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From: gft_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Low cost Mac's ?
Message-ID: <1990Aug22.175608.14166@midway.uchicago.edu>
Date: 22 Aug 90 16:36:18 GMT
Sender: news@midway.uchicago.edu (News Administrator)
Distribution: comp
Organization: University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
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Let's see what this discussion has brought to light so far:

1) The Macintosh, which is produced by a company which spends considerable
money on:

	Major Reasearch & Development (I think it was $700 million last year)
	National Marketing/Advertising

and some lesser amount on:

	Charitable Contributions

costs more than some IBM clones made by companies which most likely spend
little if any money on the above.

2) IBM clones often have less reliability both in terms of hardware and service
than Macintoshes.

3) IBM and Compaq, which do spend money in similar ways to Apple, produce
hardware which is comparable in price to Apple's.

Therefore, it is concluded, the Macintosh is grossly overpriced.

I would argue that this argument is somewhat less than convincing.  To put it
mildly.

Of course I would also argue that Apple would place itself better strategically
by lowering the price of the Mac and broadening their market share (and they
would make the world of Macintosh computing available to a broader segment of
society which would be IMHO a good thing in itself).  And Apple is indeed
indeed lowering Mac prices and making the Mac more affordable.
 
I would say to those who argue that the Mac is grossly overpriced: you get what
you pay for.  If you want less reliability, less overall system integration,
fewer features, and a GUI which -- while good -- shows its CLI heritage all too
well, then buy a no-name clone with Windows.  And I'm not being sarcastic: if
that is all you want, then there is indeed no reason to buy a Mac.  If you do
need a superior computer, though, then you may have to pay a bit extra to get
it.

Robert

============================================================================
= gft_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu * generic disclaimer: * "It's more fun to =
=            		         * all my opinions are *  compute"         =
=                                * mine                *  -Kraftwerk       =
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