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Says its products being more expensive than other competitors' products is a big myth

Apple this week made some significant adjustments to its pricing for LCD displays. The company made price cuts to its entire line of Cinema Displays, ranging from the 20-inch model all the way up to the large 30-inch behemoth. Apple also made a number of changes to the displays themselves. All three Cinema Displays received upgraded specifications.
Cinema Display 20-inch:
Now $699 from $799
Now 300cd/m2 from 250cd/m2 brightness
Now 700:1 from 400:1 contrast ratio

Cinema Display 23-inch:
Now $999 from $1299
Now 400cd/m2 from 270cd/m2 brightness
Now 700:1 from 400:1 contrast ratio

Cinema Display 30-inch:
Now $1999 from $2499:
Now 400cd/m2 from 270cd/m2 brightness
Now 700:1 from 400:1 contrast ratio
The price cuts are so significant in fact that Apple's 30-inch Cinema Display is now less expensive than Dell's 30-inch 3007WFP which is selling for $2199. Dell's 24-inch 2407WFP is still cheaper at $747.15 and is an inch larger. The 2407WFP also has better specifications than Apple's 23-inch display: 450cd/m2 brightness and 1000:1 contrast ratio. Dell's comparable 20.1-inch 2007WFP is currently priced at $459.00.

Apple talked a great deal about pricing at its keynote presentation yesterday at WWDC. The company compared itself to Dell on a number of products including workstations and servers. According to Apple, a similarly configured workstation from Dell is several hundred dollars more than its new Mac Pro. Apple says that it's systems are more expensive than other's is simply a myth.


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What about the DIY'ers
By phatboye on 8/8/2006 5:41:32 PM , Rating: 1
If Apple would open it's OS to work on computers by Dell, HP, Gateway and, most importanly, the Do-It-Yourselfers Apple would completly dominate the OS business but until Apple gets its head out of its ass I think I will stick to windows/linux/bsd/ect. I build my own computers so Apple can cut prices all they want but it won't affect me much.




RE: What about the DIY'ers
By retrospooty on 8/8/2006 5:49:01 PM , Rating: 2
I dont know if tehy would "dominate" but I agree, tehy need to do that. I for one, would buy OSX and put it on my AMD system in the 2nd partition and have a dual boot. I am sure millions of others sould as well.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By R Nilla on 8/8/2006 5:55:31 PM , Rating: 2
especially since they now use Intel hardware, it seems like it should naturally follow that you can at least run OS X on a new Intel system, DIY or not, without having to go through any fuss...

I would love to be able to run OS X or even dual boot, but as long as I have to buy a Mac to do so, count me out.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By bozilla on 8/8/2006 6:17:11 PM , Rating: 3
And why exactly would Apple do that? So you can run their OS on a non mac system and cut their profit while giving someone else your money? That ain't gonna happen.

I'll tell you what's gonna happen.

Eventually more and more people will start buying macs due to great ability to run both Windows & OSX, linux, bsd, pretty much everything as you would with PC, when people realize that the price point from now on is not a problem, when they realize that they are safer, when they realize they are getting an OS that's far ahead of anything Microsoft can come up with.

When they realize it's nice and easier way of computing, the mac computers are much more stable and faster due to unified components and cleaned up drivers etc you will see Apple skyrocketing and completely reversing the market share in their adventage.

I've never bought a Mac before simply because it was too expensive, too different (read compatibility with components etc) and OSX was still not there, but now you can bet your ass that there's absolutely no reason not to buy a Mac and my next machine is Mac Pro with Woodcrest 3.0ghz and packed to the tooth.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By darkfoon on 8/8/2006 6:25:14 PM , Rating: 2
Beat me to what I was going to say ;)


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By yxalitis on 8/8/2006 7:01:31 PM , Rating: 3
You know, people have been saying that for the better part of 10 years, and you knwo what? It won't happen. Why, because, despite all the windows bashing you read here, all the comments of "instability" of Windows, and the wonder that is Linux/MAC OS/Etc, Windows enables any PC, from a lowly Pentium, all the way to a top-of-the-line Core 2 Duo wiht $2,000 worth of graphics cards to run, and run well, with whatever the hell people want to run on it.
When I want a new PC, I decide exactly what i want to put in it, who's motherboard, who's graphics card, how much and what type of RAM, how many and what capacity of hard drive, in RAIDs array config, or single drive. I then stick in one CD, and install Microsoft's flavour of the month, and bingo! A STABLE (Yes goddam it, STABLE) OS that gives me the flexibility to do whatever I want with that PC.

I don't give 2 hoots for OS bells and whistles, be that MAC, or Windows, I run XP SP2, but turn off the stupid "enhancements". I don't spend a great deal of time working wiht the OS per se, but rather applications that I run under it, so whether the windows all rotate in 3D splendor or not makes no difference to me.

People who whinge about Windows instability, almost always have themselves to blame! Windows flexibility means that you can easily stuff things up, install unsigned drivers, apps from God knows where, and end up with a mess. Linux, like all UNIX based OS's, also has this inherint risk (of being so flexibel, that if you say "load the gun, point it at your head, and pull the trigger" Linux will say "Sure, no probs!"), but 99% of Linux users know exactly what they are doing, so you never see them complaining about Linux's "instability" but give Linux to Joe Citizen, and watch the system crash and burn.
so good luck Mac, I am sure you'll maintain that massive 3% market share!


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By bozilla on 8/8/2006 9:07:35 PM , Rating: 2
I'm sorry to dissapoint you, I usually don't get into PC/Mac discussion, but you are wrong on all points, so I have to respond.

First of all, I never owned a Mac except for Mac Mini for testing purposes in my web development process. That's it. I'm a designer and kept using PC because of many applications that were supported on PC and not on Mac.

People never said that Mac or Apple in general will grab a huge market share. This is simply untrue. Steve Jobs was very satisfied with holding much much smaller market share because of exclusivity and easier development cycles.

But times have changed and he saw it. They needed to do something, one of the major things being Intel/AMD wars that led to great progress in micro-processor technology. IBM or Motorola were severely unmotivated.

Starting off with iPod, among great revenue and pioneering digital music distribution Apple realized that they can handle huge market share. So, the plan was made (always existed, but they were not ready) to open up to great market. So here it comes.

Apple has never had technology nor software so much better then PC alternative to justify the switch. But OSX, Intel switch, iPod, iTunes pushed them in a place they were never at before. They saw that they don't have to invent computers, they can build them and use their design and detail-oriented skills to make something spectacular. By that time they already had a huge market share among PC crowd with iTunes and iPods and of course a super polished OSX. It was time to do something about it.

Mac Pro is officially a true measurement of Apple expanding. I can't even imagine how many people will buy new Mac Pros and new iMacs. The ability to run Windows and OSX at the same time is also huge because it bridged that gap with compatibility that Apple has always struggled with.

It is by no means the same Apple it was only last year. It's much stronger, ready to serve much bigger crowd and things just work.

To dissapoint you, since Intel transition, Apple's market share grew to 15%. You can expect this number to jump significantly since the introduction of Mac Pros simply because there is absolutely 0 reasons for a regular programmer or designer or just an average Joe not to make a switch. They get beautiful OSX for day to day things and at the moment (with a reboot) you have a PC. PCs don't have that ace up their sleeves. You just can't run OSX at the easy you can run XP on a Mac. Price is on Apple's side too. They are being supplied directly by Intel, that is already starting to show incredibly competitive pricing.

So in conclusion, Apple is nothing it was only a year ago and by the time Leopard comes out you can bet your ass that even the most hesitant will make a switch since OSX is indeed a wonderful system. Something Vista was suppose to be, but turned out to be nothing more then makeup and a copy of Apple's efforts. It just shows you, you can copy, but you can't replace the brain behind the true talent.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By phatboye on 8/8/2006 9:31:30 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
To dissapoint you, since Intel transition, Apple's market share grew to 15%.


Please links us to where you got this 15% number from.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By bozilla on 8/8/2006 9:35:42 PM , Rating: 3
You are right I stand corrected..I wanted to say Apple's market share grew "by" not "to" 15%.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By Xavian on 8/9/2006 4:07:56 AM , Rating: 2
so 15% of 3% marketshare...

what is that 0.5% marketshare?

Seriously that means the new Intel Hardware hasn't made a dent in Windows Dominance. Personally to be frank ill never buy a Mac (or an iPod) because Steve Jobbs has his head too far up his ass. Thier advertsing compaigns are based purely on lies (look at the difference of ads between microsoft and apple, notice how microsoft is sorta 'you can do this with our OS' and apples is 'other OS's are crap we can do better with ours'?). Plus the inflexibility of a Mac, is a massive minus for me, then you have hardly any decent games on OSX and you have a recipe for a company which will never creep out of 5% marketshare.

TBH, Linux has more chance of being universally accepted and competiting with Microsoft then Apple's Macintosh.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By rushfan2006 on 8/9/2006 9:43:22 AM , Rating: 1
Whatever Bozilla....

I agree with the fella above that you are replying too..the flexibility hardware-wise alone is an EXTREMELY compelling advantage that the PC has had and ALWAYS had over Apple...this alone will always keep the PC industry with the larger marketshare - -- even with all your FUD.

I for one would never buy a Mac for myself, because they are crappy enthusiast game boxes....can't do any customizations worth while -- and you damn sure don't have the game selection that PC's do.



RE: What about the DIY'ers
By retrospooty on 8/9/2006 9:56:01 AM , Rating: 2
I have t agree with you and your disagreement with Bozilla. For that and that alone I would never buy a MAC... But I would love to pay for OSX and install it on my home built.

No worries, at some point it will be cracked, and I will have it, since I cany PAY for it, I will have to pirate it. Eat that.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By cgrecu77 on 8/8/2006 9:36:41 PM , Rating: 2
most people buy $300 computers do you honestly think that anybody would pay $400 alone just to have a dual boot? People will go one way or another but not both. Until Apple comes with an entry level computer in the $300 range and a laptop in the $600 range they have absolutely no chance of competing with pcs. Enthusiasts will never buy apple, they might try it but not stick to it because games are slowe or not available on macs.
Vista will be comparable with MAC OSX, fanboys will debate forever which one's better, but the truth is for the average Joe they will look and feel the same way.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By bozilla on 8/8/2006 10:10:46 PM , Rating: 2
Well you see that's where the key is. Macs can play PC games now. That's the whole point and one of the biggest reasons Apple never penetrated the PC market. Now there's absolutely no reason not to own a mac and on top of all PC good stuff have the great stuff from OSX. That's where you fail to see the advantage Apple has over the rest of the PC industry.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By Scrogneugneu on 8/8/2006 10:58:56 PM , Rating: 2
No reason not to own a Mac?

How about "I already have my PC and I won't shell out 2000$ just to get a possibility I won't use"?

Or maybe "I want to choose what's in my computer, and I want to be able to upgrade it myself"?

I won't ever use a OS that can't use a left/right click mouse. If it's too stubborn to learn and get it when it's been so long, then I'll be as stubborn and I won't get him.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By Scott66 on 8/8/2006 11:27:39 PM , Rating: 2
Mac has supported 2 button mice since 10.1 and you can plug that microsoft mouse right in. Apple makes it so easy for you to come to the light. Resistance is useless


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By Xavian on 8/9/2006 4:10:44 AM , Rating: 2
yet when they only supply you with crappy graphics cards, that is going to seriously hinder any form of PC gaming on a Mac, regardless of the functionality or not.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By retrospooty on 8/9/2006 3:00:58 PM , Rating: 2
Uh... they can NOT play them at any decent speed compared to a PC, even an older model PC. Apple is NOT up to the job.

Sorry to spoil your fantasy.


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By blckgrffn on 8/10/2006 1:54:21 PM , Rating: 2
Even booted into windows?!?

Sorry to ruin YOUR fantasy...


RE: What about the DIY'ers
By darkfoon on 8/8/2006 6:24:18 PM , Rating: 3
I agree with you that OS X on non-Apples would be awesome, however, Apple should NEVER open it's OS to non-Apple computers.
The reason OS X is so stable right now, among other reasons, is because Apple knows (and controls for the most part) the hardware it is going to run on, and therefore they can concentrate on those specific drivers and support that hardware. They can also test the configurations