Thoughts about Macs' prices

I wanted to answer the comment Anonymous posted, explaining everything clearly, so I'll do so in this post.

Price is not the only factor but one used to compare products. The fact is that the total addition of several factors (price included) gives the value of a product, and also the price/worth ratio as well as many other ratios. On the other hand it happens to be that many people gives price much more weight on such comparations than what aesthetics can imply.

In the same way companies give customers what they "need" (call it price, call it aesthetics, or call it usability) but there's an specific part of economy called "marketing" which is ONLY focused on forging our needs. So we have to stop again and think: What I think I need is what I really need?.

Answering this question leads us to another question: Can I get what I really need at a sensible price?

Now, focusing this topic on computers (which seems to be the point where we disagree because I say Macs are not worth its price "it's only a wise thing [to buy one] when you are IN LOVE with Mac's navigation" and as I understand you seem to think they are worth it) I can say that some people has Windows on their computers and they are "happy" because they can do what they need easily. I wouldn't insist them to use any other operating system as long as they are happy with the one they use. Moreover when they have to switch to another that they have to buy.

Now that I have unveiled my reasons, I have some more information: I use linux and I'm incredibly happy with it because I can do EVERYTHING i want for free. I also have a system I can toy with, a system which is very nice and eye-candy and also something that is very stable and almost 100% virus free. I guess when you say "There's a huge difference in using Mac OS X versus any other OS" I don't know whether you have or you haven't tried Unix and quite some linux distributions among the many varieties that are out there. I hadn't try many but anyway I can compare Mac Os X (I've used it) with the things I know and find my current linux distribution much better (you may find Mac os X better, but I do find linux better).

As Steve Jobs uses to say: "And one more thing..." you can get Mac OS X without buying a Mac (so you can have the same operating system on a much cheaper hardware), just check Psystar's computers: the difference among a Psystar and the same Mac computer, is the price you are overpaying... unless you also want to have Macs computers ( not only Mac Os X).

Now I've exposed most of my reasons and I say it again: Mac computers are overpriced. Anyway when I have a lot of money I might buy a Mac just to say: "Hey! I can afford it". But today I prefer much more spending my money on things I enjoy rather than on showing people how cool I'm.

Final thought: I said "it's only a wise thing when you are IN LOVE with Mac's navigation" because a part from the navigation, MAC OS X is another UNIX with a brand new interface, so there's nothing new under the sun... of Mac's layout.


Image taken from: xazac