Apple iMac versus PC – the results may surprise you

[kingrob]

If you still want to own the media then, for example: iTunes is one, but a simple google search will help you find many more (pick your poison).

In my case since I switched to live streaming Hulu, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, etc. I no long feel the need to own the content; and have more than my fill of movies, tv shows and sport if I so desire.

Of course you need fixed price bandwidth and unlimited data (in my case it's justified for my work and hence the private use is a bonus) -- of course I also don't have DSTV or TOPTV.

Btw there are more than one articles on this site and the internet explaining how to do this.

You said we can do online purchases in South Africa and I simply asked for the link, not an explanation of how Apple users commit fraud with bogus American addresses.

Can I have the link now?

[[)roi(]]

You said we can do online purchases in South Africa and I simply asked for the link, not an explanation of how Apple users commit fraud with bogus American addresses.

Can I have the link now?

Hahaha, you know very well we don't have those options; the South African media monopolies are quite happy to lock down all content distribution in our market i.e. Amazon, iTunes and others will for the foreseeable future continue to be locked out of our markets.

Hope you happy they have you locked into old tech, whilst they enjoy inappropriate margins.

Call me an anarchist if you like because I refuse to support monopoly media companies. You need a Gov with a brain and backbone to change this stalemate; clearly they have bigger things on their minds (e.g. Corruption)

Btw although I am not using the local defined channels they (Ster Kinekor, Sony, Nu Metro, Multichoice, ...) defined, I do however pay for all the content I get from iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, etc...

Side note: all this is of course not Mac only, all of it works well with Windows and some also with Linux.

[Drunkard #1]

Let me translate your post.

"methinks he doth protest too much" -- over arguing a point only shows one thing, that you might well be the very thing you accuse everyone of.

"I like using big words and flowery language, especially since it almost masks the fact that I have no clue how to counter your argument."

Your aggressive approach is revealing your lack of knowledge; the win should never be worth more than sanctity of your statements

"I can't counter your argument, so I'll just try make myself look smart and imply that you're an idiot."

Btw I've always said if Windows floats your boat then stick with it, we prefer something different and that is our decision.

Good approach. Then stop trying to portray us as ignorant grunts that haven't yet chosen god steve as our own personal saviour. We've made our decision on rational grounds and are willing to listen to why you chose an overpriced toy over a real computer, but don't expect any sympathy or even polite platitudes.

Fair enough then.

However judging by the warranty voided if removed sticker on the back of my desktop Acer pc I don't think this is an Apple phenomena, is it? Heck, on those, and I suspect many prebuilt PCs, you cannot even upgrade your RAM without voiding the warranty.

Warranty void stickers are common to most pre built PCs. I build my own, which allows me to swap out components at my leisure. Look at my earlier post to see how useful this is. I'm not saying that I choose products based on their warranties, but I'll definitely think twice before purchasing a product that will have no warranty at all one day after buying it. Even the CPA warranty might be a fight to enforce.

[[)roi(]]

Let me translate your post.

"I like using big words and flowery language, especially since it almost masks the fact that I have no clue how to counter your argument."

"I can't counter your argument, so I'll just try make myself look smart and imply that you're an idiot."

You missed it!

Good approach. Then stop trying to portray us as ignorant grunts that haven't yet chosen god steve as our own personal saviour. We've made our decision on rational grounds and are willing to listen to why you chose an overpriced toy over a real computer, but don't expect any sympathy or even polite platitudes.

Never said anything like it; Feel free to quote me on Windows negativity. Fyi I use it regularly, but just in a different way to you (VM).

Btw I agree re allowing choice, see additional comments below referenced as pointless.

Warranty void stickers are common to most pre built PCs. I build my own, which allows me to swap out components at my leisure. Look at my earlier post to see how useful this is. I'm not saying that I choose products based on their warranties, but I'll definitely think twice before purchasing a product that will have no warranty at all one day after buying it. Even the CPA warranty might be a fight to enforce.

Bwana has already covered this in sufficient detail;

SA "Apple Service"
Most of the crap service we experience in SA is down to Core (Apple don't trade locally) -- and before you say it:
Of course Core was appointed by Apple as their distributor.

Apple however have no control over the size of our market and its business viability (consider articles on SA in BRICS as example).

/my view: Apple pay Core money to service warranties (fact), and in my opinion; Core know that if they can perform the service at a lesser price they can pocket the difference.

Real Apple Service
For those of us that have had the fortune to experience Apple's service at one of their stores (none available in SA) can attest to receiving excellent service, even factors like "stickers" (I don't remember seeing any during my changes) are no hindrance -- my MBP btw has custom RAM and custom OCZ SSD.

The Apple Genius (service staff) in Hong Kong gladly resolved a boot issue I had during a recent trip to Vietnam, no questions asked and no cost (and yes they did open it to confirm all cables were attached).

Oh and btw I only have the standard 1 year warranty, and it's for reasons like this I believe Apple ranks so high with customer satisfaction, higher than any other company as far as I know.

Pointless
You should agree these arguments are pointless and serve only to fill page after page, with pointless rants about who is better.

IMO everyone should just stick with their preference.

Except should someone be curious, we should afford them the opportunity to be answered by someone in the know, without statements like "why pay for that over priced crap...?" -- basically allow them the freedom to make their own decision without vilification (it's their money after all).

[Pada]

Another winner from Apple for the South Africans:
In SA you can only create an Apple account by going to a physical Apple Store - unless you register with like a Nigerian physical address.

Secondly, when you want to download apps or media from the iStore (or whatever you call it), you have very limited amount of applications to select from if you registered your SA address.

This is like Vodacom that is offering free Gmail SMS's in Mozambique, but not in South Africa for no good reason.

[Drunkard #1]

You missed it!

Yeah well some of us chose to get real degrees rather than BA in English. And I see that you still haven't commented on the trickery used in your link.

Never said anything like it; Feel free to quote me on Windows negativity. Fyi I use it regularly, but just in a different way to you (VM).

Did I say you expressed "Windows negativity"? No. Don't misquote me. I said that you imply that 90% of computer users are ignorant grunts who haven't yet been saved. We aren't. We know what we want and we buy a PC to suit. I'd be just as rude to someone telling me that a R 250 000 Louis Vuitton trunk functions better than a R 5 000 Samsonite "for reasons that I can't understand until I try one." I understand perfectly well; you paid too much and can't justify that any way other than to say "you're ignorant and don't understand."

Btw I agree re allowing choice, see additional comments below referenced as pointless.
Bwana has already covered this in sufficient detail;

SA "Apple Service"
Most of the crap service we experience in SA is down to Core (Apple don't trade locally) -- and before you say it:
Of course Core was appointed by Apple as their distributor.

Apple however have no control over the size of our market and its business viability (consider articles on SA in BRICS as example).

/my view: Apple pay Core money to service warranties (fact), and in my opinion; Core know that if they can perform the service at a lesser price they can pocket the difference.

Real Apple Service
For those of us that have had the fortune to experience Apple's service at one of their stores (none available in SA) can attest to receiving excellent service, even factors like "stickers" (I don't remember seeing any during my changes) are no hindrance -- my MBP btw has custom RAM and custom OCZ SSD.

The Apple Genius (service staff) in Hong Kong gladly resolved a boot issue I had during a recent trip to Vietnam, no questions asked and no cost (and yes they did open it to confirm all cables were attached).

Oh and btw I only have the standard 1 year warranty, and it's for reasons like this I believe Apple ranks so high with customer satisfaction, higher than any other company as far as I know.

Ah, this old chestnut. So great service means flying halfway round the world to get your failed crap repaired? I don't particularly care why.

I've got somewhat a different definition of good service.

Pointless
You should agree these arguments are pointless and serve only to fill page after page, with pointless rants about who is better.

IMO everyone should just stick with their preference.

Except should someone be curious, we should afford them the opportunity to be answered by someone in the know, without statements like "why pay for that over priced crap...?" -- basically allow them the freedom to make their own decision without vilification (it's their money after all).

Oh I agree there. Apple rants are pointless, but no curious bystanders were harmed in this thread. Anyone wanting to know about toy computers can ask their questions in the safe playground two forums down. This is the PC Hardware and Gadgets forum - apple evangelists and other sissies may find it too rough. If you want your ego stroked by fellow fanbois, you've come to the wrong place. Here we tell it like it is.

[bwana]

Another winner from Apple for the South Africans:
In SA you can only create an Apple account by going to a physical Apple Store - unless you register with like a Nigerian physical address.

Say what? Since there are no physical Apple Stores in South Africa that would it very difficult for all those iPhone/iPad totting South Africans to register . . . in reality though it's a simple online process, the same process other countries enjoy.

Of course it is true that the SA iTS has been hobbled - by whom and for what reason is up for debate - but there is an easy workaround and that is changing the country from SA to Kenya.

[Pada]

Thanks bwana.

When I tried to create an Apple account for my colleague's iPad a few months ago, I couldn't and I ended up locking my credit card.
So in reality it should be a simple online process, but it wasn't.

Next time I'm also going to register my account with a Lagos, Kenya address - like a friend of mine did for his dad

[[)roi(]]

Yeah well some of us chose to get real degrees rather than BA in English. And I see that you still haven't commented on the trickery used in your link.

I'm flabbergasted to say the least; btw you're failing miserably at trying to put people into one of your boxes; sorry but no BA.

Did I say you expressed "Windows negativity"? No. Don't misquote me. I said that you imply that 90% of computer users are ignorant grunts who haven't yet been saved. We aren't. We know what we want and we buy a PC to suit. I'd be just as rude to someone telling me that a R 250 000 Louis Vuitton trunk functions better than a R 5 000 Samsonite "for reasons that I can't understand until I try one." I understand perfectly well; you paid too much and can't justify that any way other than to say "you're ignorant and don't understand."

Firstly calm down (ask yourself how early do you want this heart attack?)

Btw Is this something I am subtlety or directly phrasing? Could you show me a few examples where I either used or implied the term "ignorant grunts"?

Ah, this old chestnut. So great service means flying halfway round the world to get your failed crap repaired? I don't particularly care why.

I've got somewhat a different definition of good service

... and in a few more sentences you lose the crux.

Oh I agree there. Apple rants are pointless, but no curious bystanders were harmed in this thread. Anyone wanting to know about toy computers can ask their questions in the safe playground two forums down. This is the PC Hardware and Gadgets forum - apple evangelists and other sissies may find it too rough. If you want your ego stroked by fellow fanbois, you've come to the wrong place. Here we tell it like it is.

So, do you feel better now?

[Fudzy]

You could build a Mk1 Golf to go faster than a Ferrari for less money than to buy a Ferrari but at the end of the day, people would still prefer the Ferrari.

[[)roi(]]

You could build a Mk1 Golf to go faster than a Ferrari for less money than to buy a Ferrari but at the end of the day, people would still prefer the Ferrari.

Thank you, short and succinctly to a point; it's the reason we see more so-called elaborate cars on the road; all of course completely impractical; but I don't think that matters.

[kilobits]

You could build a Mk1 Golf to go faster than a Ferrari for less money than to buy a Ferrari but at the end of the day, people would still prefer the Ferrari.

But Fudzy... unlike a Ferrari... Apple does not make the engine... thus you would sill have a Ferrari with the same engine as the Mk1 Golf... and now who would want that ?

Anyhow... anyone else here read Drunkard #1's comments "with a Billy Connolly accent" ?

[Fudzy]

But Fudzy... unlike a Ferrari... Apple does not make the engine... thus you would sill have a Ferrari with the same engine as the Mk1 Golf... and now who would want that ?

Anyhow... anyone else here read Drunkard #1's comments "with a Billy Connolly accent" ?

Fair point though my analogy was aimed at the reason why the one is more popular than the other in the consumer market. You can't compare what is essentially 'aftermarket' with an off-the-shelf product.

[macboer]

They are all having a laugh.

[abandonallhope]

You could build a Mk1 Golf to go faster than a Ferrari for less money than to buy a Ferrari but at the end of the day, people would still prefer the Ferrari.

In your analogy, which is the Ferrari ?