make no sense to buy a macbook pro...

I dont understand why a macbook pro 15" 2.1g can cost so much, $2100!!

I can get an Area-51® m5790 alienware laptop C2D 2.3G (faster chip) ,17" ( bigger screen with higher resolution) and most importantly I get a ATI X1800 (much faster then the ATI x1600 126mb from the MBP) = all these for only $1700.

so this is where things get a bit confusing, why on earth can a macbook pro can cost more then then the area-51 when it obvisouly beats the mbp on all aspects.

when did we start to pay more for a slower computer and a smaller LCD??

please help me out guys

edwardo said:

I dont understand why a macbook pro 15" 2.1g can cost so much, $2100!!

I can get an Area-51® m5790 alienware laptop C2D 2.3G (faster chip) ,17" ( bigger screen with higher resolution) and most importantly I get a ATI X1800 (much faster then the ATI x1600 126mb from the MBP) = all these for only $1700.

so this is where things get a bit confusing, why on earth can a macbook pro can cost more then then the area-51 when it obvisouly beats the mbp on all aspects.

when did we start to pay more for a slower computer and a smaller LCD??

please help me out guys

Click to expand...

watch this

ghz myth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3WnXaWjQYE


keep in mind you get what you pay for. second just because it has a bigger "faster chip" means nothing.. Mac's run totally different than a PC.

in most cases a chip of half the size/speed on a mac will run the same speed or faster.

that's a very simplistic comparison, edwardo; what about other hardware and software?

That's funny. I went and configured that same Alienware to match the specs as closely to a 15" MBP as possible, and came up with some very different results:

Alienware = $2,784.00

[1] Area-51® m5790

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T7600 2.33GHz 4MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows® Vista Ultimate - With USB Mini Media Center Remote Control
Display: 17" WideXGA+ 1440 x 900 LCD - Saucer Silver
Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 2 x 1024MB
System Drive: Single Drive Configuration - 160GB Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 5,400 RPM w/ 8MB Cache
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/ Software
Video/Graphics Card: 256MB ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1800
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® PRO Wireless 3945 a/b/g Mini-Card
Bluetooth: Bluetooth™ USB Adapter

Click to expand...

MacBook Pro = $2,499.00

MacBook Pro, 15-inch, 2.33GHz
Part Number: MA610LL/A

Processor: 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Operating System (Office software not included): Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.x, Front Row & Apple Remote
Display: MacBook Pro 15-inch Widescreen 1440 x 900 LCD Display
Memory: 2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x1GB
System Drive: 120GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: SuperDrive 6x (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Video/Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics with 256MB SDRAM
Wireless Network Card: Built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
Bluetooth: Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)

Click to expand...

Seems like the Alienware is more expensive to me.

View attachment The Apple Store (U.S.).pdf

View attachment Alienware_ Configure Your Area-51 m5790 High-Performance System Today!.pdf

pwned.

KoDorSean said:

watch this

Click to expand...

That really isn't very relevant anymore.

KoDorSean said:

watch this

ghz myth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3WnXaWjQYE


keep in mind you get what you pay for. second just because it has a bigger "faster chip" means nothing.. Mac's run totally different than a PC.

in most cases a chip of half the size/speed on a mac will run the same speed or faster.

Click to expand...

but dosen't the MBP use intel chip now? just like the rest of everyone??


and as far as software goes, i think both offer similar the same softwares.


but the LCD screen is the main problem, the LCD screen make a lot % of a laptop cost. (almost the most expansive part of a laptop)

So when u tell me I have to pay more for a smaller LCD, it just dosen't make sense..

am I missing something here??

edwardo said:

but dosen't the MBP use intel chip now? just like the rest of everyone??

Click to expand...

correct this was from the PPC days..

edwardo said:

but the LCD screen is the main problem, the LCD screen make a lot % of a laptop cost. (almost the most expansive part of a laptop)

Click to expand...

You sure? There are plenty of cheap 17in laptops.

Bigger isn't always better, its nice, but not if you have to carry it around everywhere.

edit: For example: CPU over $600, MacBook Pro Screen around $250.

D3v1L80Y said:

That's funny. I went and configured that same Alienware to match the specs as closely to a 15" MBP as possible, and came up with some very different results:

Alienware = $2,784.00


MacBook Pro = $2,499.00


Seems like the Alienware is more expensive to me.

Click to expand...

Sorry, I was only talking about the MBP 2.16G and not the MBP 2.33.


But u r right about the mbp 2.33 , the price seems to be the same but still alienware have a larger screen.


anyway as for the MBP 2.16G model; is easy to see that the alienware beat it hands down with just roughly $1400-1600($600 less).

So for $600 you get a smaller LCD for your laptop?? i dunno.. but that make no sense to me.

u said bigger sometime isn't better?? well for laptop LCD screen. it dose. there really no debate on this.
The bigger the screen the more it will costs you, and there is no way around this rule. So why on earth dose the MBP cost more when it's screen is smaller??
not to mention the alienware have higher resolution... so in this case, it is bigger and better.

No, bigger is only better, if the bigger screen has a higher resolution. THe 17in Alienware had the exact same resolution of the 15in MBP, as shown in DB's post. The screen in the MBP will be much crisper, and cleaner, since it has more pixels per inch.

If bigger is always better, why does this laptop cost over $2000?
Linky

ok i see what u guys getting at, maybe sometime bigger isnt always better.

but how about the video card?? the alienware have a much faster video card then MBP..?

If I was looking for a gaming laptop, I would defiantly go with a Dell XPS or an Alienware over a MacBook Pro.

From what I have seen you can find systems with better specifications on the Windows/Intel side versus Apple. It is always possible to overpay for a laptop so finding 1 to 1 examples that are contrary to what I just said is very very easy.

edit: Even if I was getting a gaming laptop, I wouldn't get 17in.

so exactly why people are willing to pay extra when the specs of the machine are just not as good as the alienware ???

warranty? fancy logo???trendy??cool commerical??

technical wise, i just dont see any reasons buying a mbp over an alienware.

hope someone can give me some hard solid technical facts, as why mac are overcharging their customers on their mbp.

You have to look at it with the entire picture. You aren't just buying a "overpriced" machine. Apple isn't just hardware. Its the software too. Apple bundles $100s of excellent software with every computer they sell. There is one version of OS X, other than the server version. No features are cut out, so there isn't any confusing about what you are/n't getting. Plus, most people will agree, that Macs have a much longer useful life than PCs.

mynameis said:

If bigger is always better, why does this laptop cost over $2000?
Linky

Click to expand...

VERY VERY good point mynameis!!

Also I buy Macs because of OSX. If a Mac were just another XP/Vista machine, I would go purchase a Thinkpad and be done with it. It's all the OS. The Machines are very nice also, but OSX is what makes the difference.

edwardo said:

Sorry, I was only talking about the MBP 2.16G and not the MBP 2.33.


But u r right about the mbp 2.33 , the price seems to be the same but still alienware have a larger screen.


anyway as for the MBP 2.16G model; is easy to see that the alienware beat it hands down with just roughly $1400-1600($600 less). around this rule.

Click to expand...

Still no dice... Alienware is still more expensive. To configure the Alienware to match the specs of a MBP, it comes up like this:

Alienware 2.33Ghz = $2,514.00
MacBook Pro 2.16Ghz = $1,999.00

+The MBP has bulit in BT, that the Alienware doesn't,
+It has a built in DVD-RW/CD-RW that the Alienware doesn't,
+It comes with a 120GB HD that the Alienware doesn't,
+It comes with FrontRow and a remote for it, Alienware doesn't have MediaCenter software or a remote included standard...

If you want to compare specs between the two, then you have to level the field as closely as you can. If you take out the "extras" on the Alienware, then sure it is cheaper, but it doesn't compare to the MBP anymore. It would be a totally stripped down system that would compare more to the MacBook and not the MBP.

Even the bare-minimum Alienware (with the exception of the 2.33Ghz proc) is still priced at $2,099.00, one-hundred dollars more. The only way to drop the Alienware to the $1799.00 price tag is to get the same 2.16Ghz proc... and you still don't have all the specs of the MBP (Bluetooth, WebCam, Media software and remote, FULL operating system {not a crippled "home" edition}, DVD-RW/CD-RW, etc.)

Does the Alienware machine have built in camera and microphone for video conferencing? Firewire 800? Large Multi-finger touchpad? Built in Bluetooth and 801n ready WiFi?

With most laptops nowadays the limiting factor is bus speed and HD, virtually all of them have 5400 drives and 667Mhz bus so no matter what graphics chipset you poke in there they will never be as good for games as a desktop with 7200 speed (+ RAID options) drives and > 1Ghz bus speeds.

The 1600 chipset is currently one of the best power consumption/performance compromises for laptops giving you superb performance for all normal day to day stuff and adequate performance for games whilst still returning >3 hour battery time. What is the battery time from full charge for the Alienware offerings I wonder.

Amen-Moses

And you came here out of the goodness of your heart to tell us that Macbook pro's are a waste of money? That's sweet. I think it's pretty safe to say that the guys and girls here who own a MBP are old enough and sensible enough to make sure they know what they want to buy when they spend $2000.00.

But, like I said, it is sweet of you to worry...