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On that we agree
My personal opinion is that if you compare hardware prices for machines of comparable performance and needs, the PC side will win. But I will concede that OS X and the bundled software are certainly of a higher quality than any software likely to be bundled with the PC. The question then becomes is that an issue. If someone wants to replace their old PC and they already own the software they need, the PC wins on price. If someone is looking to replace an old Mac and they too have all their software, then the bundled software isn't a selling point unless it's an upgrade to what they already have.

Now if the PC owner is looking to switch platforms, the bundled software will make the switch less painless since they'll have quality software loaded onto the machine right out of the box. If that PC owner is a power user and wants a high performance machine, this Mac may be a disappointment. But then, the economy PC wouldn't be for this person either.

So now we reach the first time buyer. The poor soul who doesn't know enough about computers to make an informed decision. IF he goes with the Mac mini, I personally believe he'll be a little upset by what the bottom line price is when he walks out the door. But, I do also believe he'll enjoy the machine more when he gets home. On the PC side, he can have a box delivered that cost him exactly what he saw in the flyer. But will no doubt have a more stressful experience using that computer.
Posted by: PA-ITGuy   Posted on: 01/13/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Gateway $499 does NOT have a proper 3D card  lerno | 01/12/05
Mac mini performance vs. sub-$500 PC  Vily Clay | 01/12/05
true  TWRX | 01/12/05
What are you talking about?  lerno | 01/13/05
Vly any comments on Apples huge profits and sales  Laff | 01/13/05
I notice Vily is strangely silent on this topic  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Since I started Apple stock skyrockets? so far. I know what I?m doing. (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
So this is a clever plan on your part to increase the  Laff | 01/13/05
Good job then  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Oh, you believe that in a totally corrupted country ...  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
You never fail to entertain  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Tic, you are failed to think. How can I help you? (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
Just keep entertaining me  tic swayback | 01/13/05
BUT if the speed is everything you need ?- skip your Mac (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
Tic, I thought you use your head for thinking. I was wrong. Sorry. (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
Which head? (NT)  tic swayback | 01/14/05
Free tip for you, Tic: ...  Vily Clay | 01/14/05
Free response for you  tic swayback | 01/14/05
Thus Tic, you confirmed I was right about the purpose of your ?smart? butt.  Vily Clay | 01/14/05
Sorry Vily, either your logic or your language needs work  tic swayback | 01/17/05
Thus Tic, your butt failed miserably and your head is useless. (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/17/05
True, but both are still smarter than you  tic swayback | 01/17/05
Thus Tic, you BELIEVE you are smart because ...  Vily Clay | 01/18/05
Apple Loses In Performance Badly, Quick Change The Subject!  nikoli | 01/14/05
Is it so hard to compare Mac mini vs. $500 PC (NT)?  Vily Clay | 01/14/05
Typically biased rant...  MacCanuck | 01/13/05
RAM  TWRX | 01/13/05
Apple?s cult-members have proved they are blind. Thanks (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
So TWRX is blink because he uses Mac's in a real world  Laff | 01/13/05
Bicycle (Mac) vs. car (PC) = Bicycle (Mac) is healthier, but?(NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
Healthier and it pollutes a lot less, and "IF" more people  Laff | 01/13/05
If the speed is everything you need ?- skip your Mac (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
Actually...  nomorems | 01/13/05
RE: Actually...  richdave | 01/14/05
Yes, there is an upper memory limit  MacCanuck | 01/14/05
BS  nikoli | 01/14/05
Yes, you are full of it...  MacCanuck | 01/17/05
Joseph Scozzaro, UK proved you are a liar.  Vily Clay | 01/17/05
He's actually NOT too far off...  Wolfie2K3 | 01/18/05
Vily, did you find the other half of your brain?  theo_durcan | 01/14/05
Pablo, if you would be smarter than a monkey ? you would disprove me with..  Vily Clay | 01/14/05
Oh, please. Even Charlie White himself repudiated his own benchmarks.  Joel R | 01/20/05
Nor the DVI-I connector, what about firewire400...  Richard Flude | 01/12/05
Firewire  PA-ITGuy | 01/13/05
I think it's the traditional tire kicker angle/arguement  Laff | 01/13/05
On that we agree  PA-ITGuy | 01/13/05
I think it is a definite that the Mac Mini is NOT for the  Laff | 01/13/05
Or the iPod owner  tic swayback | 01/13/05
I understand it?s too painful for you to admit that your religion is bogus.  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
Once again some more...Huh?  Laff | 01/13/05
Laff, why are you praying two Gods - Steve Jobs and Allah? (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
Gospel According to Vily... Old Testament  MacCanuck | 01/13/05
Joseph, "Apple has a long way to go before OS X becomes usable." (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
Vily... your opinion only...  MacCanuck | 01/14/05
Joseph, read the other opinions of Mac users below.  Vily Clay | 01/14/05
Mac Mini Total Cost  johnpall@... | 01/13/05
If low performance and money are not the issue ? buy Mac. (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
Not first timer  nomorems | 01/13/05
Joseph Scozzaro, try to improve your vision. Compare with: ...  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
I use FireWire for  swede_z | 01/19/05
FireWire has its uses  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Missed the whole video editing revolution?  Richard Flude | 01/13/05
Simple  PA-ITGuy | 01/13/05
Firewire necessary?  gerhard_z | 01/14/05
How about transferring video  lengua99 | 01/20/05
proper 3D card  PA-ITGuy | 01/13/05
Nope..not a top of the line game card I will agree.  Laff | 01/13/05
I've never seen a Radeon 9200  voska | 01/13/05
Mind if I ask...  PA-ITGuy | 01/13/05
Try Future Shop/Best Buy  voska | 01/13/05
K thanks  PA-ITGuy | 01/13/05
9600 Pro  john public | 01/13/05
RE: I've never seen a Radeon 9200  JakAttak | 01/13/05
Radeon 256?  Fernando_z | 01/13/05
But compared to the Intel integrated garbage....  jvahabzadeh | 01/13/05
Having used many PCs that use shared RAM  PA-ITGuy | 01/13/05
The best what Mac mini can do is to run game twice slower than ...  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
First point..what with PS/2, XBox, and Nintendo being  Laff | 01/13/05
Mac Mini as a Music PLayback Device for Live Performance  johnpall@... | 01/13/05
How about as a Home studio?  Dan__ | 01/13/05
How many people play games? Do they need Mac and PC? Or 1 PC? (NT)  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
Silly Villy, I can provide to you a couple ******** Mac sites...  dave95 | 01/13/05
Fanatic-prayers of Apple cult do not want to listen/think ...  Vily Clay | 01/13/05
It's not the fact that it's shared  jvahabzadeh | 01/14/05
"You're not going to do much gaming with a 9200 &32 Meg." PS2? Xbox?  hipparchus2000 | 01/13/05
I don't feel foolish...  PA-ITGuy | 01/13/05
how were they "tuned"  hipparchus2000 | 01/14/05
Due some research for yourself  PA-ITGuy | 01/16/05
But you didn't get the point  lengua99 | 01/20/05
Not so fast!  ShadeTree | 01/13/05
Intel 845GV on comparably priced low end Dells  hipparchus2000 | 01/14/05
You're sort-of right.  friendly | 01/19/05
I want a card.  gdergous | 01/21/05
But What About Software  DaffyDuck | 01/12/05
YES!!  hacurio1 | 01/12/05
Ah. But does it come with a SPELL CHECKER? (NT)  Wolfie2K3 | 01/14/05
It does  j.m.galvin | 01/12/05
Comes with iLife and many more!  dave95 | 01/12/05
comes with the media package, not iWorks  tadd_z | 01/12/05
Comparing the price  tdml | 01/12/05
Software.  carmine_z | 01/12/05
Small correction  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Software  Adidasted | 01/13/05
RE: Software  JakAttak | 01/13/05
just with iLife  nucrash | 01/13/05
But What About Software... Strange, strange.  Serpamac | 01/19/05
Truth is a strange thing indeed!  Tim Carpenter | 01/20/05
We do know, we just don't care...  ajole | 01/20/05
Upgrade RAM prices  Gary the Writer | 01/20/05
I WANT ONE  raymanjr | 01/12/05
Get it!  Jeff Spicoli | 01/12/05
Not to mention  tic swayback | 01/13/05
COUNT ME IN 2  matson_z | 01/13/05
COUNT ME IN 3  dave95 | 01/13/05
Thanks for all the software replies  DaffyDuck | 01/12/05
And if you do need storage...  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Welcome  Harry Bardal | 01/13/05
Ya welcome  dave95 | 01/13/05
No keyboard and mouse?  theace18 | 01/12/05
If Apple were to include  dave95 | 01/12/05
Why don't they..  Jeff Spicoli | 01/12/05
um...  carmine_z | 01/12/05
It's part of Apple's overall philosophy  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Adobe Apps - Appleworks - Office  j.m.galvin | 01/13/05
Tough call, Jobs usually sticks to his guns  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Here's what I just finished  j.m.galvin | 01/13/05
Professional vs. home user  tic swayback | 01/14/05
Press and hold  nomorems | 01/13/05
MUCH too slow NT  j.m.galvin | 01/13/05
agreed j.m.  dave95 | 01/13/05
don't know, it would be good if they did  dave95 | 01/13/05
...someone did. Steve should take it on board...  Tim Carpenter | 01/20/05
Logitech Trackball  Gary the Writer | 01/20/05
No Keyboard and mouse?  Richardinhingham | 01/13/05
No Keyboard and mouse?  Adidasted | 01/13/05
Amen  AtomicFusion | 01/20/05
Welcome  Harry Bardal | 01/13/05
Mouse & Keyboard  gerhard_z | 01/14/05
Keyboards...  Dali_ | 01/23/05
Shuttle does not make a comparable unit  alan_kaplan | 01/12/05
You're correct -- story fixed  S.Howard-Sarin ZDNet Moderator | 01/12/05
Mini is literally *half* the size of my old external CD burner  Dan__ | 01/13/05
That;s why we put them on the floor.  ajole | 01/20/05
This is a good deal for some people  whe1 | 01/12/05
Great Deal for People with Older Macs  Patrick Hoyer | 01/12/05
great deal for those with no Macs too  voska | 01/13/05
Wonky Numbers  carmine_z | 01/12/05
Hahahaha  DrDoug018 | 01/13/05
HoHoHo  carmine_z | 01/13/05
Hehehe  DrDoug018 | 01/13/05
I still think something's off if the whole system crashes  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Panic Room  DrDoug018 | 01/13/05
Oh, you'd know  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Canvas....  gerhard_z | 01/14/05
I have a brand new iMac...had if for a couple months  Laff | 01/13/05
Sounds like something is amiss  tic swayback | 01/13/05
I've seen Mac crash quite often  voska | 01/13/05
Ancient history  tic swayback | 01/13/05
IMac G5 Problems  Gary the Writer | 01/19/05
Make that Zap the PRAM  Gary the Writer | 01/19/05
Look at the packaging  Ken_z | 01/12/05
Mac mini vs low cost PCs  potter05 | 01/12/05
The box doesn't matter. OS does.  BigJonPaints | 01/13/05
What Software you need....  dave95 | 01/13/05
Compatibility matters...  lfloyd@... | 01/19/05
iPod users too  Ken_z | 01/19/05
Software?  mck22 | 01/19/05
Get things done?  Gary the Writer | 01/19/05
When you see that  lengua99 | 01/20/05
Enough Said? Lame  Bob Hughes | 01/20/05
Talk tiger not cow  attaboy@... | 01/13/05
missing the point  cthompson | 01/13/05
Analysts and Apple  BigJonPaints | 01/13/05
Why must Apple dominate to succeed?  Gary the Writer | 01/19/05
Let me tell you...  cashaww | 01/13/05
If it only had the new processor.  georgemd@... | 01/13/05
No surplus  tic swayback | 01/13/05
G4 disappointment?  savagesteve13 | 01/13/05
yes, and no  Tommy Mandel | 01/19/05
PC Makers Finally Push the Envelope on Style  ITLaw | 01/13/05
Mini Vs. iMac  Fernando_z | 01/13/05
For some, yes  tic swayback | 01/13/05
Depends, I  nucrash | 01/13/05
Don't you already own a monitor?  j.m.galvin | 01/13/05
KISS  Ken_z | 01/13/05
Separate Components vs All-in-one!  Dan__ | 01/13/05
I am not even comparing the size.....  eero | 01/13/05
Mac_Mini as a Music PLayback Device for Live Performance  johnpall@... | 01/13/05
How about as a Home studio? (repost)  Dan__ | 01/13/05
Everyone dumps the stock mouse/keybo....  Feldwebel Wolfenstool | 01/13/05
BYODKM  savagesteve13 | 01/13/05
Who would want to buy that abomination?  Gackto | 01/13/05
i did  hipparchus2000 | 01/14/05
Abomination?  Serpamac | 01/19/05
KVM with a Mac?  svenyonson | 01/13/05
Do not see why not...  LazLong | 01/13/05
Yes it works.  hayesk | 01/14/05
Oh joy! Now we'll be seeing posts  kiddpeat | 01/14/05
re: KVM with a Mac?  seaside | 01/15/05
It's all about the software!  BigJonPaints | 01/13/05
Complete Myth  LazLong | 01/13/05
Tell that to these guys  tic swayback | 01/14/05
Nice 2nd troll re no software, etc  MacCanuck | 01/14/05
Game console included?  ajole | 01/20/05
Wasn't the point of my post...  MacCanuck | 01/20/05
Here's a list of 11,000+ apps  Ken_z | 01/19/05
Tee hee!  daver_z | 01/19/05
Wrong  hyperjeff | 01/20/05
Let's redefine our terms  Gary the Writer | 01/20/05
Totally missed the point, it's for switchers  Fred Fredrickson | 01/13/05
Good point  ajole | 01/20/05
Make me a Mac  gdergous | 01/21/05
Mac Mini versus MSNTV2  EloquentEnigma | 01/14/05
Good attempt to reach the masses  dshifflett_z | 01/14/05
Could I plug it in to my old G3?  Nana_z | 01/14/05
Any Mac is a Big deal  marionandedw | 01/14/05
Memory Upgrade?  gerhard_z | 01/14/05
One slot, do it yourself  hayesk | 01/14/05
memory upgrade - up to 1GB  LindaWintec | 01/19/05
At first, it looked intriguing.  kiddpeat | 01/14/05
If all you do is surf the wb and the occasional email you don't need a mac  Darkintent | 01/16/05
Continued  Darkintent | 01/16/05
Yeah right try getting a PC with this performance, whisper quiet & size  hipparchus2000 | 01/16/05
As soon as Linux...  PA-ITGuy | 01/16/05
Misinformed  kbeaumont | 01/19/05
Software decreasing?  Serpamac | 01/19/05
And that's why Macs still have a purpose  halo5@... | 01/19/05
Yeah, but can I use it?  ajole | 01/20/05
Update equipment  fishmaven | 01/19/05
Windows users with a brain will switch  xebrawerx | 01/19/05
Security?  ajole | 01/19/05
Try keeping 30+ machines up-to-date and virus-free  halo5@... | 01/19/05
re:Try keeping 30+ machines up-to-date and virus-free  deepee912 | 01/20/05
Cheaper is NOT better - Quality Costs  aaggarwal | 01/19/05
Mac Mini  mebxl | 01/19/05
Of course its apple's attempt at the masses  ajole | 01/19/05
Can you say iMac? iBook? iPod? iTunes?  swede_z | 01/19/05
If their price comes down, too.  ajole | 01/20/05
Almost perfect for me.  Traveler545220 | 01/19/05
Mac Mini for my Mom  Tommy Mandel | 01/19/05
Mac Mini memory Upgrade necessary  LindaWintec | 01/19/05
Great potential for home theatre  Bryan Dale | 01/19/05
Mac Mini....In a class by itself  mrs1622 | 01/19/05
1GB upgrade  LindaWintec | 01/19/05
1GB upgrade  LindaWintec | 01/19/05
I mean, what are you guys smoking?  Phoghat | 01/19/05
Something better than you are.  gdergous | 01/21/05
Mac Mini  starman_gary | 01/19/05
YOu Stupid People  Sonic20 | 01/19/05
Great replacement for my aging iMac  algilbert | 01/19/05
To late for me.  jdennis_z | 01/19/05
Mac Mini a maxi deal? NO  hhenning1@... | 01/19/05
The Mac  befishman@... | 01/19/05
Why Apple will suceed  Diceburna | 01/19/05
There's a sucker born every minute  daver_z | 01/19/05
This is Fantastic, but I'd never buy one.  daver_z | 01/19/05
Learn OS X?  Gary the Writer | 01/20/05
wallet  gdergous | 01/21/05
Steve Jobs & P.T.Barnum  mustangj36@... | 01/19/05
H.L.Mencken observation more appropriate...  MacCanuck | 01/20/05
OSX Factor/Form Factor  halo5@... | 01/19/05
Lets hope it sparks a design war !  kerjenski01 | 01/20/05
A bit off the subject, but it keeps coming up-  ajole | 01/20/05
Style comparison PC vs MAC  jfa | 01/20/05
mobile  11mickh11 | 01/21/05
pc  gdergous | 01/21/05
YOUR alternative.  gdergous | 01/21/05
Always good  richdave | 01/25/05
mini vs Dell  matteh99 | 01/29/05

What do you think?

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