Steve Jobs Dead to Cancer at 56

Originally posted by Bardock42
As far as I can tell the thinnest part of the Sattelite is thicker than the thickest part of the Mac Book Air. My point is if you want something that is highly portable, and powerful, the MacBook Airs are a great choice, maybe not the best for everyone, but definitely an acceptable contender. And those SSD would cost you a good chunk if you wanted them in your laptop, too.

Have you held a MacBook Air in your hand before? My Asus Eee PC feels like a menhir compared to it.

Though I want to repeat, I am not saying that MacBook Airs are the best for everything, I am just saying that they are very good for certain needs, and within those needs they are reasonably priced. Is it for everyone? Definitely not.

The SSD is good, but it's overkill. There is no need to have your whole computer using it, just your OS and a few choice programs is fine. Put it this way... neither of these computers is going to be running high end software, the need for SSD is not there. I'd take the larger, slower HDD anyday for a portable computer, knowing that it saved me £500.

Originally posted by §P0oONY
We're talking a cm... and it's only 100g heavier. This Toshiba is VERY portable.

The SSD is good, but it's overkill. There is no need to have your whole computer using it, just your OS and a few choice programs is fine. Put it this way... neither of these computers is going to be running high end software, the need for SSD is not there. I'd take the larger, slower HDD anyday for a portable computer, knowing that it saved me £500.

It's not only 100g heavier. It's 10% heavier 😐

Well, you don't know how much happier you would have been had you bought the MacBook Air, so that's a silly comparison. By the same standard I saved 700 pounds by buying a picture frame instead of the laptop you posted. You can't solely look at the price.

Btw, you don't have to convince me of the greatness of Windows Laptops, I own multiple ones. But you are arguing from a position that MacBook Airs are never the best value for money, which I don't think you have in any way shown by showing a random cheaper laptop.

Besides, the MacBook Air can run certain high end software, and you can do development and design on it, in which case the SSD will be immensely beneficial.

You'll never convince me that paying an extra £500 for 256GB SSD and 100g is value for money.

Originally posted by §P0oONY
You'll never convince me that paying an extra £500 for 256GB SSD and 100g is value for money.

I don't mind. I was just replying to your initial assertion I disagree with. You may go on believing it...

Originally posted by Bardock42
I don't mind. I was just replying to your initial assertion I disagree with. You may go on believing it...

Originally posted by §P0oONY
The discussion started with discussing price-point vs computer spec. You seem to be stuck on the latter. Ignoring the fact that for £1.35k you get an average laptop. No amount of SSD or insignificant weight is going to change that.

To be fair you are comparing the priciest MacBook Air, but lets disregard that. What you don't seem to take into account is the user experience, which I suppose is meaningless to you, but for many people they like their technology to not get in their way. Hardware and Software wise. And the MacBook Airs hardware is definitely one of the best if not the best in the portability department. Whether you think that's worth something or not is your issue, it is worth something to many people. Another thing people buying products may take into account is the OS. And no average person, and really, not even a savvy person, will have as much fun working with MacOS software on a non-Mac device.

Again, the issue is not that I'm saying a Mac is always the better alternative, the issue is that you are saying it is never the right choice. And maybe it never is the right choice for you, but there are valid reasons why people get Macs. The implication that there is always a better non-Mac alternative is only based on discounting certain considerations for a 1 to 1 spec listing (of certain specs), which is completely meaningless to the consumer actually using the product.

As I said in an earlier post. The Mac OS is the olny selling point worth mentioning in regards any Apple PC. It is fantastic... I can't deny that.

I guess it depends where your priorities are. I don't begrudge any Mac user... because I myself used Leopard and Snow Leopard on a Macbook Pro for 2 years and I enjoyed every minute.

But it's impossible for me to sit here and say you get your money's worth... As Windows PCs always give you more bang for your buck if you shop around.

Well, I think there are more selling points. But we don't really have to go on I don't think either of us has any more arguments than we already brought.

Like you said, you think you always can get more bang for your buck with the right Windows PC, I think with certain priorities you get the best value with a Mac.

I think we're more or less reaching a middle ground. For certain professions and such, Macs are second to none.

When it comes down to it. If you purchase a computer and you're satisfied with what you get for the money, that is all that really matters. The PC vs Mac debate is an old, bitter and ugly thing, and so long as you're happy with your system it's really not relevant.

My whole debate has been about the numbers... not the experience, yours has been the opposite. We have different views on what is important and neither is less valid.

At the moment, I am happy with my PCs... The give me all I want and more and at attractive price-points. Does this mean that I will never buy a Mac in the future? Simple answer: no. In an ideal world I would have the budget to own both.

Originally posted by §P0oONY
I think we're more or less reaching a middle ground. For certain professions and such, Macs are second to none.

When it comes down to it. If you purchase a computer and you're satisfied with what you get for the money, that is all that really matters. The PC vs Mac debate is an old, bitter and ugly thing, and so long as you're happy with your system it's really not relevant.

My whole debate has been about the numbers... not the experience, yours has been the opposite. We have different views on what is important and neither is less valid.

At the moment, I am happy with my PCs... The give me all I want and more and at attractive price-points. Does this mean that I will never buy a Mac in the future? Simple answer: no. In an ideal world I would have the budget to own both.

I can agree to that. I am in the same camp as you, my primary device is a Windows laptop. But, if I had the funds, I'd like to have a Mac as my priorities change from first to consecutive devices.

Originally posted by Bardock42

iOS devices on the other hand are competitive and not particularly overpriced. The iPad and iPod Touch in particular, are the best in their respective category with some of the best prices. So I disagree with your assessment there.

O RLY?

You obviously don't know how ridiculously overpriced Apple's products are in Asia.

iPhone 4 32GB is worth around 2775 AED here in Dubai (approx. $760).
That's the cheapest one you can get online.
Electronic shops sell them for 2880 AED or more.
The Apple showrooms sell them for 3150 AED (that's $860!)

In the Philippines, the new iPhone 4S sells for 45,000 pesos ($1050!! LOL!)

And don't get me started with the Macs.

Originally posted by AsbestosFlaygon
O RLY?

You obviously don't know how ridiculously overpriced Apple's products are in Asia.

iPhone 4 32GB is worth around 2775 AED here in Dubai (approx. $760).
That's the cheapest one you can get online.
Electronic shops sell them for 2880 AED or more.
The Apple showrooms sell them for 3150 AED (that's $860!)

In the Philippines, the new iPhone 4S sells for 45,000 pesos ($1050!! LOL!)

And don't get me started with the Macs.

I must say I don't really care how overpriced Apple products are in Asia...

How much does the Samsung Galaxy S2 cost in Dubai and the Phillipines? Just for comparison.

Originally posted by AsbestosFlaygon
O RLY?

You obviously don't know how ridiculously overpriced Apple's products are in Asia.

iPhone 4 32GB is worth around 2775 AED here in Dubai (approx. $760).
That's the cheapest one you can get online.
Electronic shops sell them for 2880 AED or more.
The Apple showrooms sell them for 3150 AED (that's $860!)

In the Philippines, the new iPhone 4S sells for 45,000 pesos ($1050!! LOL!)

And don't get me started with the Macs.

isn't that more of a fact that there are low cost manufacturers of PC hardware that deal almost exclusively in Asia?

What does a good Asus MB cost there? like, a real Asus

Originally posted by Bardock42
I must say I don't really care how overpriced Apple products are in Asia...

How much does the Samsung Galaxy S2 cost in Dubai and the Phillipines? Just for comparison.

The Galaxy S2 is AED 2300-ish in Dubai.
In the Philippines, it was around 25,000 pesos. That was last month when I took a vacation. Prices should've dropped by now.

Originally posted by inimalist
isn't that more of a fact that there are low cost manufacturers of PC hardware that deal almost exclusively in Asia?

What does a good Asus MB cost there? like, a real Asus

I do know, though, that a Asus PC (made in Japan) is 2-4x cheaper (depending on the retailer) than a Mac with similar specs.
Those made in China are cheaper, like 5-6x.

Originally posted by AsbestosFlaygon
I'm just sayin' what you said is false.
It may be cheap in the US, but it is NOT cheap by any means in some parts of the world.
Hence, why most people in Asia opt for cheaper brands that give them more bang-for-the-buck.
It's very rare to see people with Macs and iPods in 3rd world countries.

It's not false, though since I talked about the places where Spooony and I live. It may not be applicable everywhere (though I only have your word for that), but that wasn't essential to my point. Additionally you are talking about the iPhone, which I never denied has a bit of a premium on it, I was focusing on the iPod Touch and the iPad.

Though, doing a bit of research: Apple seems to sell it's phone for 2199AED (600 USD) in the Arabic Emirates, while they don't seem to be selling it directly in the Phillipines.

So even your initial claim seems to be completely false.

Originally posted by Bardock42

Though, doing a bit of research: Apple seems to sell it's phone for 2199AED (600 USD) in the Arabic Emirates, while they don't seem to be selling it directly in the Phillipines.

So even your initial claim seems to be completely false.

Yes, it's true. They don't sell it directly in the Philippines. Plus, they're all sim-free. But the price is still ridiculously high compared to the US MSRP.

Just read this about Jobs...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/20/steve-jobs-biography-obama_n_1022786.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk1%7C106076

"Jobs also criticized America's education system, saying it was "crippled by union work rules," noted Isaacson. "Until the teachers' unions were broken, there was almost no hope for education reform." Jobs proposed allowing principals to hire and fire teachers based on merit, that schools stay open until 6 p.m. and that they be open 11 months a year."

- "Broken"? No. Recalibrated? Definitely. But protection for the "little people" (as Leona Helmsley once referred to us 99%) is necessary.
- Hire/fire based on merit? Things like nepotism, personality clashes/boss vindictiveness, and political/budget agendas will come first.
- 6 PM? Sure, if teachers' salaries were higher so that many didn't have to work second jobs. And when do you propose they do all the work they do now at home to keep up? 9PM? Only to wake up nice and early the next morning?

Yet another example of a billionaire businessman who thought he was an educator ("I know about computers and made all this money; I must be smart enough to know about everything else!"😉

Bloomberg much before you went?

Originally posted by Mindship
Yet another example of a billionaire businessman who thought he was an educator

Originally posted by Lord Lucien
Really, if you ask pretty much anyone about the education system, they'll be able to "tell you a thing or two how to fix them there schools."

Originally posted by Mindship
Just read this about Jobs...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/20/steve-jobs-biography-obama_n_1022786.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk1%7C106076

"Jobs also criticized America's education system, saying it was "crippled by union work rules," noted Isaacson. "Until the teachers' unions were broken, there was almost no hope for education reform." Jobs proposed allowing principals to hire and fire teachers based on merit, that schools stay open until 6 p.m. and that they be open 11 months a year."

- "Broken"? No. Recalibrated? Definitely. But protection for the "little people" (as Leona Helmsley once referred to us 99%) is necessary.
- Hire/fire based on merit? Things like nepotism, personality clashes/boss vindictiveness, and political/budget agendas will come first.
- 6 PM? Sure, if teachers' salaries were higher so that many didn't have to work second jobs. And when do you propose they do all the work they do now at home to keep up? 9PM? Only to wake up nice and early the next morning?

Yet another example of a billionaire businessman who thought he was an educator ("I know about computers and made all this money; I must be smart enough to know about everything else!"😉

Bloomberg much before you went?

To be fair, he's completely right.