Originally Posted by
Tummy
On the Dell Site for that model, it costs $375 to go up to 2.16 ghz (from 1.73ghz). If you could increase your 2.0ghz processor to 2.33ghz to match the MBP, I'm guessing that that is how much it would cost. Just from that alone, your cost argument goes out the window.
I wouldn't pay that much since I have the 2.0 Ghz (T7200) not the 1.73 Ghz.
The MBP also has 256mb of video memory, but unlike the Dell, all of that is dedicated video memory. On the Dell 128 is video memory and the other half is shared with system memory (ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 HyperMemory). In other tests I've read, the ATI X1600 on the MPB is suppose to be about twice as fast as the ATI X1400.
That's something I need to find more about. I don't know if the 128 is shared or dedicated. I need to look it up. I couldn't find the MBP info in the Apple Store to see what it has inside.
Part of the price difference can be made up by purchasing from Amazon with the $150 rebate, free shipping (same as Dell) and no tax (for most places).
Dell sends me all kinds of discounts that lower the price too, so I don't see anything being made up.
Not to pick nits, but your Dell also doesn't have a Backlit Keyboard, Magsafe power connector, remote control and 10ft media interface. How much is that worth?
A bluetooth remote control was included in our purchase. Works great! The rest of that doesn't matter to us.
The dimensions on the E1705 are approx 15.5" x 11.3" x 1.6" = 280 cubic inches, the MBP is 15.4" x 10.4" x 1.0" = 160 cubic inches. The Dell is more than 40% bigger.
The Dell weighs approx. 8lbs, the MBP approx. 7lbs (6.8), ~13% heavier.
In addition, the Dell E1705 has aped some design elements and color scheme from the Powerbook G4 (Titanium Powerbook).
That's nice to know but is irrelevant to my point.
Going through your post the only differences I see is 1. the processor is slightly less Ghz than the MBP (Dell's site says $175 to upgrade to 2.3 Ghz). 2. the video card (which I am unaware of the difference in price between x1400 and x 1600). These may or may not be equal to the $449 difference I noted, but I'm still doubting that, and the other $300 difference in price we paid for this laptop several months ago. That's a big difference to overcome with two small changes. Regardless, this computer is capable of doing just about anything the MBP can, and do it for a bit less.
Even if they cost the same there's still the cost of getting Mac versions of all our expensive software and learning how to use them. There's still no reason to do that when everything is working fine with what we have.