Apple has big quarter as Macs are up 21%

[drhowarddrfine]

Apple's big quarter (http://bigtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/10/21/behind-apples-impressive-quarter/)
...considering the numbers Apple just posted. Profits were $1.14 billion on sales of $7.9 billion. But because of accounting rules that affect the iPhone and Apple TV, that actually understates the strength of Apple’s quarter. Counted another way, Apple actually sold $11.68 billion worth of product in the quarter, worth $2.44 billion in profit. Apple’s cash hoard ballooned to nearly $25 billion, leaving it with more cash than any other debt-free technology company. (That’s more than Microsoft (MSFT), Intel (INTC), or Google (GOOG); Cisco (CSCO) has more than $26 billion in cash, but it also has about $7 billion in debt.) I had always said Mac sales were going to be way up.

[WebJoel]

My neighbor next door just bought a MAC... it is BEAUTIFUL and the LOVE it! They did, however, want to sell me their 'old' laser-jet color printer as it does nt work on MAC, they need to get a MAC-compatible printer...

But anyway... if MACs weren't so impossibly expensive, I would like to have one..

[bathurst_guy]

I don't see why people think they're expensive.
http://technologizer.com/2008/10/19/is-the-new-macbook-expensive/
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/apple-mac-leopard-windows-vista,1985.html

[Declan1991]

Because there are so few options. You have to buy an expensive Mac because there aren't any cheap ones available. I bought a laptop recently, and to get an equivalent Mac, I would have had to pay at least double the price.

[Stephen Philbin]

If I had to choose between a Mac and a Windows PC, I'd choose the Mac simply because it wasn't a Windows PC, but It'd still take more than flaky comparisons to convince me I wasn't paying over the odds just because it was from Apple.

[bathurst_guy]

Because there are so few options. You have to buy an expensive Mac because there aren't any cheap ones available. I bought a laptop recently, and to get an equivalent Mac, I would have had to pay at least double the price.

Just because they don't offer cheap crappy versions doesn't make them "expensive" though, you get what you pay for. Apple take pride in their work, their designs, every piece of hardware involved, every bit they want to be top-quality.

If you were to compare each part in the laptop you bought and a MacBook for example you'll find there is plenty more in the MacBook. And I understand, you may not want bluetooth, wireless, firewire, iLife etc and that's fine, if you don't need these things then I wouldn't recommend a MacBook to you. I would suggest just as you bought, a standard notebook. I, however, love having these options so it suits me.

And I don't think there are so few options, personally I think they have too many. Five different notebooks (White MacBook, New MacBook, New MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Prev MacBook Pro), three desktops (Mac Mini, iMac [comes in three screen sizes], Mac Pro) and that's just computers, and they all are customisable.

Also, Mac's hold their value better than any other computer, so even if you did pay more to have all the things you want, you will get more back when you resell it. I actually sold my old black MacBook that I had for two years at 90% of the purchase cost on ebay! Before I had that MacBook I had a Compaq for two years. It was in such a state that the battery held no charge whatsoever, the plastic case that went over the back of the display was detached, three of the keys were missing. And I treated both computers better than I look after myself.

Now we're only discussing outright purchase costs here. When you take into consideration the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) Mac's definitely work out cheaper. Some links on this:
article 1 (http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9023959&pageNumber=1) article 2 (http://www.macobserver.com/article/2007/08/01.13.shtml) article 3 (http://www.market2world.com/the-new-way-things-are-blog/2007/1/22/the-mac-tco-means-business-at-market2world.html) article 4 (good article) (http://www.cio.com/article/127050/Eight_Financial_Reasons_Why_You_Should_Use_Mac_OS/1)

I work in a College and I (yes just me) have to support almost 200 computers + servers with 580 students and 80 staff. The school was all PC for student use computers and servers, Macs for staff when I started. I was run off my feet fixing Windows Servers, replacing parts in the PC's and chasing viruses throughout the network. I now have 100 MacBooks, iMacs for most of the staff and in one students computer lab set up dual boot with Windows XP (never going to install Vista) and another lab with PC's. Since setting up the Macs I haven't once had to fix any hardware, only had to tweak settings which is very easy to do using our XServe and Apple Remote Desktop. I now have time to update the website, provide one to one training for the staff so they can find new ways to use computers in the classroom (not easy for some of them who are use to using a white/blackboard for the last 20 years, and other things.

Anyway, I better go. That's the longest post I've done on here lol.

[NogDog]

Eh, M$ and Apple have enough money; buy a Linux notebook and stop giving them your hard-earned dollars. ;) Just make sure you buy it from someone who does not have a "Windows surcharge" even if you don't want Windows (http://www.linuxcertified.com/linux_laptops.html for example).

[Declan1991]

Sorry I didn't reply earlier, but first of all I didn't buy a Windows laptop (though I did pay the Windows Tax unfortunately). And it has all the features of an equivalent Apple, just Dell produce it. It is not substandard at all.

I don't intent to change your opinions, I just don't want someone falsely passing a cheaper product off as substandard.

[Stephen Philbin]

Windows tax?

[Declan1991]

Windows surcharge if you wish. Basically I couldn't get a Linux laptop from Dell cheaper than the Windows equivalent. Windows Licensing Agreement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Microsoft#Licensing_agreements). At least though, I am entitled to use whatever operating system I want after paying for Windows.

What's the Apple phrase for having to have the Apple logo on the hardware? Is it "Apple-labeled" or "Apple-made" or something else entirely?

[Jick]

Windows surcharge if you wish. Basically I couldn't get a Linux laptop from Dell cheaper than the Windows equivalent. Windows Licensing Agreement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Microsoft#Licensing_agreements). At least though, I am entitled to use whatever operating system I want after paying for Windows.

What's the Apple phrase for having to have the Apple logo on the hardware? Is it "Apple-labeled" or "Apple-made" or something else entirely?Actually, I think it's "Officially Raped by Steve Jobs". ;)

:p

[bathurst_guy]

Better than "officially raped, robbed, sliced and pimped out, then virus infected and blue screened in the face by Bill Gates". And at least Steve's better looking anyway lol

[Jick]

Better than "officially raped, robbed, sliced and pimped out, then virus infected and blue screened in the face by Bill Gates". And at least Steve's better looking anyway lolLoL! :D