“I’ve started shopping for a new PC. The 2.2 GHz Athlon-64-based HP I’ve been using for almost exactly two years is finally starting to get a bit long in the tooth, what with second generation dual core chips now available and Windows Vista on the way. Whatever I get, it will be based on Intel’s Core 2 Duo microprocessor. It’s down to three choices: An Apple iMac, a Dell XPS 410, and an HP Media Center PC,” Paul Thurrott writes for Internet Nexus.
“The Apple has one advantage: It can dual boot between OS X and Windows, giving me quick access to Apple’s excellent iLife suite. But the Apple has a number of disadvantages, some of which are specific to my situation. First, I don’t really need a display: I’m using a gorgeous 23-inch Sony right now, and it runs at 1920 x 1200. I can save some money and desk real estate by not getting another display. Also, the Apple isn’t as expandable as the other options (both of which are tower designs). You can’t get a multi-format media reader built into the iMac,” Thurrott writes. “What to do, what to do…”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Why would anyone limit themselves with a Dell or HP that can’t run Mac OS X, iLife, Front Row, etc.? Only Apple Macs can run Mac OS X along with Windows and Linux. What Thurrott should obviously do is buy the iMac, use his existing 23-inch Sony as an additional display in extended desktop mode via the iMac’s mini-DVI port, and pick up an inexpensive USB media reader like Belkin’s US$39.99 Hi-Speed USB 2.0 15-in-1 Media Reader & Writer, for example (even less expensive media readers exist). Considering the iMac’s built-in iSight camera, the included remote, Mac OS X, iLife, Front Row, and more, it’s a no-brainer.
Related MacDailyNews article:
Fortune compares Mac vs. Dell: ‘you’ll get more for your money with Apple’ – September 11, 2006
Mossberg: Apple makes ‘best desktop computer on the market’ iMac even more attractive – September 07, 2006
Apple iMac line gets 64-bit Intel Core 2 Duo processors; pricing starts at $999; new 24-inch model – September 06, 2006
Thurrott pits Apple Mac Pro vs. similarly configured Dell, figures out the Mac is less expensive – August 18, 2006
Microsoft Windows five times more expensive for users than Apple’s Mac OS X – August 15, 2006
Apple Mac Pro with/ 20” Cinema Display less expensive than Dell Precision 690 sans monitor – August 10, 2006
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
Apple iMac the finest, most reliable, stable, elegant and intuitive personal computer available – February 14, 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
InfoWorld: Apple perfects the desktop personal computer with new iMac Core Duo – January 25, 2006
Mossberg: New Intel-based iMac the best consumer desktop with the best OS and best software bundle – January 18, 2006
I just love it when PC users argue that Macs can’t be upgraded as much as PCs. Then you ask them how much upgrading they’ve done to their PC and they say RAM. I agree with PC Apologist on the point that, if he is getting rid of a 2 year old 2.2ghz 64 bit Athlon because it’s “long in the tooth”, upgradability is really not that important to him. It just makes him sound like a hardcore geek to say so.
That said, I’d really rather he just buy the Dell and shut up about the Mac from now on. He deserves no better than a Dell.
What is it with PeeCee Fanboys and the FUGLY built-in can opener/flash card readers they seem to put such value in? Most Digicams have either a FireWire and/or a USB 2 output, so why the bother with that sh*t?
What to do mr Paul?
Eat shit and die
No brainer. Go iMac, Not because I a Mac fan but also it’s a great deal.
You can run three different Operating systems on it ( Linux, Windows, Mac OS, great software bundle, rock solid reliability. It has the cleanest appeal out of all computers and no wires dangling all over the place. It’s a computer that anyone will be proud of to have on they’re desktop.
Why go dell or Hp when U can go Apple.
Now with Core 2 duo here, and the 24 inch iMac. It’s very tempting.
If you want a bigger screen, there is a mini DVI output so you can always put a bigger screen out.
It has a good video card that can suit all our need, I think the only thing that should ever need upgrading is the ram.
Don’t give him any hits. Don’t click on the article. It does not matter!
It doesn’t seem like a fair copmparison. iMac versus towers? That’s like comparing Apples to lemons? Oh, wait…
What’s the diff between the Dell and the HP? Are there actual differences in the hardware that would make a person pick one over the other?
He should get the 24″ iMac, since he’s used to a 23″ screen. Expandability obviously isn’t important if he’s replacing his machines every 2 years. He obviously isn’t taking advantage of the expandability of his current system, is he?
Please Paul, buy the Dell. You richly deserve a piece of sh*t.
“The 2.2 GHz Athlon-64-based HP I’ve been using for almost exactly two years is finally starting to get a bit long in the tooth”
A 2.2 GHz. PC is getting long in the tooth? No, Mr. Turdrot, it is Winblows that is getting long in the tooth. There is nothing wrong with your computer. It is your OS that is getting bogged down by its own patchwork.
My 450 MHz. Cube is 6 years old and working better than the day I bought it.
iDiot ought to be his tag line.
The Apple has one advantage
Damn right it does, it’s not a Dell or an HP assembled from identikit “how to assemble a WinDell computer” guides, based on low-quality plastics and Imagination Not Included™ operating system software.
For $2000, Thurrott could get himself a 24″ iMac, and another $150-200 would probably take care of his card reader, an OEM copy of Windows (assuming that his pimps at Redmond can’t provide one) and the mini-DVI adapter.
He could then run OS X and Windows side-by-side, MacOS on one screen, Windows on the other.
If he really wanted to make his Mac dance, he could even use Parallel’s to run Linux, Solaris or other guest systems at the same time; he could land up with three or four computers in in one box.
But all of this assumes that Thurrott is capable of not acting like an asshat. Which is one hell of an assumption.
Clearly, Thurrott has forgotten one of the basic tenets of PC users:
MASS = POWER
Just buy the largest box and crawl back into your hole, troll.
I compared a 20 inch iMac to a similar 20″ Dell configuration last week. The iMac was $250 more. OK, that’s fine. But then I noticed the iMac uses the laptop version of the Core 2 Duo. That’s a big performance hit. So, no sale for you.
Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to have a new Mac, but the only Apple without the laptop proc is the 40 pound Mac Pro. That’s just too much for what I need or want. I wish Apple made a desktop in between the mini and the Pro.
Paul, don’t buy more computer than you need. You can get the Barbie Desktop Computer for less than 45 bucks.
Difference between Dell and HP: Not much. IMHO, both companies base future on brand trust.
To consumers, HP has a more brand trust than Dell, since consumers are targeted more by HP than Dell. And more businesses go with Dell, since businesses are targeted by Dell more than HP.
Don’t give this guy any hits, he is simply trolling for hits, “what to do, what to do”, not even good bait. Ignoring him is your best response.
Either get a MacPro with huge upgrade potential and use his existing monitor.
OR
The iMac and hook the second monitor up and have two screens.
Is it really that difficult to work out?
Why is his old computer long int he tooth. All he does is write incomprehensible drivel (comparing an all in one to towers and ignoring the mac tower) and probably surfs porn. I would think his old computer (why he doesn’t do that PC thang and ‘upgrade’ is beyond me) is more that up to snuff to do that.
Paul continually demonstrates for us the main difference between genius and stupidity! That there are limits to genius. Thanks Paul.
It’s a pity that Mac users are labeled as smug, condescending, and elitist. I can’t imagine where people might get that impression.
newbie here, but cldnt he just get a suped up 2g ram mini mac,($1,049) and add external storage..
that was my plan, (except the storage) until I walked into the apple store and left with a 20″Imac,
Now after reading this thread, I know what to do with my other moniter”17 HP, leave it running parallels XP
Thurroturd isn’t buying any computer. He gets them all to try for free. He is scrounging for hits and just creating hype. MDN hit the nail…extend your display and boot your virus prone OS if you want to and plug in your media reader and I’m sure you still need a USB floppy, Thurroturd.
Paul can buy whatever he wants. We shouldn’t care.
He periodically attempts to endear himself to the “Mac Cult” by throwing Macish items about as itself a premptive attempt to protect himself from being flamed to a crater when his habitual thoughts appear.
But, he’s still far to inured in the Windows camp, and his writings are still far to easy to see his biases despite his best efforts.
I say to his quandry: meh.
Hmmm…I find myself, oddly, vengefully, praying he buys the Dell!
A match made in Heaven—or more appropriately, the other direction.
I say buy the Dell. I don’t want him on our bandwagon. Besides he deserves the horror of a Dell running Windows as his penance for trolling about the Mac all these years.