Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Nick Graham

I'm not sure about that - I think it greatly depends on the fiscal management of the chains in question. For instance, Movie Gallery/Hollywood Video is dead, and Blockbuster is soon to be, but at least in this area (SE KS, SW MO, N OK) for every Movie Gallery or other store that dies, a new Family Video (the largest privately owned chain) takes it's place, many times in the same building. Family Videos are springing up like weeds all over the four state area.

Blockbuster is in very deep debt from what I know. I believe it was pegged at around $1 billion. Yikes.

Family Video, I've seen these places during my visits to the USA. They seem to be gaining popularity.

Movie Gallery, I believe there are still some left in the NY and PA states, I have seen some over there. Although I bet they aren't doing so great these days.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Overpriced, megalomaniacal, form over function, suppression of technologies for Lord Stevie's grand vision, non-replaceable batteries, list goes on and on

AppleTV 2 could be a wonderful addition to anyone's HT after you jailbreak it to do something useful at $99

I use Mac computers. I like them, but their devices such as AppleTV is a different story. I find them to be too restrictive in how you can use them.

Jailbreaking is the only way I would use the AppleTV... at the least.

[Jeff Kleist]

Family Video, I've seen these places during my visits to the USA. They seem to be gaining popularity.

They have a different business model, they use the rental store as an anchor for a mini mall type dealy, leasing space to other related businesses (pizza for example). They're also picking up the bones of the other stores, likely stores that were profitable but that the home office couldn't keep open any longer for whatever reason. In rural areas the physical rental store will survive years past everywhere else, just like dialup

I use Mac computers. I like them, but their devices such as AppleTV is a different story. I find them to be too restrictive in how you can use them.

With their computers they just make sure you can't build your own and you have to pay them double or more what the sum parts inside the box are worth

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Overpriced, megalomaniacal, form over function, suppression of technologies for Lord Stevie's grand vision, non-replaceable batteries, list goes on and on

AppleTV 2 could be a wonderful addition to anyone's HT after you jailbreak it to do something useful at $99

Most beautiful answer I could have EVER given.

[Uxi]

Eh, spec comparable models from Dell, Sony, etc are in the same ballpark as a Macbook Pro, for example, though on the low end is where a PC laptop is a far better deal than a base model Macbook (and Apple doesn't compete at all in the netbook segment except with the iPad).

I will always despise Apple for their maltreatment on Blu-ray and hope they get kicked from BDA, if they haven't left already.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

With their computers they just make sure you can't build your own and you have to pay them double or more what the sum parts inside the box are worth

That's why I never upgrade the computers through Apple. It's better to upgrade it on your own. I've owned a PowerMac G4 since 2002 and it's still running like new to this day. I never buy them at full price though, I always manage to get good deals on these machines.

However, for many people, they don't know where or how to get decent deals on either PC or Mac computers. It amazes me what people pay for computers and they don't have a clue of what's in it. They don't even stop to question what they are paying for.

Crazy, eh?

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

They have a different business model, they use the rental store as an anchor for a mini mall type dealy, leasing space to other related businesses (pizza for example). They're also picking up the bones of the other stores, likely stores that were profitable but that the home office couldn't keep open any longer for whatever reason. In rural areas the physical rental store will survive years past everywhere else, just like dialup



With their computers they just make sure you can't build your own and you have to pay them double or more what the sum parts inside the box are worth

Yeah, despite being seemingly popular a lot of people were put off by the false info and exagerrated claims in the "I'm a Mac" ad.

Upgrading a Mac is a ***** as well.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Uxi

Eh, spec comparable models from Dell, Sony, etc are in the same ballpark as a Macbook Pro, for example, though on the low end is where a PC laptop is a far better deal than a base model Macbook (and Apple doesn't compete at all in the netbook segment except with the iPad).

I will always despise Apple for their maltreatment on Blu-ray and hope they get kicked from BDA, if they haven't left already.

Actually, that's true. When you compare the specifications and such, the prices aren't that much of a difference. In fact, sometimes the PC ends up being more expensive. There's also that obsession Intel has with the USB technology. Intel is the reason why Firewire really never took off in the PC industry. I still prefer Firewire to USB 2.0.

I feel Apple is being unfair to the BDA by not including Blu-ray support on their computers. I think it's ridiculous.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Yeah, despite being seemingly popular a lot of people were put off by the false info and exagerrated claims in the "I'm a Mac" ad.

Upgrading a Mac is a ***** as well.

Microsoft is doing it too. It's nothing new. It's all about marketing.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Banjo

That's why I never upgrade the computers through Apple. It's better to upgrade it on your own. I've owned a PowerMac G4 since 2002 and it's still running like new to this day. I never buy them at full price though, I always manage to get good deals on these machines.

However, for many people, they don't know where or how to get decent deals on either PC or Mac computers. It amazes me what people pay for computers and they don't have a clue of what's in it. They don't even stop to question what they are paying for.

Crazy, eh?

Thats why I build my PC myself. I have complete control over whats inside it. I dont have to deal with the BS software that store brands install. I do by laptops, but I buy them cheap and wipe out the HD when I first get the system and manually install of the drivers.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Thats why I build my PC myself. I have complete control over whats inside it. I dont have to deal with the BS software that store brands install. I do by laptops, but I buy them cheap and wipe out the HD when I first get the system and manually install of the drivers.

Yes, I know what you are talking about. I've seen HP computers come preloaded with dozens of games and useless software. I know a lot of companies do it. Some computers are cheap to buy because of that. People pay them to install their software and games on the computers.

However, Apple isn't the one to do that. They come preloaded with iLife and trial version of iWork. That's something I'm fine with. But there's no way in hell I'm going to pay for upgrades through Apple, nor am I paying full price for their computers.

[Doctorossi]

I'm sorry, but you guys have to take "overpriced" off the table when you complain about Apple. It's a problem that really just can't exist. If the products were overpriced, Apple wouldn't keep having their most profitable quarter ever, every quarter, because no one would be buying. Perhaps the price/performance doesn't work for you, but the fact that Apple's products are priced entirely appropriately for the market is borne out by their extremely competitive sales performance. If people felt like they weren't getting good value for their money, they wouldn't keep buying Mac after Mac after Mac.

[Jeff Kleist]

Actually, that's true. When you compare the specifications and such, the prices aren't that much of a difference. In fact, sometimes the PC ends up being more expensive. There's also that obsession Intel has with the USB technology. Intel is the reason why Firewire really never took off in the PC industry. I still prefer Firewire to USB 2.0.

Actually Apple charged huge royalties for Firewire compared to USB 2.0. By the time they gave up on it, USB 2.0 was already in the pipeline.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/02...over_firewire/

Seriously, huge amounts of the industry despises Apple, and not because they're successful. It's because they're arrogant megalomaniacal *******s.

As far as the netbook thing goes, my netbook is way more useful than an iPad. It's ultraportable and runs everything. I gig off of the thing and it fits on the syth desk no issue as a MIDI and playback source. Tablets are definately a great thing, but soon there will be Droids that do just as much at half the price (and you'll be able to replace the battery, gasp!)
Have you noticed that they keep coming out with proprietary connectors that no one else uses and end up vanishing after a few years? Course Intel has their RDRAM that only Sony buys for PlayStation after the failed attempt to introduce it to PCs. They're getting jacked on the PS3 with it because some exec insisted they continue to use it because they shouldn't fix what wasn't broken....yeah, because sourcing what is essentially at this point proprietary RAM belonging to another company is WAY cheaper than buying existing parts

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

I'm sorry, but you guys have to take "overpriced" off the table when you complain about Apple. It's a problem that really just can't exist. If the products were overpriced, Apple wouldn't keep having their most profitable quarter ever, every quarter, because no one would be buying. Perhaps the price/performance doesn't work for you, but the fact that Apple's products are priced entirely appropriately for the market is borne out by their extremely competitive sales performance. If people felt like they weren't getting good value for their money, they wouldn't keep buying Mac after Mac after Mac.

Well said.

I do feel like I get good value out of the computers I buy from them. I've owned computers and they still work to this day. No problems whatsoever.

However, computers from HP and such is a different story. Thankfully, I've never owned any from these companies. I've had to work on quite a few and these are computers I would never buy. It's better to build your own PC computer... as long you know what you are doing.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Actually Apple charged huge royalties for Firewire compared to USB 2.0. By the time they gave up on it, USB 2.0 was already in the pipeline.

Is 25 cents a huge royalty fee for the firewire technology? Hardly. Regardless, Firewire is better than USB 1.1 and 2.0. I know they did charge a buck or two for high-end products. However, I would pay to use Firewire over USB anyday. It's the quality that counts, not the quantity.

Firewire is able to transfer at a high speed steadily without going all over the place. USB... different story.

[MerrickG]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

I'm sorry, but you guys have to take "overpriced" off the table when you complain about Apple. It's a problem that really just can't exist. If the products were overpriced, Apple wouldn't keep having their most profitable quarter ever, every quarter, because no one would be buying. Perhaps the price/performance doesn't work for you, but the fact that Apple's products are priced entirely appropriately for the market is borne out by their extremely competitive sales performance. If people felt like they weren't getting good value for their money, they wouldn't keep buying Mac after Mac after Mac.

Overpriced means that you don't get what you pay for. Obviously there is some degree of debatility to that.

But to me I can get a GREAT value of PC that can FAR exceed the capabilities of a comparitively priced MAC.

I have a Core i7 with dual Geforce 460s and I was able to put that together for less than $1300. I dare you to find a Mac that can give me the kind of performance for anywhere NEAR that price.

I also went to the Alienware website and built a similar computer for $1749, which is STILL far cheaper than anything of comparable quality on a Mac.

The best Mac Pro I could put together that was CLOSE to my specs cost $3074 and the mac only had ONE VIDEO CARD!!

That is what makes them overpriced.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Overpriced means that you don't get what you pay for.

Right. And obviously Apple's customers aren't feeling that they don't because they keep buying more and more of Apple's products.

Originally Posted by merrick97

But to me I can get a GREAT value of PC that can FAR exceed the capabilities of a comparitively priced MAC.

Good for you, if that's what you're after. I've never met a PC that can touch the crappiest Mac that Apple offers.

Originally Posted by merrick97

I have a Core i7 with dual Geforce 460s and I was able to put that together for less than $1000. I dare you to find a Mac that can give me the kind of performance for anywhere NEAR that price.

How 'bout the "performance" of a machine that actually runs well and is intuitive and pleasurable to use? I can't measure the downtime on my Mac because there's so little of it. I have to use a PC at work and it crashes and hangs on me and distracts me with terrible design issues that require workarounds to the tune of a couple of hours a week. If numbers on paper are the only way you define performance... keep enjoying your PC. For me, you couldn't pay me enough, whatever the specs.

However, the point I was trying to make is that how you and I feel is irrelevant. If Apple products were actually overpriced, the company would either look like it did in the late '80's or be dead and buried. There's a ton of value for consumers in the things that Apple does which don't distill to a number on a piece of paper. And I'm far from the only one to have discovered that value. If you must look at numbers to verify that, try a sales chart. You, personally, may not find the value in Apple's products, but you can't call them overpriced.

[Jeff Kleist]

Is 25 cents a huge royalty fee for the firewire technology? Hardly. Regardless, Firewire is better than USB 1.1 and 2.0. I know they did charge a buck or two for high-end products. However, I would pay to use Firewire over USB anyday. It's the quality that counts, not the quantity.

It was a dollar per port until they were forced to drop it when it was already too late. USB is essentially royalty free.

I've proven several times, and don't have time to piece it out right now, that you will pay at least a 30% premium over the cost of building a PC with identical components to get a Mac,and with the high end ones, you can build almost THREE PCs of equivalent performance for the cost Apple is charging.

ow 'bout the "performance" of a machine that actually runs well and is intuitive and pleasurable to use?

Any PC runs just fine that is taken care of (basic simple stuff) and set up properly, regardless of the OS you load onto it. That's just the Mac myths talking, too many of them never learned how to use a computer and bought Packard Bells and other cheap crap that were a nightmare

You shouldn't defend "bleed the customer dry because they're a sucker". Blu-ray players would still be $500 or more for the same deck you're paying $200 for right now if Apple were doing it

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

You shouldn't defend "bleed the customer dry because they're a sucker"

I'm not defending them. That's how the computer makers operate. I don't condone it.

[Jeff Kleist]

Originally Posted by Banjo

I'm not defending them. That's how the computer makers operate. I don't condone it.

Was talking to the good doctor