Xref: utzoo comp.sys.apple:5665 comp.sys.ibm.pc:14807 Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!decwrl!decvax!mandrill!neoucom!wtm From: wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple,comp.sys.ibm.pc Subject: Re: Apple Lawsuit (was BOYCOTT APPLE, etc.) Message-ID: <1126@neoucom.UUCP> Date: 23 Apr 88 19:32:59 GMT References: <22636419@ralf> <305@pyuxf.UUCP> Organization: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine Lines: 23 Summary: IBM prices Yes, IBM's list prices are high. Fortunately, because there are clones of MS-DOS and hopefully soon PS/2 products, IBM and/or its dealers are forced to do pretty agressive price cutting. IBM products seem to be available to the average Joe off the street for around 30% off list. If you are a big contract buyer, the prices are even better. Even with the discounts, the IBM stuff is slightly more expensive than the clones. I don't know how many times I've heard, "This clone is the greatest thing I've seen. It only crases when I ". Of course, the IBM hardware does not do that. Naturally, the major clones like Dell, Epson, etc. are about as reliable as IBM. Basically, the old "you get what you pay for" rule still applies. Apple dealers, on the other hand are the only game in town, and thus one is forced to pay what they are asking. Apple has also been very nasty about gray market sales, thus making the market even tighter. There is one mitigating factor, the educational institutional pricing of apple stuff is pretty good, but then you have to have kids in college to get the bargain. If one desires to be a cheapskate and buy a clone, there is no alternative in the Apple world. --Bill