cyrnel

Yea, my nit was how that particular system is horribly non-competitive. Kind of weird for a Gateway since they push cheapness (cost and quality) to the limit; they're one of the few box vendors that have pushed my ex-Dell customers back to Dell.

I don't think Apple supports user-upgrades for MacBook HD's, do they? Looking at the one in my MB Pro, it'd be scary for many users.

I mentioned that later but should have called it out on that line. Yes, 802.11n is faster and has better range when you're talking to a properly installed "n" access point. It's certainly a nice freebie. I'd take it over IRDA, too.

From there the upgrades, slots, readers & such are horribly subjective. Some people need them, some couldn't care less. To me, style and the OS are the two biggest Mac draws. (for those who care) Competitiveness of the hardware comes and goes. The same happens with PC offerings (witness Gateway) but in that world there are always choices.

I could build a better Asus for less than my MBP, and load a monster multiboot Win/*nix, but I have to stay in touch with customers. A mac running everything isn't perfect but it covers most bases and adds a sort of PC-glasnost appeal.

No perfect answer. No religion. Methinks Twizted is asking the right questions, no?

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There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195