SR MBP vs Dell M1330 - cool price comparison

[chem]

I just went to the plain basic dell.com and store.apple.com online configurations, and compared two models of laptop that I'm interested in:

Dell M1330 (their new, cool looking little XPS laptop with LED screen):
160GB, 7200pm HD
2GB RAM
2.2 GHz CPU
802.11n wireless
Slim AC adapter
10/100 network (standard, not upgradeable)
13.3" LED display (standard)
128MB 8400M GS video (standard)

MacBook Pro:
the same major components as the M1330 listed above, except...
15.4" LED display (standard)
128MB 8600M GT video (standard)
10/100/1000 network (standard)

The real kicker? Both models came out to be exactly $2283.00!

Now, I know this is before any rebates or sales. Dell coupons can be nice. But, you can get a big discount going through a first-time ADC purchase with Apple.

For as much as people talk about Apples being overpriced... this is surprising! You get a larger screen (for better or worse; it's more expensive a component), much better video, and gigabit ethernet instead of regular ethernet. Both machines have a very slim form factor. Vista vs OS X is a wash for me, as I'm more interested in linux anyway.

Some people would value the smaller size and maybe slightly lighter weight of the M1330 over the increased video and network power of the MBP. But, it seems like Apple is really providing good value here. Going by the raw components, it seems like it should be more expensive to build a MBP.

Some people may see me bashing Apple a lot (thermal issues in the MBP...), so I thought I would post something positive here. It seems like the MBP may be a good value. What do you all think? Specifically comparing the M1330/MBP.

 

[Taylor C]

Only people who like having something to bitch about play the "Macs are more expensive" card. While in some cases it may be true, the difference is fairly minimal, and well worth it. Am I the only one who thinks these new 'style-centric' DELLs are really unattractive?

 

[Block]

The comparison you made isn't really fair, as the two models are significantly different.

If you are comparing the 2.2Ghz 15-inch Macbook Pro, than you should use the Inspiron 1520. With these specs (almost identical to the 2.2Ghz MBP), the price comes out to be $1573, which is about a $500 savings.

Jet Black
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 (2.2GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
Genuine Windows ® Vista Home Premium Edition
High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch display (1440x900)
128MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 8400M GS
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
Size: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
Integrated 2.0M Pixel Webcam
56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)

The reason why people still buy the Macbook Pro as opposed to the cheaper Dell is because of: 1) Design and small bonuses (Back lit keyboard for example), 2) Weight, and by far the biggest reason 3) A superior operating system.

 

[uicandrew]

The comparison you made isn't really fair, as the two models are significantly different.

If you are comparing the 2.2Ghz 15-inch Macbook Pro, than you should use the Inspiron 1520. With these specs (almost identical to the 2.2Ghz MBP), the price comes out to be $1573, which is about a $500 savings.

The reason why people still buy the Macbook Pro as opposed to the cheaper Dell is because of: 1) Design and small bonuses (Back lit keyboard for example), 2) Weight, and by far the biggest reason 3) A superior operating system.

i agree. also, another factor that dell does is that they offer less expensive processor options, something i wish apple would do.

I mean, having a C2D 2ghz cpu won't be noticabley different from a SR 2.4ghz.

that's why people like to do the apple-dell comparison. Apple always offers the top end cpus.

In order to compare dells to apples, then you usually have to go with the high-end dell laptops (xps) instead of their budget laptops.

apple doesn't make budget laptops. they "upsell" their entire product line.

I would cry joys of tears if apple came out with $600 after rebate laptops that the budget-minded masses could enjoy. i mean, you can skimp on the CPU but still be generous with ram, and still run Tiger very well

 

[chem]

If you are comparing the 2.2Ghz 15-inch Macbook Pro, than you should use the Inspiron 1520.

Disagreed. The build quality of the MBP will be more comparable to the Latitude / XPS lines than Inspiron. Further, the M1330 has a LED-backlit screen, just like the MBP. The MBP and M1330 have similar form factors (very slim). Those last two factors alone make the M1330 a better comparison. Just to pile on top of it, though, the 1520 you priced you did not include an upgraded hard drive.

 

[mavere]

I think Dell won this one by a huge margin. For me, the 13" alone is enough to make me shell out a hundred or two extra, or give up some graphics power, but not to the extent of having integrated graphics. Thin and lights with discreet graphics are ridiculously expensive. EX: Dell XPS, Sony SZ.

 

[bloodycape]

I am going to take a guess that you can upgrade the GFX card on the Dell at cost to match or even beat the MBP GFX card? jw

 

[Block]

Disagreed. The build quality of the MBP will be more comparable to the Latitude / XPS lines than Inspiron. Further, the M1330 has a LED-backlit screen, just like the MBP. The MBP and M1330 have similar form factors (very slim). Those last two factors alone make the M1330 a better comparison. Just to pile on top of it, though, the 1520 you priced you did not include an upgraded hard drive.

Upgrading the 2.2ghz mbp to 160GB @ 7200RPM would increase its cost by $225. Upgrading the dell would increase its cost by $175. That would actually make the mbp even more expensive. But to update the price, the price of the dell would be $1723 and the MBP $2240, which is still about a $500 difference.

Edit: I don't see where you got $2283 from, as upgrading the drive only raises the price of the MBP to $2240.

My comparison was based more on the specifications of the laptop, and yours more on the design schematics. Either way, comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges, they are rather different.

 

[chem]

Upgrading the 2.2ghz mbp to 160GB @ 7200RPM would increase its cost by $225. Upgrading the dell would increase its cost by $175. That would actually make the mbp even more expensive. But to update the price, the price of the dell would be $1723 and the MBP $2240, which is still about a $500 difference.

Edit: I don't see where you got $2283 from, as upgrading the drive only raises the price of the MBP to $2240.

I added the magsafe airline adapter to the MBP price, since I added a similar extra adapter to the M1330. That brings the MBP to $2283. If you add in all the other options (wireless-N, 2.2ghz cpu, same HDD, etc) to the M1330, you get $2283 too. I'm not trying to pull a fast one here; the fact that they had the same price stood out at me so much, it's what prompted the post.

Also, for the person talking about the graphics (bloodycape), that's one thing I specifically pointed out in favor of the MBP. So, uh, I don't really see the point of your post. My original post was specifically very favorable to the MBP. Some people like the M1330's smaller size, but I think a 15" size is just fine.

It seems to just come down to preference (size vs video+ethernet+larger display) and discounts you can find.

 

[mavherzog]

Dell loses by default simply because EVERY Dell portable has that same crap keyboard.

 

[DavoMrMac]

What you also have to factor in is that it runs Windows and not Mac OS X

 

[jklps]

Somebody figured out how to wade through Dell configuration screens? They only have some super java program to go through 5000 screens for a bunch of additional crap that isn't even involved in buying a computer(external HDs, random software) or things that should be included anyways(wireless card?!?, it is 2007 no 1990).

Before I bought my 2.2MBP I did, for looking sake, configure a dell and a gateway and quite frankly, especially with putting in Vista Ultimate(so you can have the full OS just like we do with Mac) the prices aren't any better.

MAC just doesn't make any crappy laptops for the under 500 market, which is fine.

 

[chem]

What you also have to factor in is that it runs Windows and not Mac OS X

As my OP said, I'm more interested in linux anyway. That actually may be a slight edge for Dell, which makes me die a little inside. I wish Apple took their hundreds of millions of dollars and hired a single, dedicated $50,000/yr programmer to contribute patches to ubuntu or fedora in support of their laptops.

 

[wako]

I wish Apple would release a ultraportable computer already... forget the iPhone...

 

[dmaxdmax]

iLife is worth something, especially since it isn't available at any price on the Dell.

 

[aliquis-]

Only people who like having something to bitch about play the "Macs are more expensive" card. While in some cases it may be true, the difference is fairly minimal, and well worth it.

Prices on Apple machines are only ok just when they are updated. And noone buy Dell machines for their "real" price, since they always offer various ways to get a lower price.

i agree. also, another factor that dell does is that they offer less expensive processor options, something i wish apple would do.
I mean, having a C2D 2ghz cpu won't be noticabley different from a SR 2.4ghz.

So true, a 2.2GHz core2duo cost over 300 dollar, but that is ok, however the 2.4GHz one cost over 600 and that is just retarded. I don't wanna pay that, but I still want to have as good GPU as it's possible. To bad Apple doesn't offer that.

I can't justify the extra cost for the mid end, and the high-end 1920x1200 cost so much more that I could buy a complete gaming rig for that amount of money when Starcraft 2 arrives. So I guess the low-end is the best option, but it really suck that Apple saved on a few bucks for the graphics memory just to fool people into buying the more expensive models.

Disagreed. The build quality of the MBP will be more comparable to the Latitude / XPS lines than Inspiron. Further, the M1330 has a LED-backlit screen, just like the MBP. The MBP and M1330 have similar form factors (very slim). Those last two factors alone make the M1330 a better comparison. Just to pile on top of it, though, the 1520 you priced you did not include an upgraded hard drive.

Because the XPS also have yellow tints, static noises, ****** wlan connection or what? ;/

iLife is worth something, especially since it isn't available at any price on the Dell.

What part of iLife is worth something? The only part I see myself using is iPhoto but is it really better or even as good as Picasa or similair? Which is free for Windows.

 

[darkcurse]

What people tend to forget is that the MBP is a "Pro" machine which means that Apple expects people who buy these machines to do things like heavy video editing, multi-track recording, graphics design which means that you really do need all the CPU power you can get. That Apple has put a VERY decent graphics card into the machine is just icing on the cake for me. They didn't have to, but they did. Tiger can run all graphic related core API's on just 64MB's of VRAM eat that VISTA

And the part about iLife that is worth everything, is that its all integrated. Believe me, I am a CS major and doing all the "creative" stuff was beyond me... So I thought. I had to help my sister edit a short film for one of her school projects and boy-oh-boy was I glad I had iMovie. It was just so much simpler, I could just grab tracks from my iTunes library to put that as my "soundtrack" and play around with the effects in iMovie, put some photo's in to illustrate some points and when all was said and done, I just sent it to iDVD to be burnt with a nice menu That is the power of iLife.