Apple: Get ‘em when they’re young

I'm not sure if Apple doesn't want to make that line because people should buy what they say they should buy, but actually they don't want to enter the low end market with very low profit margins. I think that they should. Yes it's true that a Xeon WS from Dell or HP is much more expensive, and the comparable all-in one from Dell is about the same price [I actually think the low end Dell with a 320GB HD but 2.33GHz CPU is the same as the iMac with a 2.4 GHz CPU and 250GB HD], but the MBP cost a lot more than the equiv. PC. Mike's point as that people may want to choose a less costly system that will fulfill most or all of their needs. He can even use a Mac user, me as an example with my $400 Acer laptop. I can afford to buy much more, but did not need a more costly Apple laptop. Also, many low end expandable computer can easily fill the needs of the home or business buyer. Subzero mentioned a while back that Psystar made an more affordable Mac, and obviously made money, so why can't Apple? It's because they choose to be in a high margin market. Let's face it, the Mac Mini is really,really low end. While i have never test driven one, I suppose that it too can fulfill many consumer needs, but it is less expandable than similar priced, more powerful Windows PC's. I'm afraid we Mackies can't really win that argument. [Mike, I slipped in that 4400 laptop reference again. I am trying to perpetually annoy everyone with it].

@mikegalos - You have still failed to answer these 3 simple questions...I truly am curious as to the answers. 1. Please let us know your objections to others' use of a non-Microsoft OS to complete the work that they chose to do, using the tools that they choose to use. 2. If a person chooses to spend their own money to buy what they prefer, what business is it of yours? 3. Please explain why you spend 16 hours a day on Paul's blog fighting a battle that you have no stake in. Oh, and does anybody know....is Pystar still selling PC's with OS X installed? I can't tell by their website. I think that they were in a legal battle with Apple over it at one point. --tayme

Lindy Nope. In general sales, desktops outsell laptops. What may have confused you is that in 2005 (not 2003), US RETAIL notebook sales beat desktops for the first time by 50.9% to 49.1%. That, of course, is only true because it ignores the entire online "build and customize" channel where desktops dominate as well as the business channel. Again, if Apple decides they don't want to compete in the mainstream market is fine. Pretending the market doesn't exist because Apple isn't in it is not.

Tayme, The questions you are asking is probably the same answer you would find if you asked a relgious jew to convert to christianty, or Islam...or a religious muslim to convert to judaism or christianity...or a religious christian to convert to judaism or islam...or...etc etc. What's the answer? Probably something like, "No, because they are all wrong, and I'm right"

tayme To, once again, answer your cute attempts at questions... 1. Please let us know your objections to others' use of a non-Microsoft OS to complete the work that they chose to do, using the tools that they choose to use. I don't. I object to people lying about other products. If you want to use CP/M on an 8080 that's fine with me. Just don't lie about other products. 2. If a person chooses to spend their own money to buy what they prefer, what business is it of yours? Again, I don't care what they spend their money on. If you want to spend $4K on a desktop that's fine with me. But don't tell me that a $609 Dell or DRWAM's $400 laptop is, to quote this board, "a piece of shat" or "cheap ***" because it isn't your choice. If you have real reasons, fine, state those and be willing to factually defend them if they're questioned. 3. Please explain why you spend 16 hours a day on Paul's blog fighting a battle that you have no stake in. Everyone needs a hobby. And correcting lies and "everybody knows" bull is one I like to do when I'm waiting for repies on more serious email and listening to podcasts. (and, no, I don't spend 16 hours a day here so your premises were wrong 3 times out of 3. Kind of like watching a Mac ad.)