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Dell Laptop to MacBook Pro Price Comparison

B

bigmudcake

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 13, 2006
19
0
Hi all,

For the first time we can truely compare price between the two types of computers with exactly the same processor and specs. All prices are in Australian Dollars.

$2,256 Dell Inspiron 6400 Laptop
- Core Duo 1.83Ghz (2Mb Cache, 667Mhz FSB)
- 1Gb DDR2 SDRAM (2 x 512Mb)
- 100Gb SATA Hard Drive
- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
- 15.4" Wide Screen XGA TFT Display
- 8x DVD +/-RW DL Drive
- Intel Pro Wireless 802.11g
- Bluetooth 2.0+EDR Module
- Integrated 10/100 Fast Ethernet
- USB v2
- Internal 56K Modem
- 3 Year Extended Warrenty
- Windows XP Pro, MS Works 7

$4,167 MacBook Pro
- Core Duo 1.83Ghz (2Mb Cache, 667Mhz FSB)
- 1Gb DDR2 SDRAM (2 x 512Mb)
- 100Gb SATA Hard Drive
- ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics
- 15.4" Wide Screen TFT Display
- 8x DVD +/-RW DL SuperDrive
- Internal Airport Extreme 802.11g
- Integrated Bluetooth 2.0+EDR Module
- Integrated Gigabit Ethernet
- USB v2
- Apple USB 56K Modem
- 3 Year Extended Warrenty
- OSX 10.4 Tiger, iLife 06
* Builtin Firewire 400
* Builtin iSight Camera


Its interesting to see the price difference.
 
Please add to the Apple

* Dual Link DVI video output
* Backlit Keyboard
* Firewire 400 (not iee1394 with NO power (4 wire))
* Optical Audio (in/out)
* IR Remote
* Mag Safe
* No Need for Antivirus (yet)
* No Need for Antispyware (yet)

** Quite a bit more if we went into it :)

::edit::
You added firewire since I started to reply :)
 
840quadra said:
Please add to the Apple

* Dual Link DVI video output
* Backlit Keyboard
* Firewire 400 (not iee1394 with NO power (4 wire))
* Optical Audio (in/out)
* IR Remote
* iLife Application suite
* Mag Safe
* No Need for Antivirus (yet)
* No Need for Antispyware (yet)

** Quite a bit more if we went into it :)

::edit::
You added firewire since I started to reply :)
Click to expand...

+ sexy case
 
Maybe the same processor, and similar features. But it is still comparing "Apples" and Oranges. With Apple you are getting a sleek design and some added features that, IMHO, are well worth the extra cash.
 
+ Intel integrated graphics, 1.5" thick and starts at 6.5 lbs.

Dell doesn't yet have a dual core laptop that's comparable in design to the MBP. The Inspiron has always been more of an iBook type laptop.

Instead have a look at this Lenovo T60

US$2599
 
840quadra said:
Is this wrong ?


http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/whatsinside.html
Click to expand...

Apple is misleading people:

From Macworld.com

"But I heard that some of the MacBook Pro’s features are actually inferior to the PowerBook’s. Is that true?

Yes. The MacBook Pro’s optical drive is slower than the PowerBook’s (4x, instead of 8x), and it won’t burn dual-layer DVD discs. Apple says this is because, the company has to use a new ultra-slimline optical drive in order to get the MacBook Pro down to one inch of thickness. Currently, the 4x DVD burner with no dual-layer capacity is the best drive in that class. (But fear not—the drive will still burn single-layer DVDs and CDs, and it plays back all your DVDs and CDs just fine.)"

http://www.macworld.com/2006/01/features/macbookfaq/index.php


Also your numbers are bloated. I think you chose the 2GHZ instead of 1.83. Look here(yes im running windows, blame apple for not sending me my mbpro sooner):
 

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Cless said:
Those are read speeds. The poster meant the MacBook Pros do not have SuperDrives capable of WRITING to double-layer DVD-Rs.
Click to expand...

Thanks. And I wasn't being sarcastic, I was simply asking a question.

ieani said:
Apple is misleading people:

From Macworld.com

"But I heard that some of the MacBook Pro’s features are actually inferior to the PowerBook’s. Is that true?

SNIP...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the added detail :)
 
In Australia, the prices and options I have referred to at the start of the thread are real and objective. I always am a bit sceptical of a "Mac" orientated company doing comparisons, just like I am sceptical of Microsoft comissioned studies.

To replicate I did :-

Apple http://www.apple.com/au/store and choose the 1.83Ghz MacBook Pro

Dell www.dell.com.au/bizsystems2 and choose the Inspiron 6400 Notebook

Make sure you spec them to the specs I used at the start of the thread

This is a realworld test, because you can use your credit card today and buy them both at the prices I just described.
 
While the numbers you have posted are, in fact, interesting, it is important to understand that service and overall user experiance are also factored into the price. If you were to purchase both computers and do nothing with either one of them but talk about how identical they were, then yes it's easy to say that the Apple computer is quite expensive compared to the identically equipped Dell. The fact is we don't just buy a computer for the specs, but rather what we can do with those specs. I like the stability of Mac OS.... The same way I don't have to worry whether or not the operating system in my TV is going to work I don't ever have to worry about my Mac. When I turn it on, IT WILL PREFORM AS EXPECTED. If I were to have a problem I know I can take my Mac to the genius bar at any one of my local Apple Stores and can talk to someone who not only knows my hardware but understands my software as well..... and if he doesn't have the answer right away, he knows where to get it.

The service I get form Apple and the overall personal experiance I have on my Mac is priceless. It's all about getting the computer that best suites your needs.... just my $0.02:D
 
yes, macs cost more, but I feel they premium is worth it. The same reason I buy good beer instead of the $6 six-pack special.
You get what you pay for.
 
plinden said:
+ Intel integrated graphics
Click to expand...
Yeah, a Laptop with Intel integrated graphics isn't in the same market as the MacBook, and that's just the beginning of the differences.

Edit: And it's got a screen resolution of 1280x800. Give me a break.

2nd Edit: I can't even find any Dell laptop model with Intel Core Duo that doesn't have Intel Integrated Graphics. That just sucks.
 
The thing about dual-core, is that in the PC world, it's not that big of a deal. Just because a machine has a dual-core chip doesn't make it a good system. This dell has an intel 950 videocard, that's junk. You can't play games on that (well).
 
ieani said:
... Also your numbers are bloated. I think you chose the 2GHZ instead of 1.83. Look here(yes im running windows, blame apple for not sending me my mbpro sooner):
Click to expand...

The post was in Australian dollars.
 
bigmudcake said:
I always am a bit sceptical of a "Mac" orientated company doing comparisons
Click to expand...

And I'm skeptical of people who want to compare a Mac to the cheapest computer possible.

The computer you mentioned weighs more, is bigger (thicker), has a substandard screen with no dedicated graphics card, no camera, no remote, runs windows, doesn't include iLife or an equivalent, needs virus protection, needs adware protection, needs spyware protection, and on and on and on (did i mention that it's ugly too?).

No one buys a Japanese car because it's cheaper than an American car (in the US at least) but because they know it's quality they can rely on. And people are willing to pay a little more for that quality.
 
there was another thread about this couple of weeks ago and i had posted this same pdf. i went to the dell site and tried to configure a similar machine

but still missing things

-integrated graphics card
-no webcam
-no 10/100/1000 (only 10/10)
-no optical in/out
-no backlit keyboard/light sensor
-smaller resolution display
-heavier
-bigger dimension

so no MacbookPro is not more expensive, you get what you pay for
 

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I posted a link to an American Lenovo T60 above, here's a rough Australian equivalent:Australian T60
AUS$6599

This is with 1GB RAM, 2.16GHz CPU, 256 MB GPU, 100GB 7200rpm HDD, gigabit ethernet, 4x DVD (Combo!!) drive.

The Aussie MBP with similar specs is AUS$4614, that's with a superdrive. So you pay AUS$2000 for the extra 128MB GPU RAM on the Thinkpad and lose the DVD recorder, optical links, firewire, backlit keyboard etc.

Wow, you aussies get screwed on prices, don't you?

Go ahead and buy your Dell, no one will miss you here.
 
Passante said:
Don't feed the troll. Another newbie post about price comparisons:p
Click to expand...
Thank you. Every one falls for the troll bait. Don't we have a few threads on this anyways?
 
Anyone who shrugs it off as troll bait is ignoring the harsh realities.

The MacBook Pro does have an advantage with the faster/better graphics card, but this is not what Apple Marketing is concentrating on when they are trying to convince us to buy, its all focused on the Intel Core Duo.

I am worried that alot of Potential buyers from the PC/Windows side of the market (the overall majority) will look at the harsh realities, be confronted with the Apple Intel marketing, look at the prices and say its not worth it.

No one can objectively argue that the Macbook Pro is cost competitive.
 
bigmudcake said:
No one can objectively argue that the Macbook Pro is cost competitive.
Click to expand...
You seem to ignore the fact that all laptop offers from manufacturers who actually have laptops in the same market segment as the MacBook are in the same price range.

Look at that Dell site again.
dell.png

The Inspiron series is the budget series. The specs, the quality control and the price of the Inspiron series is in the budget segment.

The Latitude series is in the pro segment. It costs more, the specs are better and the quality control is better. This is the same segment as the MacBook is in, but Dell hasn't dragged their Latitude asses into 2006 yet. You'll have to wait some more time for Dell to come up with a Core Duo offer in that segment before you can start comparing Dells with MacBooks.
 
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