Apple sale! All Macs must go! — Update

I think it’s rather amusing that people would say that mac os is for newbies. Most (but not all) of the people I know that use a Mac are computer experts.

In fact, as an IT professional that has spent time as a Windows, UNIX, and network admin for over a decade, I can tell you that Mac OSX is a good OS.

The computers are wonderful with full virtualization support with VMware or Parallels allowing you to run Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX all at the same time.

The only downside is the added hardware cost and that they don’t have an netbook or entry level hardware (mid-high range only).

Of course the iPod touch/iPhone is something of a netbook, kind of….a dock for it would pretty much make it so. (keyboard, mouse, and video output…)

That’s my $0.02.

Of course, you could always buy a new PC and then load an old copy of XP (emphasis on “old” as in “used”, as I don’t believe Microsoft sells it new anymore) on top of it. Thus, you would be working with a familiar OS, one that you have some confidence in.

I’ve had the same HP XP laptop since 2005 and only wish I could afford an upgrade. We use the new Mac Pro desktops at school for my Digital Multi-Media Arts class and I love them.

I was never a Mac user before this year, but if I had $3k or $4k to drop on a computer, a Mac it would be. Of course the extra expense sucks, but it seems much more worth it with the esae of computing I find when using the Mac pro.

If I could only get a new PC with XP, I would be immensly happy. I think XP is great and the problems I’ve had trying to show my room how to use Vista (his lat PC had 98 lol) is just ridiculous!! I can’t ever find the simple things in Vista that used to be so easy to find and do with XP. And since I’m not a computer nerd, I’m not down with trying to build one of my own either.

So if I had the cash, a new Mac it would be. The OS is just amazing and the ease I find running one and the ability to run the programs I need it to is just awesome.

But my little HP has been running strong from 3 years with only a few problems, which seem more related to the cheapy hardware in the computer rather than the OS.

It is interesting to read the comments. Yes, this is an annual event. However, to get the same level of funtionality from Dell, Gateway, Levono, etc. you would PAY MORE. The $400 machine is stripped down to the minimum to get a functioning machine. I priced out a Dell and a Levono before I made the trip to the Apple Store and bought a nicely equipped MacBook Pro. Something that is interesting is the rate at which Apple releases fixes for known problems. If a problem is found in the MacOSX operating system, it is fixed much quicker than the same type of problem in Vista. BTW, I’m no Apple fan, but I’ve been working with computers long enough to realize this: I own an Apple because I want reliability, I rely on Windows to keep me employed fixing problems.

Wow, do you think maddawg has some sour grapes issues?

I use Mainframes, UNIX, Windows, and Macs. I started out on Mainframes and moved to UNIX. Then PC’s with DOS and then Windows. I also used Macs - and it was the great GUI that made my decision to buy Macs for myself and my family.

I also use many audio recording software programs that aren’t available, or run poorly on Windows. And there is nothing like Final Cut Pro on Windows.

For some people Windows may be a better fit and that’s important — just, not to me.

I use Windows all day at work and I am no newbie. I prefer Mac over Windows and would gladly trade mine at work for a Mac, if I could.

With my experience I have found both operating systems, Windows and Mac, to be a lot more crash-prone than I would ideally want. I guess that this would reflect on the complexity of computers in general. Apple peripherals seem to work more easily together though. I like the operation of the Apple operating system better, but admit that Windows will run a lot more software. Since I don’t play video games and mostly run software that is available on both systems, it doesn’t really matter. The extra Apple price difference doesn’t matter either; I can afford it. It’s not something that I have to buy every day.

Brandon, I got macs because they are expensive and I want to show that I got money. Boatloads of it.
No way I’m leftist or liberal at all.

And Anonymous, mine is bigger than anybody else. Not just yours.

What a bunch of losers.

I thought about buying a mac. I was close to buying a macbook with 4 gigs, led backlit display, and a 128 gig SSD. Cost with $100 discount from apple: $2059.

I did price comparisons at dell and hp and found the absolutely stunning xps m1330.
Led backlit display, 4 GB ram, 128 gig SSD, core duo t5850 for $1399. And IMO, its far prettier than *any* mac.

$750 for for a crash-prone group-think OS.

Good grief.

I want a computer that works, with minimal personal attention. I am not a complete computer idiot, having used PC systems for many years before switching to Apple. I simply do not want to waste my time, which is valuable, on fixing something that should be working in the first place. After all, most of us have other things to do to provide for our families financially and do not have to voluntarily spend time making sure that the home computer is working correctly.

bottom line…

macs are still for noobies that don’t really understand or care to learn about technology.

no price drop will ever change that…..macs rule the ‘iTard’ niche of computer users.

i like macs too and have used them over 20 years but i’ll never get so dumb that i actually think they are any better in any way over a pc.

sorry about the last post being in bold - only the copied comment was supposed to be.

Believe me I am not anti microsoft- after all it was their revolution that start it all

The problem I believe is microsoft not policing its effective subcontractors - ie the laptop manufactures

Super cheap computers with low quality specs and inabilities to run vista properly should not have been allowed.

Intels last generation (950s) simply were not up to the job, that with sparse memory and limited driver compatibility, software instabilities and virus running rampage/virus checkers swallowing performance

Well from a long term xp lover, what a mess. I am poisoned against microsoft use for my home now, at work dont care as have support, and the IT boys there are not as dumb as me, they would never have bought the low end windows machines.

At home do not need the headache. Its a shame 20 yrs of goodwill thrown to the dogs.

Its going to be 5 years before i even think about going back - a stable next generation os which has been around in the field for at least 2 years will be an absolute must before i even look

So microsoft - clear the shelves of the $400 machines, make the manufacturers supply decent spec machines at a decent price- $700-$1000 should be achievable should it not.

Oh would not look so cheap vs apple then - come on as long as windows 7 is stable, there are drivers, and the software works - $800 vs $1300 for the same basic machine - every one wins!

Do this and maybe i will come back in the fold, after all I grew up with you

I CANT BELIEVE THIS - I love Macs… but I hate that Apple equipment is so expensive… I want a new laptop, but I find it somewhat wasteful to pay $1200 for Macbook that has idential stats to a $400 Dell or HP laptop (except for the superior OSX operating system). However, in relality I only use 4 programs on any of my computers: 1. Internet Browser (Safari) 2. MS Word 3. iTunes 4. Adobe Acrobat. Each of these programs work equally well on both MACs & PCs … which makes paying the perium for Apple equipment quite wasteful in this economy.

Now if i can only stop my wife trying to swap the macs over - she has no interest in my vista machine - strange that!

Yes, it is still a Windows world, and I for one and happy about that.

I am a Mac user, designer, and have been since the days of the first Mac. For each Mac I have bought, I think I have bought a total of 5 in the last 5 or six years, four of which I am still using. I think I’ve gone through 3 PCs in that time frame and looking at replacing the last one.

Macs are built better in my opinion, at least OS-wise. I reboot once every week and that’s simply to back up my system.

But I really like the fact that Mac isn’t widely used. It may sound odd but I like staying under the radar of hackers and viruses. Sure, we get them but not in the same droves as Windows networks. Virus scanners are a necessity but they’re a big drag on resources.

I have to admit though, that the arrogance of some users is pretty funny. I love Mac, I admit it. I hate Windows, I admit it. But it really does come down to preference.

Yes, Apple is important! They stimulate, prod, and jump start stalled technology. Not building computers and I-phones like many people think.

“ex ped: I am a blogger of little brain.”

No, Phil, you’re awesome. You give nerds and fanbhoys a voice in a cruel and unfair world full off hardship.

Incidently, I think we have to change our perspective about what it is that Apple do. If banks must be saved because they provide liquidity to the market (I thought they made money by lending it) and auto makers must be saved because they provide employment (i thought they made money selling cars), then surely Apple are more important than even the hard core whacko fringe currently estimate?

I say we should all pay more tax so that Apple can continue to…. provide the digital pathway to the lord?

And you are part of that grand scheme. Don’t forget it.

Hi Philip,

Can you admit that you made a big fool out of yourself?

The so called big Apple Thanksgiving sale (”Every Mac Must Go” according to someone) is 4% to 8%, same as every year for the last few years.

If you want to report on predictions, at least admit you are wrong when it didn’t come out right.

ex ped: I am a blogger of little brain.

For Di from Des Moines:

Nick’s spelling would probably be much better, but what about your conditional perfect tense?

To Phillip Halcomb:

I guess you haven’t heard about the demise of iPod huh? Well yes, Apple is hurting sir.

I suppose I’ll have to save up for a Mac.

Come on, Apple hurting… Please! They just released new and radically different MacBooks this year. They just want to move the old stuff, because it’s time to move on… Also, I was just in the Apple Store the other day and the place was packed with people BUYING computers. I couldn’t even get a glimpse of the new Cinema Display because it was so full. So I think this analysis is completely wrong.

I love the last sentence again: ..retailers were hurting this year.

Stop this negative hype on CNN!

In Germany, consumer spending is up actually, even though the media here has been trying to cut it down as well!

What’s hilarious about these comments is the people who are complaining about the inaccuracy of the article, when if they read the whole article, they would see that it is accurate. . .

I was raised using PCs. Gateway, then Dell. For a long time, I was satisfied with Dell’s computers, but they were always overheating, freezing and it was extremely slow, not to mention the fact that we had to constantly replace them. Now, I have a MacBook, and I’m never switching back. The programs are easier to use, the computer is fast and the features are better. Plus you never need to worry about viruses, and this thing never freezes. I’ve never had to restart it; I just leave it on forever and shut it when I’m done!

I have been a PC user all my life and use to build my own PC’s for the fun of it and also to save some money. I recently bought a MacBook for my wife and I love using it myself. Still trying to get use to the OS but enjoy using it more and more each day. I am typing this comment on the MacBook while sitting on my bed with the laptop on my lap. All my other two Windows laptops have the fan on the bottom or the air ports thus the laptop can overheat when placing it on your lap for a long period of time, LOL. The Macs fan blows air out the back of the keyboard, under the display…what a concept. The Macs are not cheap machines to buy but at this point there is good chance i will no longer be buying windows machines.

I used PC’s for years and then figured I would try a Mac and see what all the fuss is about. Needless to say I much prefer the Mac, but that at the time I could afford to drop 2 G’s on a computer. Mac’s are great if you have the cash, but I wouldn’t say that they’re way better than their competitor, just better..

9 Years with a Mac, Zero Downtime, Zero Virus’, faster running Digidesign Pro-Tools than my partners Dual Xeon Microsoft Machine. Sorry guys but $899.00 is a steal for a good and long lasting laptop!!!. Oh yea I have the newest one but still have my 9 year old one working daily also.

Hmm, I have had a mac and have had a PC. Macs might run better (hey, xp is pretty good now), however, they are not as user friendly. Not in programming wise, but in buying web cams for them, add ons, upgrading, etc. Plus, there is just more free programs for windows.

I’ve gotten emails from Apple the last 3 years for Black Friday sales. Actually, it probably has been even longer, since I bought an original Airport Express in one BF sale, and that was quite a few years ago.

I don’t think this is new at all. $100 off a Macbook is no better than educational pricing.

This news post is wrong! They are still $999

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook

899.99 for a mac book still seems over priced and adsurd seeing how it has the same functionality and reliability as a $400 Windows based machine. Honestly these technology hypes are way over priced and over rated.

Why does every article about Apple always turn into a “Mine is bigger than yours” argument? STF up and use the platform you prefer. No need to push your opinions on all the other readers. Nobody cares anyway. Nobody will change the OS/Hardware they use based on a post on cnn.com. Stop wasting your breath.

Thank you, just bought one for christmas.

After seeing your story, we went to the Apple store and was told that the sale prices would not be effective until Black Friday. We had to go to Best Buy to purchase our MacBook.

I bought an ibook G4 a few years ago and have had nothing but trouble with it. I could have bought 2 Windows based Laptops for what I paid for it. I will never buy another Apple

Dude, one analyst PREDICTING up to 15% (comparing to 10% last year) is just predicting.

Predicting is not news. When that happens, then you can talk about it.

Some bloggers (you and some on CNET) are making a bad name by writing non-stories and then try to justify it.

The best deal from retailers on new models are about 11% ($150 discount on the $1300 new Macbook). That’s not 15%. That’s still in line with previous Apple retailer’s Thanksgiving sales.

The article should mean good news for Mac fans. And that should be it, but then come the comments.
Whether Macs are better than PCs could be mostly a matter of priorities. The balance shifts depending on how much a user values security, stability, flexibility, upgradability, compatibility, and so forth.
I guess each person claiming PCs or Macs are better is, perhaps mistankenly, assuming everyone else should have their same priorities.

whatever. After using sucky crashing expensive proprietary limited-software Macs for 10+ years I switched to PC and could not be happier.

Just got an ipod/itunes as a gift and it is a terrible combination compared to my sansa and windows media player. Might as well throw the ipod in the trash, or better yet just destroy it in a fun way. Booo Apple.

Good computers.

I thought I might chime in on this topic. I use XP and OS10.5 daily and just one of the issues I have is during the daily virus scan the XP machine becomes useless. SLOW,SLOW, SLOW It is a CAD certified machine so it is no slouch is the hardware dept. T60P It lasts about an hour of so.

APple’s premium pricing is going to hurt them in this environment. They will have to drop prices or introduce a lower-end version of the Mac to stay in the game. It’s funny how they make fund of Microsofts budget for advertising to hide Vista’s issue. I am only seeing Apple comercials!

I have both and use both, but it all comes down to user preference. Both offer strong and weak points. The only thing I can’t stand is the arrogance of some Mac users. They act as if the Mac platform is so superior, and everyone else is trying to copy them.. when did Mac get a 2 button mouse? after PC. When did Mac get iWork? Long after Microsoft. Hell, if it weren’t for Microsoft bailing Mac out on several occassions, Mac wouldn’t even be around. iMovie, iWeb, and iDVD are brilliant apps, and I love them.. wish something like that for PC. As for the dumb comments that Macs never lock up or such.. that is just wrong. I need to hard reboot my mac just as frequently as my PC. Plus, who are these people who say they own 1 mac while their buddies have to buy 3,4, or 5 pc’s? Dumb. Use what you want to use, and quit being critical and snobby about another platform…

The Macs are looking more and more like PCs

This is funny, because Windows has been trying, desperately, to look like OSX. Come on, what do you think Vista is supposed to be? Windows is still playing catch-up.

I own a laptop with Windows XP. I use this as a senior software engineer, developing applications that run on the Windows OS.

My daughter purchased a Macbook for college. She loves it. The battery last for 5 hours.

After playing with her laptop i starting to like the OSX OS. I ended up purchasing an IMac. I now only use my laptop when I have to.

Easiest adult Apple user summary I can come up with:
1. I don’t want to throw it off my desk (I average at least 3 human-on-computer violence close calls a day with a PC).
2. My MacBook and Mac desktop have lasted TWICE as long as any PC I ever owned, so that’s money saved in the long run, even on slightly more expensive equipment. (My desktop was a refurb, and it works like a champ.)

Took a little while to get used to it, but now I’ll never go back. Whatever it is, if you build a better product, they will come!

What a misleading article. “All Macs must go!” No, it references one particular model of the MacBook line, and an old design at that.

Apple always does sales around Thanksgiving, as does every other retailer.

Stop trying to manipulate the news.

ex ped: The sales are for Macs across the board.

If you work for a large (70 Billion Dollar) corporation, odds are that the reason you won’t find a mac anywhere is not because it isn’t “suited for many environments.” It is because Apple doesn’t discount. THAT is why this story is news. I have been a lifelong PC user that reluctantly changed to a Mac. I always cited the “too expensive” and “software availability” issues, both of which were incorrect. First off, the price difference for EQUAL products is minute. The reason that you find cheap Dells and other PCs is because they are stripped down systems, something Apple doesn’t make. Secondly, If you must use something that won’t run on a Mac, get Parallels and run Vista. Gizmodo and many other outlets have noted that the fastest system to run Vista….MAC!

I still don’t understand why anyone would want a MAC over a PC. Virtually all of the average user’s needs can be met by a PC, for a substantially lower price. There is nothing but conjecture from the pro-MAC crowd that asserts otherwise. The pro-MACers basically jsut try to fall back on their arguement that MAC’s are “better.” Really? How so? Vista isn’t crash-prone as the MAC crowd claims. The availabilty of MAC software isn’t up to vista’s and their are still plenty of proprietary hardware issues with all Apple products to contend with. Those are fact, not conjecture. So please tell me again how MAC’s are better. The only reason I can see that anyone would want a MAC is show how leftist they can be or prove to their friends that they are more liberal. I guess it could simply be the need to justify spending more money on a product that offers little for the extra money.

I find it amusing that corporate individuals claim there is no software support available for the Mac platform, yet they bury their heads in the sand regarding the hidden cost of intrusion protection, virus recovery, alerting/monitoring, etc. required by the Windows platform.

Corporate America has surrendered billions to the notion that budgeting for network protection is like taxes - just a fact of life.

I have been programming for 15 years and while I have been forced to use PCs in most of my work environments, I cannot wait to get home to my MacBook Pro at night. It’s my 4th Mac since 1997. The Gil Amelio years were a little tough, but the mojo came back with Jobs.

I like Apple, but I don’t find the big difference in functionality with PCs.
Price is too high for same characteristics and is not helping US economy and jobs. All computers brands, including Apple are fabricated in China, Thailand, etc.
We are paying too much money to companies that are taking US jobs overseas, paying a misery to that people. In the long run, the US technology will end transferred to countries that compete with US without paying for the research and product development. That will conclude on that countries passing US technology and economic lead with us paying them to do it.

Nothing to do with mac vs pc. I myself work in the creative industry. Some like PC most like mac. Simply put when you need something done and it needs 100 percent pure accuracy all colors true and a 100 percent match. No drivers, I mean work has to get done so all the BS is cute out of the machine use.

I’ve had my Powerbook G4 since 2005. I haven’t had to take it into the Apple store or call tech help ONCE. I’ve never had to reinstall the OS or remove viruses. I’ve never had an issue with my computer. Nothing has broken or stopped working. I’m sure this computer will continue to last me another five years so which I find much less expensive than buying a new Windows operating computer once a year or replacing parts.

Since I’ve gotten my Mac my friends have had to replace all of their other none Mac PCs at least once (some up to five times).

I admit that I am a designer. I don’t really play video games…maybe that is what makes the difference.

LOL…yes, adults use Macs. Actually, I’m a systems administrator working with AIX, Linux and Solaris systems. I’m also a web and systems programmer (C, AJAX, PHP, Perl). I also dabble in photography in videography. I also run Windows on my Mac for companies build “Windows only” apps.

Those that know computers run Macs (since the inception of OS X). Those that *think* they know computers run something else. Those that run Linux do a lot of work to get their systems to appear to run like Macs, but don’t even come close. I know, remember, I have Linux machines too (Debian/Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise and Yellowdog)….

I personally don’t like Macs at all. I used to own one but Vista is very good. The placebo effect gives Vista a bad rap. If people actually tried it without thinking about what other people said, there might be less Mac users.

It really is irritating reading all these pro Mac and anti PC comments. I work in a large (70 Billion Dollar) organization, and you won’t find Mac’s on the desktop or laptops in the management offices because there simply is not enough software support for that platform. Developers don’t write software for Mac becasue the market is too small and there is no profit to be made, but don’t get me wrong, I love the Mac, but it is not suited for many environments. Before you make blase comments about the Mac or the PC, think about what it does and who uses it, and where it is best suited. And yes, we run Vista, with no issues, and we don’t have to rebuild it every few weeks. If you do your job properly, thing tend to go quite smoothly.

The Apple fan boys are out in full force here. I had a Mac, a MacBook Pro to be exact. Yep, Leopard is good - its not great. Vista is right there with it. I was tired of a overheating non-laptop, with CPU whine, video card issues and fans I had to ontrol manually. Went back to Dell - its great! One day Apple will brig the price down to where it should be and then it might be ready to compete with everyone else, right now it’s its for them not the rest of us.

The discounts are nice, but I find the most inexpensive way to go is building the computer yourself if you have the know-how. It’s not really difficult to learn and my experience has taught me that underneith the logos all computers aren’t that much different. It’s just based on the hardware you put into it and how you tweak your OS of choice.

Looks like you don’t have to brave crowds. The banner I saw says the shopping event will be online too.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/campaigns/black_friday_teaser

Have used and loved Macs for 16 years- but bought one Macbook and it died a miserable and expensive death after two years. Really made me disappointed in Apple. Still love my desk tops, though…

This is still a Windows world. Apple does a great job of making you think that their stuff is the best around. Their brand is better than their equipment.

I have friends that have Macs. “You gotta try this! Once you use it, you will never go back.” I have been hearing this for years. I still have Windows computers. Each time I think I am going to jump on the Apple bandwagon, I can’t bring myself to spend the extra money for the same hardware that I can get in a Dell or an HP. It was an easier sell when the architecture was different. The Macs are looking more and more like PCs, and the quality isn’t that much better. Plus, if I do decide to one day make the jump to a Mac, I will need to purchase my software all over again. One of my Mac buddies said that I can run a virtual Windows environment to make all Windows applications to work. So why should I use MacOS to create a virtual Windows environment when I can just use Windows natively?

The “cool things” about the operating system are nice, but the core uses of a Mac are the same as a PC. It’s not worth double the price of a PC.

A $899 Mac is not a good value, in my opinion.

One thing that seems to go unmentioned is just like a high end automobile, used Macs retain much of their resale value. I sold my PowerBook G4 this year for almost 70% of what it cost me to purchase 4 years earlier. With that money I plan to purchase a new MacBook Pro. And yes, the difference in price between similarly equipped Dell and Apple notebook is between $50-$100. All things considered the Apple is better, less expensive, and retains more resale value.

Apple is smart to adjust to the times. Just like the real estate bubble burst, so must the premium computer industry bubble burst. As wonderful as the machine is, the thing is only worth so much money. In economic downturns, inferior goods increase in demand. It is impossible for market prices to keep going up for things like “premium” computers, houses, etc. ad infinitum. There is a point where the price is just too high, especially when the market segment for premium computers consists primarily of those more affected by the economic downturn, since the only ones that can afford to buy premium computers right now are either affluent people, schools in affluent neighborhoods, or those that are otherwise bank-rolled and/or MUST have a Mac… I would love to have a Mac myself, and maybe now is the time to buy. I’m sure that’s what they’re counting on me thinking… Will they go lower? This housing bubble is still crashing, and the markets have yet to show signs of coming out of the recession for another 6-8 mos. How low can you go?!?!?!

Let’s put it that way. Operating system makes the big difference

vista Boot up speed with virus programs etc: 35secs
Mac boot up: 7 secs

On going program loading noise on hard drive for Vista: Endless
Mac : None

Freezing on Vista: any time
Mac: none

Had a MAC,and it was OK at best. I had an HP Pavilion that was awesome, but only once I loaded slackware. Mac’s and PC’s are only good for artists and people who know nothing about computers. In the end, buy a laptop for the hardware that you want, get a book and install linux. You’ll be better off and smarter to boot.

I have been a PC user for many years and have recently switched back to Mac… This was the best thing that I could have done… The whole experience of using a Mac is more than worth the mere few hundred dollars spent… I do not have to worry about having to rebuild the OS every two months after repeatedly getting the “Blue Screen of Death” that PC users accept as the norm…
Signed: A Proud owner of a Mac…

For Di from Des Moines,

I guess your post proves that it doesn’t matter whether you’re using a Mac, a PC or stone tablet, hammer and chisel - anyone can make mistakes and technology can’t solve all of our problems.

Overpriced hardware? Are you kidding?!? I just bought a new macbook pro (normally I’m a PC guy) and I love it. I did a lot of research and even priced a Dell Studio with comparable hardware. The difference? $50…not hundreds of dollars! Also, with the Dell I didn’t get 2 video cards (which will become more important with Snow Leopard when it uses the second video processor to help unload work on the CPU) I also didn’t get DDR3. I also didn’t get the nice 9600M GT, they only had the 8600 series on Dell’s website. Trust me, for what you’re getting it is not overpriced. I’d much rather have an aluminum laptop then a plastic one any day! I’m sold on Mac in a big way!

Yes, adults do use Macs. I have been a Mac user since 1984 and at 55, I don’t expect to change. I only own a peecee to check compatibility on CD/DVD burns that I make for clients.

1. Apple does this every year, please check previous Thanksgiving Apple sales. Generally, the discount has been around 10% for current generation products. It seems to be the same as this year.

2. Older generation Apple products are always heavily discounted, holiday or not. Yes, the white Macbook is still offered, but it is previous generation nevertheless.

ex ped: The new models are also on sale, and at least one analyst is predicting that Apple will be cutting prices 15% this year. We’ll know for sure soon enough.

For Nick from Atlanta,

Mac could have help you so much in your spelling…

Once you go Mac…you’ll never go back.
They are truly that much better!

Hey look - Apple products are finally approaching the price you should be paying for the hardware you get!

Still won’t buy one. I don’t like paying a several hundred dollar premium for an OS I can do without.

Macs are by far the best computers that exist in many ways beyond just performance and their dominant operating system. Computers are fast enough now and have cheap memory so it goes far beyond just basic stats. The esthetics and overall user experience is so far beyond PC it makes me laugh to see the other brands just chase and struggle to even stay close to what is going on in the Mac world. I mean come on, has anyone created anything close to ipod/ itunes, or iphone? I love it when someone finally comes out with an “ipod” or “iphone” competitor that is lucky to even be considered competition, when Apple is already 2 years in the future on even newer items and could care less. So, my point is that It’s hard to get deals on Macs, so just look at this opportunity to save some cash and make a smart decision to make the jump into the mac world *all of their new/ current products are on sale too. of course they will probably update in 6 months, but that’s been going on forever and is just part of technology. I am a designer and use my macbook heavily 10 hours a day, traveling all over the world, and have not had 1 single problem in well over 2 years of extreme use.

to nick in atlanta: the great thing is that if you want it badly enough, [you had said want, not need] you will work and save and slave to get it. you’ve made your argument that the apple isn’t worth it’s weight to you by your statements. which is fine. you just throw out security and other things by going windows based - no worries.

personally, i am currently typing on a macbook [now the "older" black model]. what’s great is that with mac, you know that you’re paying $900-$4000 for a quality, secure, functional, high-performance machine.

go ahead and buy a dell that costs $400. you get what you pay for. where when dell first started, they had quality components for a reasonable amount of money. now, the components are pretty much crap. the quality of mac has never changed but for the positive on the whole.

apple has had sales, yes. apple will continue to have sales. but i think the point was that apple, who has limited how much they go down on their pricing for those sales has loosened up DUE TO THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS to try to allow people who normally wouldn’t be able to afford them, now be able to.
[for some, $100 can make all the difference.]

and to be completely honest, macs cost on a pretty much level plane, the same as a DECENT laptop or desktop from other companies that make pc’s. only mac blows them all out of the water.

Buy an inexpensive x86 install Linux and think for yourself. Be a man or woman and stop crying like a bunch of babies. (Jobs == Gates)

If you want a Porsche, you pay for a Porsche. If you can’t afford the Porsche of computers, buy a Daihatsu. You get what you pay for. If you can’t afford a new Mac, hit the Apple refurb store or snag a good used Mac off the net. Mac rules!

Just another Apple advertisement trying to get people to switch to OSX. What for??? If you want true Linux or Unix, go with Ubuntu as the OS. If you want Windows, stay with XP. The hardware is much easier to configure on a true Linux and Windows platform, rather than a Mac. I should know, I currently dual boot XP and Vista, and on my second hard drive I have Ubuntu and OS X installed. Of all four, I prefer XP, time and time again.

To: Nick
re: expensive Macs

Yes, Macs are more expensive than a Dell or an HP laptop. But what you are getting for that price is a computer that will not die on you in three years. I had two laptops before my current Mac, both Gateways. They each died out right around the three-year mark. Not only that, but with PC-based hardware and software, your machine is obsolete in three years. So if you can keep it running past its shelf life, good luck getting it to run with any current peripherals or add-ons.
Macs are the way to go. I bristled at switching over. Until I actually switched over. And now i couldn’t be happier.

Nick, you’re an idiot.

Show me a $400 HP with equivalent specs. If you end up getting an equivalent HP, you’re running at about $1000. Now add on OSX, iLife, and you’ll hopefully realize the value that they bring.

Plus, you say you use MS Word? Then answer this…why you’re paying a premium for a text editor in this economy, when there are others out there for less (or free)?

these are great computers that offer amazing value for the price. Its a great deal even though they are “outdated” These computers will be solid for at least five years.

I love Macs… but I hate that Apple equipment is so expensive… I want a new laptop, but I find it somewhat wasteful to pay $1200 for Macbook that has idential stats to a $400 Dell or HP laptop (except for the superior OSX operating system). However, in relality I only use 4 programs on any of my computers: 1. Internet Browser (Safari) 2. MS Word 3. iTunes 4. Adobe Acrobat. Each of these programs work equally well on both MACs & PCs … which makes paying the perium for Apple equipment quite wasteful in this economy.

This is what is called a useless, attention grabbing headline for the purpose of selling news. The white Macbook just got replaced with a completely new model for goodness sakes. This is some sort of amazing news?

ex ped: The new models are also on sale.

Some of the blow-outs that look so appealing, are actually an attempt to liquidate “soon to be junk”!!!
Apple has a new line of MACBOOKs, the retailers have a big stock of old ones…

yipeedo, $100. off a mac that I still can’t afford.

Note to the Editor, Last year Apple had Black Friday sales as well, with about the same amount off.

ex ped: Noted. See above. Only we won’t know how much Apple is knocking off its prices his year until Black Friday, will we?

I think Philip Elmer-DeWitt has a mancrush on Steve Jobs.

Yo, Elmer … look closely at the products with the huge discounts. Did you happen to notice that they’re all prior generation products?

Come on, get it right.

ex ped: Wrong. See here.

>Never could understand why 10% of the
>market gets so much attention anyway?

Cause it’s the *top* ten percent! Premium-priced for premium-quality, the favorite of Hollywood, academics, students, and creative professionals. Likewise BMW as only 1.5% of market share, but it gets more than 1.5% of our attention.

At least Apple is acknowledging reality. Sony has not cuts prices on PS3s at all. How stupid is that?

Do any adults use macs? Why is the guy in their commercials always dressed like a 2nd year college student..LOL
Never could understand why 10% of the market gets so much attention anyway??

Please clarify where Apple is using “more retail aggressiveness” because you claim that:

USUALLY: Apple has a sale for Black Friday, Back-to-School, and the occasional close-out.

THIS YEAR: Apple has a sale for Black Friday, Back-to-School, and the occasional close-out.

Looks pretty much the same to me.

If Best Buy and Amazon want to have sales of their own on different days then that is THEIR business. Look at the Amazon best-seller lists for electronics and computers and you will clearly see that Apple not only has many of the best-selling products, but also at the highest prices and we all know at the highest margins too. Why don’t you write an article about that instead of following the herd?

slow news day, eh?

To Larry: It’s just cheap journalism as usually, who listen them? The drinkers with writing problems.

ex ped: Who listen them, indeed! (hiccup)

And how this is different than previous years??? This post is a joke like the other ones I’ve seen about this. Apple does this every year. The only reason this is getting attention is because of the economy. I would suggest you do more research on this.

http://www.techflash.com/Enderle_Microsoft_Ballmer_conflicting_reality34812539.html