| New Mac Mini (2009) | My desktop PC (Nov. 2008) | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 2.0 GHz Dual-core | 2.4 GHz Quad-core |
| Memory | 1GB | 8GB |
| Hard disk(s) | 1 disk (total 120 GB) | 2 disks (total 160 GB) |
| Hard disk rotation speed | 5.4k RPM (Rotations per minute) | 14.4k RPM equiv. (striped; each disk 7.2k) |
| Price in Austria (incl VAT) | € 599 (now) | € 601 (3 months ago) |
| Includes OS pre-installed | Yes | Yes (XP) |
I mean the Mac Mini is a nice computer: it’s quiet, it’s small, but still, it’s difficult to justify really. I think the main point almost is the hard disk rotation speed, I’ve come to the conclusion.
It’s like Apple could easily make a much more powerful computer, but then there wouldn’t be as much difference between the Mini and the next level up. So to emphasise the difference, rather than making the next level up more powerful, they make the Mini less powerful. At least that’s the way it seems to me, I mean how else could one explain the Mini’s specs.
While we’re on the subject, let’s compare the Sony Vaio I’ve typing this on, which I’ve been using all day, on battery. Apple are proud of their policy of “less is more” but surely when it comes to ports, “more is more”!?
| Macbook Air (2008) | Sony Vaio TX (2006) | |
|---|---|---|
| Height (who cares?) | 0.76″ | 1.12″ |
| Width, Depth (important) | 12.8″ x 8.9″ | 10.7″ x 7.7″ |
| Battery life | 4.5 hrs (marketing) | 7 hrs (actual: measured by me) |
| USB Ports | 1 | 2 (more would be better!) |
| PCMCIA card (e.g. for UMTS) | No | Yes |
| Built-in modem (e.g. hotel in Asia) | No | Yes |
| Build-in network port (!) | No | Yes |
| Internal optical drive | No | DVD reader/writer |
I haven’t compared processors or price as there are years between the release of the two computers.
Whilst I agree with what you say based on pure facts, it is a bit like comparing a Ford with a BMW. If you compare the plain facts between a £15k Mondeo and a £40k BMW, clearly the Bavarian motor makes no sense. But for a lot of people it will be the one they aspire too, even if they can only afford the Ford.
Apple seem to positively thrive on producing desirable products and will always charge a premium for them, nobody in the PC industry seems to want to make products that people aspire too, giving Apple a monopoly in that area.
Having said that some of the new Dell laptops do indeed look like they have been designed by somebody with design skills rather than just being purely functional products, maybe the increase in competition for these designer products from existing PC manufacturers will cause Apple to have to rethink their pricing.
/me goes to play with new iMac ;)
You do indeed pay a huge premium for an apple product. Although I’m not sure about your prices, €599 for a Mac mini sounds like too much. In the apple store they are £469.20 (with discount), which is approx €525.85.