On May 1, 2006, at 12:10 PM, Cory Papenfuss wrote:
As long as we're being precise, I'll just clarify that the [Apple]
adjective was missing from my description. A Macintosh is by
definition an Apple product, but MacOSX doesn't run in an iPod or
Apple II... only on a "Macintosh."
Fun game... no really... :)
Semantically:
Apple hardware is a generic term. Apple II, iPod, etc are specific
products, as is "Macintosh". Apple II, iPod, Macintosh, Macintosh
Plus, Power Macintosh G5, etc are all examples of Apple products
which fall under the generic term "Apple hardware". Not all Apple
hardware is the same, or can run the same operating system.
No Apple product made since 1986 has been labeled simply "Macintosh".
Everything from that point forward was Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE,
Macintosh II, etc etc. Mac OS X (NOT "MacOSX") runs on Apple hardware
which generally includes *most* (if not all) of the Apple general
purpose computing hardware with G3 processors and later, if you want
to make it more specific.
So to say that you need to "purchase Macintosh hardware" to run
"MacOSX" is technically incorrect on two counts. Although since I
understand exactly what you're saying, the distinction is moot. ... ;-)
There is no super-fast Mac hardware when it comes to overall system
performance. Memory bandwidth, chipsets, etc all tend to be a bit
slower than the PC counterparts. Not counting notebooks, I see a
G5 dual/dual-dual for between $2000-$3300. Building a PC piece by
piece will get you dual core for $1000 or less.
Calling a G5 2.7Ghz Quad or an Xserve less than "super fast" is a
little absurd to me. But that would drag us down into the horrors of
benchmarks and metrics, component performance vs integrated
throughput performance, ad nauseam, where I'd rather not waste
bandwidth.
A brand-new PowerMac G5 2Ghz DP with 1G RAM and 250G drive, all the
wireless options, keyboard and mouse, operating system and included
software (iLife '06), full development system software, cost me
$1700. The monitor was extra, as was the second 500G drive and 2G
more RAM. Overall, since I'm not a tinkerer, it wasn't a bad price
for the performance and quality. I don't know build-it-yourself
pricing very well as it's been years since I was interested to build
a system from parts, but to buy comparable quality and performance
enclosures, motherboards, drives, power supplies, etc etc and add the
OS and other software to it, the value proposition is different by
only a slim margin.
My time is also worth something. I like to do photography ... my
work ... not tinker with computers. I use computers to do my work,
and I work to fix other people's computing problems, that's all. :-)
Godfrey
