Originally Posted by
chuckd
Your first sentence is 100% right on. Mac people seem to feel a constant need to proclaim their choice of computer to the world as if it mattered, prefacing every sentence with 'Macs just..' But don't Macs run on Intel stuff these days? Other than designing the trendy case that other people's parts fit into, do they really design any hardware anymore? I'm asking because I don't know. For the record I'm brand-agnostic (they don't care about me, so I see no reason to fall in love with a company). Just buy whatever is cheapest but sufficient for your tasks then throw it away when it's old. Windows laptops these days are so cheap as to be disposable, though a comparably equipped mac will cost more for reasons that escape me.
Apple needs to design the motherboard and the internals of their laptops so that other people's parts fit in there. Apple has even boasted about the internal design of their laptops. And the same goes for Mac Pro, which has stunning interiors compared to the hodgepodge of most PCs. Designing a sleek aluminium case and throwing standard components in is not enough as they would not fit in.
As for price difference between Macs and PCs - yes, you can buy a 15" PC laptop for a fraction of the price of a MacBook Pro. If screen size and, say, hard drive are the only things important to you, you're better of with a cheap PC. But if you want a PC with the exact same components of a Mac laptop, there will be no price advantage. In fact, comparable PC laptops can be more expensive! The most common misconception is to compare entry level PCs with Macs and conclude that PCs give you a better run for the money. In reality, you should be comparing the quality of the components, processor speed, amount of memory and hard drive space, etc.
But I also can't deny that a good design wouldn't be a factor... I would never buy a computer that comes with a zillion stickers glued on the case.
