Re: Does AppleCare?

In article <gcuded$jnb$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
McL <mcl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Jolly Roger wrote:

Now add this to the Dell to bring it more up to spec with the iMac:

* internal Firewire ports (assuming you ever want to load video from a
video camera)

I don't and you can load from USB2. It just takes a little bit more time.

Sure, but if you want to compare similar systems, this must factor into
the cost.

Anyways, what kind of firewire does Apple provide? You can get a firewire
card from $20.

One FireWire 400 port and one FireWire 800 port; 7 watts each.

* internal 802.11n

Do you really need 802.11 on one home desktop?

I do.

You're the one comparing Apple computers with other PCs - not me. If
you're going to compare an iMac with a PC, you need to factor in this
cost.

* internal Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Interesting if you want to get rid of wires. *Must pay still more* for
equipment. Internal Bluetooth by itself is worthless.

Regardless, the iMac comes with this standard. Your PC does not. You
need to factor in this cost if you are to realistically compare prices,
which is what you stated you wanted to do.

* a sound card that does optical digital audio in and out

What's optical video?

Who said anything about optical video? Did you mean audio? Here you go:

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK>

Anyway, again, if you want to compre prices legitimately, this cost must
be factored into the equation.

* a high-quality camera with 1280 x 1024 resolution

Built-in iSight camera
Support for external display in extended desktop mode

* Digital resolutions up to 1920 by 1200 pixels
* Analog resolutions up to 2048 by 1536 pixels

<http://www.apple.com/imac/specs/>

I'm not sure what video output resolution has to do with the built-in
web camera resolution - those are two separate things.

2.3 megapixel camera. At best, worth $100. You've got a point here.

Again, you're the one indicating you want a fair and balanced
comparison. If that's really what you want, you have to factor this in.

An add-on would indeed have a wire... which lets you show the kids playing
behind the computer while you're writing about them.

I guess. On the other hand, it is an extra wire, and surely it'll be a
bit more clumsy to position it.

* a remote control & software to use it with media applications

* virus and spyware protection you'll certainly need if you're running
Windows

Don't visit hacked pages with a Mac any more than with a PC. As for viruses,
McAfee is included for 15 months and there is some pretty effective free
detection software.

How much is it after the 15 month period is over? Or are you suggesting
after that you'd just do without?

I know you can't put the camera inside the Dell, and the monitor isn't
built in either. The Dell will certainly take more desk space, require
more cables strewn on /under / behind your desk, and will likely be
noisier than the iMac. Up to you whether you want to deduct anything
from the Dell for that.

...will be upgradable and easier to fix.

I'm not sure what dollar value you can assign to the ability of the iMac
to run Windows, Linux, Solaris,

A PC runs all those OS.

Not legally, it doesn't. And you won't get Mac OS X running as easily,
nor will you have software updates working as seamlessly.

and most importantly, Mac OS X and the
included free iLife software (iPhoto, iDVD, iMovie, and so on). It's
certainly worth *something* substantial in my mind, though.

Dell includes Microsoft Work, Soundbooth CS3 and Adobe Elements 4.

<http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/adobe_elements?c=us&cs=19&l=
en&s=dhs&~lt=popup>

But I suppose you don't really want to compare free software available for
Apple and Windows, do you?

In most cases, the Apple equivalents outmatch the Windows offerings.

In the end, all that you've stated adds up $100 to the Dell for a more
flexible camera. That's still $500 less for a computer with more power, CPU,
memory, video card -wise.

Nope - wrong. You can't get all of this for $100:

* internal Firewire 400/800 ports
* internal 802.11n
* internal Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
* a sound card that does optical digital audio in and out
* a high-quality camera with 1280 x 1024 resolution
* a remote control & software to use it with media applications
* virus and spyware protection

I know you'd love to ignore this hardware, as a lot of people who claim
Macs are sooo much more expensive often do; but this hardware exists in
the iMac, and is missing from the Dell, which means the price comparison
is not legitimate.

***, even the $2,200 iMac only offers only 2 GB RAM and a Core 2 Duo... I
suppose anybody planning to edit video should consider this.

Ok so add $17 to the cost of the Mac:

<http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=3E33B88EA5CA7304>

Hum... Macs are much more expensive than I thought.

Trollish comment. It's almost as if your agenda was to ignore the real
hardware included in the iMac just so you could justify this statement
from the beginning.

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JR
.