Actually, Mac's do a much better job of self-maintenance. While you have to defrag, disk cleanup, anti-spyware and antivirus PC's, Mac's defrag most files themselves (other than really huge files) and are not affected by the majority of spyware and viruses. I'm not trying to be a Mac-lover/PC-hater, but I've used both extensively now for personal and work, and while I still find both useful the Mac wins out for me. Some people will never use one because of the cost, and that is certainly understandable. If I didn't do anything too advanced on the computer, I probably wouldn't have one. Some people will never use one because they think it's "hard to use" or "hard to adjust to", and that is just simply false. I think it's actually much easier to learn than a PC would be.
Ten years ago, yes, but all the MacBook's are repackaged Acers now. What you speak of is the apple tax. Personally, I don't think the tax is worth paying, if done so, so be it.
I think that applies more to the anti-Mac crowd. Most Mac lovers or dual users are converts. Sure - no personal hell at all. Except for the amount of PCs at work that roll over and die. Also use Linux on a few machines. I know how to get more out of the PCs than my mac at home, but that's just proportional to experience. Evan
Vista defrags my computer every night automatically, but the virus difference is to me the biggest advantage of a Mac, and the only reason I think I would ever considering owning one. Of course Macs could always take enough market share to force me into owning one.
Ok, I'm going to try and assume you aren't just blind trolling. Do you have a link for information on this acer claim? I am honestly interested to read about this.
Other than what was earlier discussed: Quanta Computers there's also more information about how apple has signed Quanta to make their iMacs. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but since Apple ditched Motorola for an x86 core they use the same third party manufacturers that all the other PC manufacturers use. I'm not saying they don't use good parts, in fact I think they use Asus mobo's and (obviously) Intel (I hate intel, but they make a good product) procs, even the ram they use is good (kingston I think, or at least the same 3rd party that they use). All I'm saying is that the distinction in hardware isn't as distinguishable as people perceive. That's the whole reason why they made the switch, by going to Intel outsourcing was easier and parts were more readily available. In fact, since the gen 1 iPod, no iPod even touches an Apple facility, iPhone's included. That's not a bad thing, it just throws out the notion that further care is taken.
In fact, most of the repairs aren't done by the Geniuses or even Apple. Most of the time (when I was with Geek Squad) we sent the stuff out to this third party contractor out in California (that did both PC's and Mac's), and if it was still within a year of being purchased Apple would pay out them directly. Yet again, I'm not saying this is a bad thing, it just goes to show in order to get more market share Apple is emulating what PC's have been doing for a while. Personally, this is a redeeming factor for me, but what annoys me is when people assume that just because they deal with some kid in a Genius shirt they're really getting anything different than dealing with a kid with a white shirt and tie.
I have both, use the PC for gaming obviously. But the one thing Macbooks have over any (AFAIK) windows laptop is the use of scrolling down with 2 fingers on the trackpad instead of a little wheel or dragging the bar on the right. It's sooooooooo useful. Wait What...
That link says that Quanta handles a wide range of computers, though. Not too mention we have no idea of the specific manufacturing processes required by each brand's contracts. Your crack that they are 'rebranded Acers' is just flat out incorrect. I completely understand valid criticisms, but that is being just plain disingenuous. Not too mention that Apple gets railed for being to proprietary, but when they aren't, they get crap for that too. Fanboy wars are just idiotic. EDIT: Also, thanks for the link. I'm not sure what Best Buy does, but I know for a fact that Apple Stores do repairs in house (my good friend was a 'genius' - and yeah we laughed at the name too - for two years), and what they can't gets shipped to Apple directly.
I scroll down and left and right on my 2003-2004 Dell laptop with one finger... big deal. That's a feature of the trackpad.
I guess a more apt comment would be Mac's are repackaged Quanta Computers who's leading contractor is Acer. I think you're getting caught up in the minutia but whatever. I wasn't making the remark as an insult, rather I was saying they aren't as proprietary as people believe. The OS, yes, made by them, but it's only a matter of time until they go the way of the old PC compatible and sooner or later you can buy an E-Machines Mac. Actually, if they did that I think I'd be OK with it. My main beef with Mac's has always been the "apple tax", then after that the myth that they are safer. If I can find the link I'll post it, engadget or gizmodo did a whole piece on how Vista is a safer OS but it's the whole 7.5% market share is a the difference maker. The issues I have are the myths about PC's and Macs.
I think he's just trying to point out to people that say somehow the parts are superior on Apples that they're manufactured using the same memory, hard drives, etc that are being put into Acers, Dells, etc. For example, the hard drive, memory, graphics card, etc. are all the same ones someone can go buy off the shelf for a PC. I *believe* all MacBooks used to be made in China by manufacturing plants owned/run by Quanta. Apple wouldn't be able to survive/be an industry leader if they were proprietary - that's something IBM learned the hard way decades ago. If you ask me, the only major difference between PC's and Macs now is the operating system and "the pretty factor". Choose what you feel is best... just don't try to skew the facts.
I understand that, but saying 'repackaged Acers' is still not proven by any of that. That would seem a skewing of facts, no? According to that Wiki, Quanta also works with Dell, Compaq, Fujitsu, HP, Alienware and others. Are they all 'repackaged Acers' as well? Like I said, I can appreciate real criticism...but I too would rather folks not, 'skew the facts', eh?
Actually if you follow PC forums, you'd know that most people already know that many notebooks are just ODM repackagings, so in a sense they are "repackaged [other things]". As for your examples of Dell, Compaq, Alienware, etc., yes, it's commonly known many of them are just ODM designs. But unlike others, I don't think that's a bad thing. I don't care about brands or looks as much as bang-for-the-buck. So people calling my laptop a "repackaged Acer" doesn't bother me as long as the thing works and is a good value. See following post. The OP gets kind of jumped on by the rest of the thread for posting what is already commonly known, but it could be educational to others in this thread : http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=171886
Regardless, it's not exactly concrete enough to be calling anything 'repackaged'. And the ODM process is a little more than 'repackaging' anyway, it seems. Heck, that link you just posted has the guy saying that Acer and Apple do manufacture their own. In any case, you and I will have to disagree if you think that comment was thrown in with innocent intentions. You are an intelligent guy (who still loves to take a few shots at Apple ) so I think you understand where I'm coming from.
I pried the emblem off a BMW and for some odd reason, a Hyundai symbol was under it. Hyundai's are reliable and great values, but you just can't get e-laid driving one....
Of course it does, but at some point I think the tone became kind of about Mac vs. Windows rather than just Mac vs. PC.
Read the whole first couple of sentences - he corrected it and added that even Apple doesn't manufacture their own. The comment was modified later. The box of my Macbook reads "Designed by Apple in California" and then "Assembled in China". BTW, Acer used to be an ODM for other manufacturers, which is one reason they could build their own. I thought they got out of the ODM business a few years ago, but I could be mistaken. The quote the person is using has long been posted on the Internet and originally appeared on the powernotebooks.com website. I know Apple has had Quanta, Foxconn, etc. build their products in the past. These are the same people building many of the other OEM notebooks. So to my knowledge, there are no glorious angels delivering Apple notebooks from heaven to stores. They're made along the same assembly lines as many of those "God-awful" PC's using many of the same parts. I think you missed the point of his comment. If you're just going to overlook the fact that the hard drive, memory, processor, video cards, etc. are simply the same things that go into PC's, well I can't do anything about that. If you're taking his comment word for word, then of course he's wrong, but I think he's smart enough to know that an Acer and an Apple are two different brands. It's like someone running around saying "I can't talk right now, I'm ass-deep in work". Do you expect to walk over and see his ass disappearing beneath his work? lol. Refer back to my statement that the argument was about whether the guts of a Mac are all that different from a PC nowadays. This was the argument - the internal parts are pretty much the same, so people arguing about hardware being inherently superior are climbing up the wrong tree. The argument should be about the operating systems and aesthetic design more than anything else. As for "taking shots at Apple". I take shots at lunacy. lol. People that overlook the obvious deficiencies in both platforms should be shot at. I use Apple products and PC's. They both work for what I need them to work for. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. For me, the PC is indispensible due to work and convenience. If people would keep an open mind about these things and actually research what they're buying, we wouldn't have many of the geek wars you see in these threads. What am I saying? Sure we would.
