I second the Dell display (or any display other than Apple's). I cannot believe the suckers that will pay $1,000 for something that is $250 without the Apple logo.

I own the Microsoft Arc Mouse and I'm sad to report that it is the most uncomfortable mouse I've ever used. Mostly because your fingers are left dangling underneath the arch, which feels very unnatural. People who use the "claw grip" should stay very far away.

You get what you pay for. The aluminum casing is more elegant, nicer design. Dell is made of cheap looking plastic. I have a 24 in Imac and a Dell laptop. It's nice to have the choices.

for mice i was not a fan of the magic mouse and i have come to despise the mighty mouse. After 2 of them becoming pretty much useless I have switched over to a logitech m500. Wired (no freakin batteries!), laser, side scrolling, thumb buttons, fits my hand like a dream. that is all i need.

The Apple Cinema Display is pretty expensive but not bizarrely out of line for an IPS panel.

NEC and Viewsonic make some great IPS panels for under $350.

The Dell monitor you posted is not so great because as another poster mentioned it's not an IPS panel, and also because it's not LED backlit.

For someone who isn't an audiophile, you sure buy expensive headphones. Apple sells headphones with inline controls for $29. The ones for the iPhone 3GS and 4 have volume control as well.

i have the arc mouse and i love it. i bought it because it looked cool (wasn't expecting it to be comfortable) and to use sparingly. it fits my hand really well.

When I got a new computer last year all my Appl-ite friends tried to convince me to make the switch, but I just couldn't do it. Not only is the basic computer twice the cost, but when you add in all of THIS stuff (not even getting into software) it's just so much more expensive to own a mac.

I have an old Pismo Powerbook that I carry around, but have a 13" Macbook Pro that stays home most of the time, connected to an HP v2007 LCD monitor. After using the Mighty Mouse for six months and dealing with the headache of trying to keep the scroll ball clean, I tossed it and got a $10 Logitech mouse that has worked great for over two years. I do love the Apple aluminum keyboards and have gotten very attached to the feel and feedback of the "chicklet" style keys. As far as backups, I use Time Machine with a 1tb Seagate external drive, and have a 500 gb model for holding files.

While I love Apple's computers and especially Mac OS X, there are decent alternatives to some of their accessories, and not being a complete slave to style, have no problem using these accessories. I just don't take the zealot route and use their pricing as an excuse to slam them. It seems many writers these days have to throw in their little jabs at Apple due to the supposed "smugness" of the brand; a trait that smacks of low self-esteem due to marketing. It's just a tool, and no one is giving you money due to their perception of the tools you use, so what's the point?

The monitor comparison is wrong. You really should be comparing the $599 Dell Ultrasharp 24" to the $799 Apple Cinema Display. Apple is still a lot more expensive, but it's not $250 v $800 different.

I love the Arc Mouse. I actually prefer to use it over my full-size "desktop" mouse. I think the Magic Mouse is garbage and an ergonomic nightmare. For such a user-centric design company, it's quite shocking how consistently bad their mice are. Apple continually makes the worse mice.

please don't support dell. the company is currently being sued for selling 11.8 million faulty pcs & then hiding the fact that it did this deliberately.
link to nytimes story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/13/technology/13dell.html

Nothing sparks up a debate like the good ol' Mac vs. PC conversation!

I made the switch to Mac about 6 months ago and I haven't looked back. I cringe when I think about using my husband's PC or having to turn on my old computer to find a document I didn't think I needed.

I've been using the Apple Magic Mouse for the same period of time and I LOVE it. No issues with hand cramping whatsoever.

"it's just so much more expensive to own a mac."

Umm... not if you take into account (1) refurbs and (2) resell value. I just bought a refurbed Macbook in Jan for less than $900 and sold my 4 y.o. Macbook for $500. Good luck selling your 4 y.o. Windows box for anything worthwhile.

Also, the blurb on Apple's rechargeable batteries is completely off the mark. First, the Sanyo batteries for $20 only includes 4, not 6, batteries. Second, Apple's charger is much more energy efficient. So not only are the batteries essentially the same price (per battery), but Apple's product is greener.

My previous comments aside, I cannot justify the cost of the Time Capsule... :)

I love, love, love the Magic Mouse. It is by far the best mouse Apple has come out with so far. (Mighty Mouse was pretty, but the tiny trackball was a nightmare to maintain.) I love the touch aspect of the Magic Mouse, and wish, oh wish, I could use it on my work PC laptop. Scroll wheels and track balls just can't compare to touch.

I just had my 2nd Mighty Mouse in 2.5 years die (or rather, the rollerball die) and even though it's under warranty just couldn't stand the thought of getting another one that would last less than a year. But in desperation, I found a website that shows how to open it up and access the guts, and I actually successfully cleaned the rollerball! The only thing is, you kind of have to break it to get to the innards, so now I have it taped up. I will not buy an Apple mouse ever again, though. Especially battery operated ones - what a hassle. The batteries always die at the wrong time and the rechargeables eventually stop holding charges too.

"Initial costs for a comparable (something hard to do) Mac are higher but in terms of long term costs for repairs of software issues and other expenses, such as time lost and headaches you will likely incur as an average Windows PC user, you will most certainly do much better with a Mac."

This has never been the case for me, and for the most part the guts of apple computers and PCs now come from the same suppliers. You can find equivalent high-end hardware in PC or mac form if you look for it. Also, with the reviews in for windows 7, I would seem that the operating systems are on an even playing field.
I have known plenty of computer illiterate mac owners who have spent up the wazoo repairing their computers and buying tons of unnecessary software. Conversely, I have known plenty of people with PCs who have owned the same computer for 3-4 years without so much as a hiccup in performance (and they paid roughly half to boot).
The performance and longevity of a computer really depends on the user and how they treat the device. To suggest that the apple tax is REQUIRED to have a positive computer experience is extremely misleading and kind of um...insulting.

the magic mouse is great & worth the money!

I'm confused because it looks like you compared a monitor to a full computer in a monitor.

I just love my Magic Mouse! I have suffered from RSI in the past, so I am very aware of ergonomics. With the MM, there are so many things you can do in different ways, which is really good.

Hilarious, Ansela! If I changed Apple to Baptist and PC to Methodist in your post, you'd sound exactly like the crusty old preacher in the deep south neighborhood where I grew up. It's all 0s and 1s with brands attached to the pretty boxes where they live - you knew that, right?

There is so much wrong with this post, I know unplgged isn't intended for the professional users but I feel that it's a bit unfair comparing items that are completely different but are alright to because they have the same function.

As many people have said before and as unplugged keeps mentioning, the comparing of the 2 displays is completely wrong. There's a slight increase in price but that can be put down to the aluminium casing in this case, however the panel behind the screens are completely different, you can't compare them because they're the same sized screen.

If you don't know the difference, then the chances are you don't need to or that the differences won't effect you that much but they're not the same to compare and definitely not an excuse to compare them because you feel the difference is because of the "Apple Tax" or to say that I'm wrong because I sound like an Apple fan.

You might as well just compare a EIZO ColorEdge CG241W (http://www.amazon.com/Eizo-CG241W-BK-EIZO-ColorEdge-CG241W/dp/B000T9OX78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1282076377&sr=8-1) and Dell ST2410 (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-1070) and say that you're getting ripped off because its 10 times the price.

You make some very good points, but at least compare apples to apples on all of the examples. The Microsoft Arc is not touch sensitive like a Magic Mouse, and the Dell display is a TFN display unlike the IPS displays from Apple.

I'm sure there are other examples of where you have done this too but I have found the article where you have done this before:-
http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/collins-america-cinemaview-24-unplggd-test-lab-114019

The magic mouse is awesome and I could not imagine using something else...

I will agree, the start out price of a Mac does tend to make people squirm, but I have been an avid Apple owner for 9 years and this is my bottom line; I have NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER had a virus, spyware or anything of the sort. THAT is enough to make me invest the couple extra hundred dollars.
As for all of the extras, thats what they are. They're extras. If you don't like the price, go ahead and get another company's version. Just keep in mind, Apple's products are priced the way they are for a very good reason, they pride themselves on customer satisfaction... and I am a satisfied customer.

To the mac users gloating about their superiority to PCs: install McAffee/Norton = no viruses/spyware. I never worry about viruses or spyware.

And when I bought my new computer, I researched the parts inside (processor speed, RAM, hard drive space, graphics card)... I looked up the EXACT SAME parts from HP and Apple, and the exact same system was double the cost with Apple. You're not paying to "avoid the headaches" you're paying for design and pre-paying for customer service. PC users choose to forgo the service and do-it-ourselves. Which is why when my computer started having issues recently (software tick), I just moved all my files onto an external hard drive (about as easy as saving a picture to a USB flash drive) hit F11 and reformatted the hard drive back to the factory image. Totally free.

With a little know-how owning a PC is just as easy as owning a mac.

I would say network storage drives are preferable to the apple time capsule because you can easily swap up to a larger drive when you need to without rebuying the whole thing, but you can't really compare them on price unless you add in the price of a wireless router to the seagate drive's price.

That being said, I actually do have the time capsule for now because my "home office" is in my living room, and I need the office supplies to look sleek and unobtrusive as possible.

Zhahira, this is nothing to do with a Mac vs PC thread, some people have said that they like Macs but they are also going off topic too. This is something about the hardware that can be used on PCs too, the problem that people are having and are defending Apple products are not the Macs but the items listed above which actually don't have a big "Apple tax" attached to them, they are just being unfairly compared.

"Apple makes wonderful products, but there are plenty of reasonable alternatives that might look just as good, work as well, but cost a fraction of the price Apple charges for their products!"

Why isn't the original author either defending or retracting this ridiculous conclusion?

Apple provides a design philosophy and a well honed ecosystem that works brilliantly.

Some people buy Jaguars, others buy Yugos.

Sent from my iPad.

One substitute device I love for my laptops and iPod is Belkin's Mini Surge Protector with USB Charger $11 instead of the Apple USB Power Adapter $30. Not exactly the same, but they do serve the same function.

Apple has often made bad functional hardware design choices (e.g. iPhone4). Also, Apple gouges us with expensive, unnecessary, propriety ports and cables.

I tried to replace a power supply once on my sister's 3 year old computer, but found that I would need to disconnect and remove the entire motherboard to get to the power supply. Also, because the power supply is proprietary and specific to that particular case model, a replacement power supply would have cost $300.

I can use most accessories on my Mac and Linux box easily. But Apple makes no effort to support use of their devices on other systems. Apple has a propriety Bluetooth pairing process for their Bluetooth keyboard, so my PC can't use it. In order to use the Magic Mouse meaningfully with my PC, I had to wait for hackers to to exploit the drivers. Apple won't let me install Mac OS on a PC. I realize that's business ...

I do love Mac OS and the software that comes with an Apple computer. I love the absence of software cruft and virus worries. And Apples are so cute. But they're so weak in processing power for the money spent ...

1) Amazon currently lists 4xAA with a charger for $18. Apple gives you 6xAA with a charger for $30. It's quite a difference, but beyond the number and type of battery, you're paying for a better engineered charger. Lower vampire energy draw, compatible with all of Apple's travel/international plug fittings, and easily packable.

2) As others have said, do your storage and networking separately. Apple's Airport Extreme Base Station gets amazing customer ratings, but the Time Capsule always gets slammed.

3) I've never liked any of Apple's mice. They look awesome, but when it comes to UI devices it's function way before form.

4) shrug

5) Compare apples to apples, so to speak. I still probably wouldn't buy an Apple display, but I value LED-backlit IPS panels. I can hear the buzzing of CCFL backlights, and I can't stand the color performance of TN and even PVA/MVA panels. In fact, the TN panels of Macbook Pros are consistently my biggest hardware complaint about them.

@casualgrace: Apple's not selling you a computer. They're selling you a computing experience. They start with enough computing power for what most users need, they wrap software around that hardware, and they charge what they think the resulting experience is worth.

To concentrate on price/performance is to think the way Dell wants you to think. This isn't a PC vs Mac post. It's an appeal to evaluate what matters to you. If you're doing scientific supercomputing or building a render farm, then the only thing that matters is processing power as a ratio to cost. Is processing power really the most important thing, or is it the overall experience? Answer that question, and spend your money accordingly.

I managed to pick up a pair of Klipsch S4i for less than the Apple in ears.

Considering the rubbish standard apple iPhone headphones only lasted a year you'd have rocks in your head to spend the money on apple branded iPhone headphones.

Buy a quality item with better sound instead!

"Just look at the iPhone. Outside of different storage capacities there is only one model of phone that Apple sells. Compare that to its competitors and you can see why you will never get the same kind of support and attention to the product from other manufacturers."

Interesting that you say that Ansela, because I would say that the fact that there is only really one model of iphone (and yet, people keep on buying the latest versions) shows a lack of creativity on apple's part in all areas but marketing, at which they excel. They have managed to get you to believe that offering only one kind of phone provides reliability, that the product is unique and yet still manage to sell successive models. The same is true of the ipod.

The fact that apple only has one phone does not ensure its quality, nor does it ensure good customer service. That's just not logical. Apple could have 60 kinds of phone and still provide competent service - it shouldn't make any difference. And ideally, you shouldn't need all the 'support and attention' apple provides - your phone should not break. Your ipod should not crash. Electronics should not be built so flimsily that you need to pop into the manufacturer every few weeks to have them fixed...

"it's just so much more expensive to own a mac.

Umm... not if you take into account (1) refurbs and (2) resell value. I just bought a refurbed Macbook in Jan for less than $900 and sold my 4 y.o. Macbook for $500. Good luck selling your 4 y.o. Windows box for anything worthwhile."

A refurbed PC will cost much less than any refurbed mac. If you want to pay $900 for a used, and possibly unreliable, computer, be my guest. For $900 I can get a new PC with a full warranty. And quite frankly a 4 year old Windows "box" is probably still being used. I've owned 3 PCs over 25 years. When I got a new one, I gave the old one to someone who couldn't afford a computer. It's not necessary to make a buck off your old stuff to get a feeling of satisfaction.

"Apple provides a design philosophy and a well honed ecosystem that works brilliantly."

Steve Jobs is a genius. Apple provides $500 dollar computers to people who will pay $1500. that's not a design philosophy, that's a marketing program.

"Some people buy Jaguars, others buy Yugos."

Until recently, Jaguar was owned by Ford. some people overspend on a car as well as a computer.

"The aluminum casing is more elegant, nicer design. Dell is made of cheap looking plastic."

What's your point. They work the same. You can pay the Apple tax and get a prettier computer.

By the way I've never ever had a virus, spyware, or any of those other things that Apple owners whine about. My ISP provides me with free security software, and there are other free programs available. the reason Mac users aren't attacked is that the vast majority of computers in this country run Windows.