Apple Loves Inappropriate Comparisons: iMac VS. Dell XPS 410
- August 7th, 2007
- Read 1681 times
- 16 Comments
Apple, being not too subtle when it comes to saying, “Our competitors couldn’t design an attractive-looking computer if their lives depended on it.”
Industrial designer fight!
But, like Josh just pointed out, isn’t the Dell box expandable? How about we compare a penguin and a bald eagle? I mean, they’re both birds…
iMac Design [Apple]
I guess the question we need to ask ourselves is what sort of expansions that are not bundled with the iMac will the typical user be doing.
Off of the top of my head, I’d say…
- hard drive (vs. external hard drive or NAS)
- 37 in 1 memory card reader (vs. a USB stick)
- music player (same for both)
The big one for a consumer is going to have to be:
- graphics card
Other typical stuff bundled:
- KVM
- bluetooth
- camera
- speakers/headphones
in the pro world, I can think of more than a few (SATA cards, etc.)
Yeah, compare apples and oranges. If you had two comparable systems, I think this photo would look different.
I bought a rev. B iMac back in the day because I liked the aesthetics. Now it’s a beautiful looking paperweight. The new iMac won’t be any different in 2 or 3 years.
That being said I wouldn’t buy a Dell either. My PC of choice is one I built myself.
Well.. not every people can build a PC, for normal people who don’t actually note a technical difference between Mac and Dell, they may choose Mac for the minimalistic and clean look that it have.. for people with knowledge about computers, that won’t matter at all.
Gee Apple can be insufferable.
What? The MAC does not wire to a printer?, wired ethernet? Dial-up? Are these supposedly wireless only? Scanner? PC Cam? What do you plug your camcorder into?
Where’s the iPod connection?
Headphones? It does have a phones jack right?
What if you don’t like the speakers built into the MAC, oops, nevermind MAC users always like everything about a MAC
How about a joystick, no, wait, there are no games for MAC.
Microphone?
Is all the above hooked to a USB hub somewhere with a tangle of wires? Did we just move the tangle somewhere else? Maybe the tangle is under the desk, that would be fun.
There really should be very little wiring difference between a MAC and PC when each has similar periperals.
Ask Apple this,
1. Why can’t I run an AMD processor if I want.
2. What if I some how find a game worth playing written for MAC and don’t like your video card.
3. What if the MAC audio is not good enough, and I want pro ins/outs, I then need at least one USB or 1394 wire to install a third party interface.
4. What if I want to overclock?
5. What if I want a TV connection
6. What if I want remote control of the TV and audio
7. What if I am not a computer illiterate and want to do really interesting things other than make pretty pictures and write notes to mom.
PC’S are about chioce and the freedom, Hell every year or two I build a new one, my way. The Processor I want, the case I want, the memory, drives, ports, fans, cards, I want. Not what somebody picks for me.
Apples are closed, inflexible, totalatarian boxes.
I’ll take the mess on the back of the Dell, thank you.
I’m not Apple, but here are the answers I would give you if I were,
1, Why would I want to run an AMD?
2. IMHO consoles beat everything for gaming, but if you must game, there are emulators for every platform, AND they rock. I can play Lucasarts games on my PPC IBM processor
3. All current macs have USB, 1394 wire, and run pro audio rather nicely. Plus they have Garageband, which rocks.
4. Why would you want to overclock?
5. What would you do with a TV connection? How about getting the AppleTV.
6. iMac comes with a very nice remote control.
7. Computer literacy is not the real question here, but are you suggesting that all macusers are soft in the head? I doubt you can support your narrow minded, and unfair statement. Everyone I know who has a mac does so much more with it than anyone I know who has a PC. It’s about having a machine that works, rather than having a kit built box of parts that requires my attention to make it behave well enough to perform the most meager tasks. “I would rather have 5 apps that work than 150,000,000 that do not.
This reply was created on an iMac, but I am forced by one of my employers to use a PC at work. While the current PC experience is not totally intolerable, it is no mac. It is not the hardware alone that keeps me buying Apple gear. For me, the OS is flexible far beyond Windows, open source in way more ways than any PC I’ve ever used, and as far as your description of “Totalatarian boxes” … My 3 iMacs are the total reason that I have not denounced Personal Computing from my life altogether. Regardles of the mess on the back of the Dell, it’s really about the mess of an operating system on the inside of it. When is the last tiime you heard about movie stars naming their children “Dell-bert”, or getting Dell tattoo’s. There’s a reason for that you know. I’ll continue to choose the mac for a far more productive, intuitive, trouble free, and fun filled life.
Wow! The issue is not the hardware. It is the OS MAC OS X Leopard is very robust. I once saw a shirt that said this, “MAC Leopard…. Hasta La Vista Vista! That aside let’s make some objective statements. Please try the machine before commenting on it. Bottom line issue here is you have not looked at an IMAC before commenting As for hardware, the comments need to be specific to what you are using the computer for. If you want gaming then the leaning should be to the PC and you will save yourself some money. If you are in the batch of people who don’t just use their computer for games i.e. young families who want an all in one solution for photos and videos then get a MAC; furthermore, if you must run some windows apps that are PC only then you have the option of doing so. These comparisons are useless, I use both and have experienced both platforms. They have their strengths and weaknesses, but I switched from PC 8 years ago and use it out of necessity for some of the programs that we still run at the office that require it. I prefer the MAC OS for it’s overall stability and ease of use, I prefer using my computer and not always tinkering with it as I used to back in the late 90’s and 2000. The Imac has an Intel Core 2 Duo processor at 2.4 ghz with a 2.8 ghz option, 24 inch screen with HD resolutio. FSB at 800mhz RAM customizable to 4 GB, 3 USB 2.0; 1 Firewire 400; 1 Firewire 800, a display connector out to extend your desktop. up to another 24″ and Gigabit ethernet. Built in camera, and microphone, Input for Audio in and Audio Out. If you want to overclock, change processors and video cards then get a PC, the majority of people who have lives full of things to do already need not mess with this. If an Apple user needs more power they get a Powermac with quad core Intel or 8 core intel and use the more powerful video cards available for the customizable Desktop. The Card in the IMAC is already powerful. As for USB hub to printer etc.. I am an apple user who uses a wireless router hub that handles my network. Of course you can hook up peripherals directly or wireless through a router; Please remember that the Imac is an All in one with everything good to go, the only wire sticking out is for power and you can purchase Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse. Go edit some photos, some video and deal with audio on an Imac and you will be pleased. Go get Microsoft 2008 for the MAC and you will be pleased. iLife 08, which includes iMovoe, IDVD, iWEb and Garageband is a software bundle that has gotten me jobs in photo and video and I am an amateur, Granted a do shoot a High End Canon Digital SLRs and Nikon SLR’s
Winboxes are fine, but I liken the experience to e Chevy or even a GMC to a BMW or Lexus. Just a more elegant and robust experience. Mac’s may not hold majority market-share, but neither do BMW’s. I would buy a Dell XPS provided that it was running MAC OS X,
You’re missing the point.
This is absolutely an APPLES to APPLES comparison. These two machines have comparable specs, thus the comparison. If you took the iMac out of the box and set it up on your desktop, the end result is DRAMATICALLY different when compared to the Dell machine. An iMac owner won’t have wiring to support a set of speakers (they’re built-in), a camera (again, built-in), or a separate power cord for the monitor AND the PC itself.
Making arguments about expansion bays or “the best machine is the machine I build myself” have no context in this argument. I’d wager that 90% of computer consumers simply buy a machine, take it home, set it up, and use it until they need a new computer. They’re not worrying about adding additional memory, larger hard drives, swapping out video cards, overclocking, or anything else that would interest a technophile.
Long story short, don’t hate…appreciate. Its a good looking machine. Deal with it.
Apple’s comparisons are always useless. Witness the iphone “chart of features we’re better on that ignores absolutely everything else”. My old Dell desktop doesn’t look all that different on the desktop than a new iMac, as the tower is on the floor. The only wires on the desk are for the LCD panel and speakers. The keyboard and mouse are wireless. Are there a bunch of cords? Sure, but for the hundreds of dollars I saved, it was easy to invest in a few cord wraps. Plus, have you taken a look behind a home theater setup these days? Cords are not the problem. The new macs are pretty, and if they were cheaper, I might buy one, but Apple needs to stop solving problems that don’t exist.
@@Fred
Again, you’re missing the point.
The iMac and the Dell featured in the photo ARE COMPARABLE COMPUTERS. Under the hood, its the same deal. Here is the link the Dell XPS 410:
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&oc=DXCWNF7&s=dhs
There is no cost savings by purchasing the Dell…only the headache involved in getting in your car, going to the store, and purchasing a few cord wraps.
The thing about people who criticise a photo like this is that they shout “they’re not the same”, “you can’t upgrade the graphics card”, “what about expansion slots”, “my own built machine is better” etc etc…
Anyone who says that is missing the point. They’re showing a fundamental lack of understanding of the Apple image.
Apple isn’t saying their machine is cheaper, more expandable, more flexible. They’re not showing a huge list of tech specs, and a product details tables.
What Apple is saying with that photo is quite simple. Here’s a nice decent computer, that’s easy to use, quite powerful, that’s easy to set up when you get home, you won’t have a lot of headaches and you can concentrate on the things you want to do.
Apple aren’t stupid. They’re not missing the point. They’re just providing an alternative. Just because you’re not in their target market, doesn’t mean the iMac is a bad machine, it just means it’s not designed for you in mind.
Chuck you are fucking dumb man.
“What? The MAC does not wire to a printer?, wired ethernet? Dial-up? Are these supposedly wireless only? Scanner? PC Cam? What do you plug your camcorder into?”
-uh, macs connect to 97% of printers. its called drivers you dick.It does have wired ethernet, and most dial-up modems now come with a USB connection. and who the fuck is buying dial up? scanner? uses USB. PC CAM? its built in you idiot. Camcorder plugs in via USB man, everythings is USB these days.
“Where’s the iPod connection?”
Yeah, like apple would build a computer without a USB port for ipods. Its on the back.
“Headphones? It does have a phones jack right?”
Yeah man, like every other computer, it has audio out. Idiot.
“What if you don’t like the speakers built into the MAC, oops, nevermind MAC users always like everything about a MAC”
If they dont like the speakers they can plug in more, just like a pc, oops, nevermind, your a fuckhead.
How about a joystick, no, wait, there are no games for MAC.
Joystick? what are you playing man, packman? And all logitech hardware works on a mac. And these macs dual boot windows, so ALL games play on this machine.
“Microphone?”
once again you dick it is built in
“Is all the above hooked to a USB hub somewhere with a tangle of wires? Did we just move the tangle somewhere else? Maybe the tangle is under the desk, that would be fun.”
The USB ports are on the back and on the keyboard. What tangle ? maybe you should crawl under your desk and fuck off
You clearly have no idea what your talking about, so go back to your shit homemade PC, convincing yours self that the mighty PCs are the only “serious” computers.
Fuck.
AAAHAHAHAHAHAH, i love ignorant and smuck appleusers like you travstaa!
You saved my day, no really.. you did!
I give it my answer to:
- The MAC does not wire to a printer?
You can use it that way, or get the Apple Airport Express/Extreme accesspoint which also streams sound and acts as a printer server. So no need to connect the printer to the computer.
- Wired ethernet? Dial-up? Are these supposedly wireless only?
It has 802.11 b/g/n wlan, and ethernet if you want that. No modem I belive.
- Scanner? PC Cam? What do you plug your camcorder into?
The Dell didn’t used a scanner.
The webcam is builtin.
The camcorder isn’t in the Dellimage either, it has firewire ports.
- Where’s the iPod connection?
At the back of the display and on the keyboard.
- Headphones? It does have a phones jack right?
Yes.
- What if you don’t like the speakers built into the MAC, oops, nevermind MAC users always like everything about a MAC
Then you connect an optical cable from your Airport Extreme to the stereo and stream your music over the network. Or hook it up directly to the optical output of the iMac if you don’t own an Airport Extreme.
- How about a joystick, no, wait, there are no games for MAC.
Joystick sucks, and true.
- Microphone?
Builtin.
- Is all the above hooked to a USB hub somewhere with a tangle of wires? Did we just move the tangle somewhere else? Maybe the tangle is under the desk, that would be fun.
Most are within the case. Also you can get wireless keyboard and mouse aswell, then it would only be one cable.
- There really should be very little wiring difference between a MAC and PC when each has similar periperals.
Some are builtin, the printer and audio you can connect remotely.
1. Why can’t I run an AMD processor if I want.
Because they probably get better prices from Intel if you can’t.
2. What if I some how find a game worth playing written for MAC and don’t like your video card.
Well, stupid to buy a mac for games, so I guess either buy the Mac Pro or a gaming PC. The later beeing the better choice.
3. What if the MAC audio is not good enough, and I want pro ins/outs, I then need at least one USB or 1394 wire to install a third party interface.
True, isn’t that true for all integrated sound? How many other brand machines comes with soundcards nowadays? Get a firewire card from m-audio or something.
4. What if I want to overclock?
What’s stoping you?
5. What if I want a TV connection
Out or in? Get an adapter for out, get an USB tv-card for in.
6. What if I want remote control of the TV and audio
It comes with a remote.
7. What if I am not a computer illiterate and want to do really interesting things other than make pretty pictures and write notes to mom.
Like? Browsing porn? It comes with a browser.
- PC’S are about chioce and the freedom, Hell every year or two I build a new one, my way. The Processor I want, the case I want, the memory, drives, ports, fans, cards, I want. Not what somebody picks for me.
True, I’d like to see an Apple Shuttle, but I doubt that will happen.. Windows is a little of lock in to thought, Apple is much more.
- Apples are closed, inflexible, totalatarian boxes.
True.
If you buy a computer just for the sake of upgrading later on, you have too much time on your hand.
And by the time something else comes along to where you NEED to upgrade (for games right? Geez, go outside and play a real game), it’s probably more cost efficient to buy a new setup anyways.
So to the PC fanboys and your gang of dingleberrys; don’t hate, procreate! (oh that’s right, you can’t procreate w/ lvl 70 female darkelf rogue)
One more thing, Dell made me wait 1.5 months to ship out a new computer (XPS m1710), needless to say I cancelled and bought an 24″ iMac.
So pretty….drool…..
Lets face it. There are pros and cons with either of the machines in the picture. Apple focuses more on GETTING THINGS DONE.. and a PC is more about giving you flexibility. but remember, a lot of people DON’T CARE about flexibility. They are only interested in getting things done. I’ve owned a PC for the past 15 years. I’ve systematically upgraded by PC software and hardware to have the latest stuff in it. I have a dell xps 410.
My experience with it: It’s funny, even when I format the hard drive completely and install Vista from scratch, even before I get a chance to install an internet security suite, I get attacked by malware! Even after a new installation, the system sometimes freezes up or just takes too long to respond.. this is very rarely, but it does happen on a pc.
I got an Imac from bestbuy to check it out: Extremely well engineered. Very solid construction, in and out! But obviously no expandability. But then other than the graphics card, pretty much everything else most of us need to expand ARE expandable, like memory, RAM and use with other devices. Mic and Audio and Cam are built in..and good quality. and yes, you CAN connect external speakers. You can watch TV if you get a USB tuner (readily available). The MAc out the box required only to be plugged in. It boots extremely fast compared to a new PC. The built-in wireless picks up the router and any network devices you may have instantly. It even picked up my network printer wirelessly and installed the drivers for it. Basically, 5 minutes after I pulled it out of the box, it was good to go! Leopard OSX works like a charm and have all the things you might need and wanna tweak around. I made a web page ( a good looking one) in about 5 minutes using iweb. All of these in a mac blew my brains away in awe. Yes, it is truly awesome and it is a beautiful machine. But the PC is more versatile, meaning if you have a lot of requirements software wise, you have plenty available for the PC.. and good ones too like Nero etc. The Mac is a little short on that. But remember, on an Imac you can easily install windows OS’s using bootcamp that comes with Leopard. So basically it boils down to this. If you need a good pc (looks plus reasonable performance) get an IMAC. If you are the kind who loves to tweak, upgrade, plug in new PCI express cards etc etc.. get a PC.