"Alan Baker" <alangbaker@telus.net> wrote in message news:alangbaker-4E7762.13275629072008@shawnews.vc.shawcable.net... > In article > <7d81e1f2-3721-4e4e-9f95-65b74b756451@q5g2000prf.googlegroups.com>, > Dave Fritzinger <dfritzin@hotmail.com> wrote: > >> On Jul 29, 9:40 am, Alan Baker <alangba...@telus.net> wrote: >> > I mean, now the Dell has copied the Mac Mini. >> > >> > <http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-studio- >> > hybrid?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&ref=homepg> >> > >> > ...only it's bigger... >> > >> > ...and weighs more... >> > >> > ...and wireless is only an option... >> > >> > But now: >> > >> > Not being able to expand the device internally will be fine! >> > >> > Not having an internal modem will only be sensible! >> > >> > Not having Bluetooth... >> > >> > ...at all... >> > >> > ...hmmm. How *will* the Wintrolls spin that one? >> > >> And, it comes in colors!!! >> >> To be fair, it is a bit cheaper than a Mini, and offers more ports >> (HDMI), and the option of Blu Ray. > > Well... > > Let's look at that "bit cheaper" bit: > > Sure, you start off at $499, which is $100 less than the Mac Mini starts > at. > > But if you want, Vista Home Premium (which you do), that's $30: $529 > > And Dell's website tells you that you need at least 1GB... > ...configured as two DIMMs... > ...but the only two DIMM configuration they'll sell you... > ...is 2GB, and that's another $50: $579 > > And you want wireless networking? That's another $70: $649 > > And you want Bluetooth? Well, sorry. You can't have it. > But you can have Dell's wireless keyboard and mouse for $25: $674 > > > > Now to be fair, you should upgrade the Mac Mini to 160GB > to match the Dell and that's $100: $699 > > And you should add at wireless keyboard and mouse, > and that's $129: $828. > > So the Mac Mini is $54 more (about 8%),
as pointed out, it's $154, and you didn't add the following for the mac mini to bring it up to the same spec as the dell: - increase ram to 2GB- another $100. - the mac has the older gma 950 graphics. try upgrading that. - the dell has a dvd burner, i.e. 'superdrive'. can't get that on the cheap mac either. so the price difference is acually much higher. but, to be fair, the mac mini has a little better processor.
to do a better comparison, we should start with a processor w/ the same fsb (can't actually specify the same processor on these two systems) and optical drive, so i'd do it w/ the higher priced mini and the dell with the 2ghz t5750.
so the dell t5750: base price $874 processor: Intel¨ CoreT 2 Duo T5750 (2.00GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache) upgrade to Intel¨ CoreT 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache) +125 memory : 3gb hard drive: 320gb optical : dual layer cd/dvd burner video : intel x3100 os: : vista home premium monitor : Dell E207WFP 20 inch Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor wireless kb & mouse wireless networking: Built-in Dell 1505 Wireless-N Networking + $70 $1069 total
mac mini superdrive: base price $799 processor : core 2 duo, 2ghz, 667mhz fsb, 4mb cache memory : 2gb +$100 (can't specify 3gb) hard drive: 160gb +$50 (can't specify 320) video : gma 9500 wireless kb & mouse: +$129 $1078 total
so, for basically the same price, you get a dell that has: 1- a superior processor 2- 1gb more memory 3- better video 4- 2x (160gb) hard drive space 5- a 20" lcd
and 1 year in home warranty, but the warranties are so out of bed it's hard to compare, so i didn't try. the dell also has ms works 9, but given all the broo-ha-ha mac advocates like to make about ilife, we won't even add that.
> or about $1.50 per month more > over a three year life span, but then you get actual Bluetooth and > software, where as the Dell Studio Hybrid gives you nothing in either of > those areas.
bluetooth, yeah, sure, but you can add that for $10-$30. you can NOT add all the stuff the mac is missing for anywhere near that. ilife, the value of that is going to vary by user, but apple prices it at $79- again, the stuff the mac doesn't include makes up for that. :P
