“When Apple first announced its switch to “Intel Inside” most people seemed to rationalise the change on the grounds that users fundamentally don’t care what’s inside as long as the product meets their needs, that IBM wasn’t meeting Apple’s supply requirements on either volume or performance, and that Intel would,” Paul Murphy blogs for ZDNet. “In addition, most analysts glossed over the reversion to 32bit CPUs brought on by the switch…”
“…the current iMac and the forthcoming MacBook are the first new Macintosh series ever released not to have a price/performance advantage, when purchased as complete systems, over their Wintel competitors,” Murphy writes. “… the reversion to 32bit CPUs isn’t much of an issue for the laptops, iMac, and the entertainment products. It does, however, knock out the key business lines: the PowerMac and X-Serves, and therefore cripple Apple’s drive to maintain its market share in the high end publishing, photography, and video processing businesses. Fundamentally what’s going on with those lines is that each time Intel announces further delays in getting lower power, 64bit, CPUs or integrated multi-core processors out the door in volume, Apple’s options for this business line narrow and its credibility among key customer groups driving widespread downstream adoption decreases… the promised speed increases simply aren’t there. Many reviews have now been done of the Core Duo based products, and the results are virtually unanimous: on applications built specifically for the x86 architecture the dual core 2.Ghz Intel machine is in the range of 10 to 30% faster than the G5 it replaces while producing significantly less than 50% of the G5’s throughput on key user applications like Photoshop that have yet to be ported back to the x86 world.”
Murphy writes, “Look at an average real world usage mix and a new iMac is considerably slower than an old one. Users will, of course, understand intellectually why that is, but the right to watch Microsoft Word run more than twice as fast on the other guy’s Windows/XP machine isn’t going to sell a lot of MacBooks or iMacs… Bottom line? “Intel Inside” cheapens the brand, weakens the halo effect supporting Apple’s highly profitable entertainment products, raises Apple’s costs, results in reduced overall performance, and limits Apple’s ability to differentiate its products.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: A couple of points: 32-bit Intel CPUs are most probably not going into Power Macs and Xserves. If they do, Jobs had better bring along his “A” game RDF for that announcement. When Murphy writes that “the promised speed increases simply aren’t there,” he conveniently compares the G5 to the Core Duo and forgets that the PowerBooks was never a G5, it was a G4. The speed increases are there. Another important point is that Intel-based Macs actually get faster over time as more and more applications become Universal Applications (Intel- and PowerPC-native). One cannot take a snapshot at this early stage today and conclude that Intel-based Mac speed increases aren’t there. Quite the opposite is actually true. And who the heck cares how fast Microsoft Word runs; how fast can you type?! Anyway, as Microsoft and Adobe finally get their acts together on Universal Applications for the Mac, that iMac or MacBook Pro you just bought will get faster all by itself; you won’t have to do a thing except enjoy the speed (besides paying Adobe or Microsoft whatever price they demand for the upgrades). By the way, all of the benchmarks done to date weren’t done with the new faster, up to 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo chips that are now available for the MacBook Pro.
The Apple iMac Core Duo and the MacBook Pro are quite possibly the finest personal computers ever shipped for the consumer desktop and pro portable markets. Don’t just take our word for it, see the related articles below for reviews from many different sources.
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Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple begins shipping MacBook Pro notebook computers with faster 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo processors – February 14, 2006
Computerworld: Apple’s MacBook Pro ‘fast, really fast – looks like a real winner’ – January 28, 2006
Analyst: Apple seeing strong sales of iMac Core Duo, MacBook Pro, 5th generation iPod – January 25, 2006
Apple: expect MacBook Pro shortages – January 19, 2006
Use the ExpressCard slot to add FireWire 800 to Apple’s new MacBook Pro – January 15, 2006
Apple MacBook Pro, ExpressCard and EVDO – January 14, 2006
Apple introduces MacBook Pro; up to four times faster than PowerBook G4 – January 10, 2006
Apple iMac the finest, most reliable, stable, elegant and intuitive personal computer available – February 14, 2006
Dr. Mac Bob Levitus gives ‘highest recommendation’ for Apple iMac 2GHz Core Duo – February 07, 2006
Review: Apple 20-inch iMac Core Duo 2.0GHz – February 06, 2006
BusinessWeek: Apple’s new iMac Core Duo is an iMac on Steroids – February 02, 2006
AnandTech: Apple iMac G5 vs. iMac Intel Core Duo – February 01, 2006
Thurrott: ‘I highly recommend Apple’s new Intel-based iMac’ – January 31, 2006
Thurrott: ‘Nothing on Windows approaches the quality of Apple’s iLife ’06’ – January 31, 2006
Computerworld: Apple’s MacBook Pro ‘fast, really fast – looks like a real winner’ – January 28, 2006
MacSpeedZone: Apple’s iMac Core Duo nearly as fast as Power Mac G5 Quad – January 26, 2006
InfoWorld: Apple perfects the desktop personal computer with new iMac Core Duo – January 25, 2006
Flawed CNET review pans Apple’s iMac Core Duo with 7 out of 10 rating – January 23, 2006
Washington Post: Wait a month or so before buying Apple’s appealing new Intel-based iMac – January 22, 2006
Apple’s Intel-powered iMac provides a smooth transistion from PowerPC – January 21, 2006
PC Magazine review gives Apple iMac Intel Core Duo 4.5 out of 5 stars – January 20, 2006
Time names Apple iMac Core Duo ‘Gadget of the Week’ – January 20, 2006
Mossberg: New Intel-based iMac the best consumer desktop with the best OS and best software bundle – January 18, 2006
People calling the Mactels also cheapwns the brand.
Reading some of these comments, I think most people miss the point on what it means to cheapen a brand. It isn’t about tech specs or speed , brand is about perception of whats premium vs whats commodity. Intel has always represented the mass produced cheap side of things. Adding that to the Mac equation sorta dilutes the brand image a bit.
It makes people think it’s like everything else now.
“Dell Core Duo laptops are priced under $1000 and have a larger screen.
Apple has retaliated by offering faster processors in Mac Book Pro line.”
Yeah, but the Dell doesn’t have:
• Digital optical audio in/out
• Built-in iSight
• Backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor
• MacSafe connector
• Mac OS X
• iLife ’06
• BlueTooth (costs extra)
• Antivirus subscription (which the MBP doesn’t need)
• Anti-spyware subscription (which the MBP doesn’t need)
Plus, the Dell comes with all the extra stuff you DON’T want:
• 8lbs of heft vs. MBP’s 5.6lbs
• 60% THICKER (1.6″ vs. 1.0″ for the MBP)
• 75,000+ viruses
• Windows XP Home edition
You add all that stuff up, and the Dell Notebook doesn’t look like nearly as good a value as the MacBook Pro. Face it, the Dell Inspiron isn’t even in the same league as the MacBook Pro. Trying to compare them is like trying to compare a Ford Windstar against a Mercedes CLS500.
People calling the Mactels also cheapwns the brand
No putting a Intel processor in a Mac cheapened the brand.
At least calling them “Mactels” is better than calling them “MacIntels”.
Anyway Apple copyrighted “Mactel” so if it’s important to them, it’s important to us.
Andy,
“Yeah, but the Dell doesn’t have:“
To be fair, I doubt most people would consider the features that you listed to be worth $1000. And do you remember the little argument that keeps being used about the iPods and features like FM and power adapters and such? Yeah, it goes something like, “Apple is smart to not include things that not everyone may want or need.” Well, apparently that argument doesn’t hold up too well afterall.
Shut up and drink the Kool Aid, it tastes good. Now I’m going to take a dump and you will eat it and not complain. For everything I touch is gold and only a fool would question my wisdom.
– Steve Jobs
Amen Macromancer. The rest of the clones, especially the MDN ed. just don’t get it. They keep trying to tell us how great this is for all of us and how much it will help us along…Maybe you guys should get a job over at Fox News covering the war in Iraq. I’ll keep my G5 for the foreseeable future.
Andy C, click the link and see for yourself
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=155
Dell -larger monitor, bluetooth included, faster DVD burner
Camera’s are cheap, XP can be secured if you know how.
Vista is coming too and the Dell is $1000 cheaper.
I hate PC’s as much as the next Mac user, but I think Apple is in some serious trouble.
Kind of like having a Chrylser engine in a Chrysler and a Mercedes. The Mercedes is cheapened.
Or a Ford engine in a Ford and Ferrari. The Ferrari is cheapened.
… and contemplating high end computing and Intels offerings versus the G5: this 8-core chip Intel is promising is called ‘Clovertown’.
Clovertown: sounds like somebody tried to not say ‘Appletown Cupertino’ …
Maybe they’re meant to go in Xserves or Powermacs.
Or is it just the conspiracist poet in me?
ZDNET always pushing that PC’s are better. Well if the Mac is a little slower who cares. At least my Mac is running while your PC’s are fighting viruses,trojans,spyware,and hackers. I’m working and your PC’s are getting slammed! I bought the new iMac dualcore and it is fast. It runs darn near any application you throw at it even when not universal yet. The ones that are run at twice the speed. Believe me the new Macs are faster and the people who know anything about computers can tell easily and have written many articles already. ZDNET has always been preduduce against Apple and never get the facts, and I would compare them to your enquirer of high tech, full of it!
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Why compare a Mac with a Dell anyway? It is the cheapest and nastiest computer maker – on any platform. And of course it has to be cheap.
If Apple are planning on selling 10m Macs in 2006 (a 100% increase on 2005) then that will tell you all you need to know.
Mr. MacDude,
Referring to the article you mentioned, did you see the fact that that guy used a $650 coupon? I wonder how often you will be able to have a $650 coupon? The Dell is certainly not $1000 cheaper.
Check out the Blog by Tony Bove (the author of the book “Just say NO to Microsoft”). He has an article “The $350 Apple Vs. Dell debate”.
who said around Christmas time that Intel wouldn’t be able to ship Core Duo, and that NO Macs would be using Intel until 2007.
He’s so far out of touch it’s obviously intentional. What’s his agenda? He’s been pro-Mac before. Is he one of those people who can’t get past the PowerPC Denial stage? After a year?!
Anyother third class ” journalist” writes for M$ to spread FUD !!!!
Going 32 bit is temporary. We are in a transition and there are problems, but they are manageable. Don’t panic. The long run for Apple looks great. I’ve bet a multiple value of my house on it.
I’m so happy that I don’t have to use Aperture on a crippled duel-core MacBook Pro instead of my G4 PowerBook. I’d hate to be forced to step-down!
Paul Murphy blogs for Sports Illustrated:
This Michael Jordan, at 10 months old, can barely walk, not to mention run. His hang time is less than a tenth of second. The best move he has is bat around his arms. All the currently available basketball shoes are way too large for him. The same goes for uniforms and sunglasses. This kid will NEVER make it in the NBA. I’d be surprised if he can ever pick up a baseball, let alone a basketball.
I’m always amazed at how terribly written and inaccurate the “tech analysts” reports are. 90% of the readers of MDN could write a more intelligently thought out piece than this bozo.
Can you really cheapen a product that is already a giant pile of crap? Apple charges $1000 more than the competition for a slow and incompatible product. Who except for an Apple fan boy would want to blow a ton of money on a computer that has to interpret practically everything that runs on it?
Once the Mac is taken over by thousands and thousands of viruses and malware packages in the next few months there won’t be anyone that will admit to using an Apple computer. Meanwhile the rest of the computer industry can continue to improve the hardware and software products that run on the fast and secure Microsoft Windows.
MacDude, my point is that you can’t compare the two machines because they are so very different from each other. Someone who is willing to lug around a laptop that is 42% heavier, 60% thicker and put up with Windows XP Home Edition and give up all the other great features the MacBook Pro has, is not going to buy a Mac anyways.
Apple has only released one model in their notebook lineup, and it is a premium model with premium features. The Dell is a piece of crap compared to it. This whole Apple is more expensive is such an old argument. Apple using state of the art Intel next generation technology in their computers does not cheapen the brand as long as they continue to build machines that live up to the Apple brand name. The MacBook Pro does that with all it’s innovative features.
We should expect Dell to be able to beat Apple on price, because they make cheap shit. Dell can’t compete with Apple in design and features. So how is this news? I could have bought a Dell for $1000 but instead I bought a PowerMac for $2000+. I could have bought a Dell notebook for less money but I bought a MacBook Pro because it’s a far better machine running the world’s best OS.
Apple isn’t in trouble. It’s not like they couldn’t compete with Dell if they wanted to. Look at the iPod. They choose to compete on price and they have no problem doing it. But a computer is a little different from an mp3 player. Apple doesn’t want to cut corners like Dell does. If you want to save $1000+, then wait until Apple releases their lower end notebooks and buy one of those, or buy a Dell and enjoy.
Lets see where Apple is at the end of the year and we can revisit this discussion. But please for the love of god stop spreading all this idiotic FUD and quit fscking whining people!
64 bits is waaaay over-rated. This isn’t like the 16->32 bit transition where we were fianlly able to get enough memory space to run demanding programs.
64 bits is useful for ginormous database, engineering and bio-informatics datasets, but in day-to-day use it’s utterly irrelevant.
You cannot put enough memory in an iMac to utilize a 64-bit memory space anyway.
Queezzie said it best, AND didn’t insult anyone.
However guys…
What the hell is Apple supposed to do?
Die on principal? Wait till IBM gets off their asses? Wait till IBM stops selling their own servers? Demand that IBM stop making easy money selling chips — that won’t change for five years — for 9 million gameconsoles?
You nitwits aren’t shareholders are you?
EVERY three step advance by Apple, is prefaced with a step back.
You want a Harley, thank your god that Yamaha makes them engines.
The ONLY thing that is constant — is change.
MacDude:
Andy C, click the link and see for yourself
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=155
Dell -larger monitor, bluetooth included, faster DVD burner
Camera’s are cheap, XP can be secured if you know how.
Vista is coming too and the Dell is $1000 cheaper.
MacDude has a point. Apple’s prices are higher. Period. I’m not saying anything about quality, just pure numbers. Although the 17″ iMac is very competitive price-wise.
“the first new Macintosh series ever released not to have a price/performance advantage, when purchased as complete systems, over their Wintel competitors”
So where was this guy and ZDNet during the decade or so of PowerPC Macs that so clearly ALL had such a price/performance advantage over Wintel?
Seems to me that he is just making up whatever facts he wants to bolster an opinion piece.
Problem is this, Dell can cut their prices for products that compete with Apple’s offerings so much that it appears the Apple product is extremely overpriced.
Only those who know of the better Mac experience, and have already existing software may pay double for a Mac Book Pro.
If a Mac was a few hundred dollars more than a similar Dell then ok, but twice as much?
The price war has begun and Dell just send the first salvo.
I can’t convince anyone to buy a Mac Book Pro as their first time computer when a matching Dell (with a larger screen) is half the price.
Apple is in trouble if Dell keeps this ssh*t up and what’s funny Dell can.
Apple will never gain market share if their machines are twice as much a matching Dell.
Apple needs to respond, their machines offer little for that extra $1000.