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"That's a toy"
0.5 starson by johnnythejohnPros: All of your gadget-loving friends will envy you
Cons: $1,300 to go down the drain in the name of vanity
Summary: I own an MSI Wind. It has 3 usb ports, a multi-format card reader, and a VGA out. I can surf the web with it, type documents, watch AVIs, and even run statistical software. The little bugger performs all of the functions the general purpose, everyday use laptop should perform. It cost me $400, less than one third of this MacBook's price. It even came with a carrying case.
The reason I'm telling you this is not to brag or advocate the MSI Wind. There are other machines like it. These are tools. This MacBook is a toy. Yeas: an everyday use laptop which has very limited connectivity, a 13.3" screen, and which goes for $1,300 is an elitist's toy. It looks like the entire line of Apple's laptops is a parade of expensive toys. Funny, these days people, i.e. the masses, aren't particularly crazy to part with their money. The reviewer who said this MacBook is a laptop for the masses was wrong. It is not for the masses. It is for the elite and those who'd die to be perceived as the elite. And I'm just wondering: why is Apple so hell-bent on becoming elitist? It never did the company any good. In fact, it almost killed it some 10 years ago. It's most successful products have always been affordable: the original Apple Macintosh, the original iMac, the iPod. Do they really aim to become a Bang & Olufsen of the household computer industry? And they are working toward a larger market share and better acceptance. Go, figure.
- 19 replies to this review
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MSI Wind wow, no wonder you are so angry. Have to say your review of the Mac shows that you sure know what you are talking about, not!
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My feeling, exactly!
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This is not a product rating; it's just a comment. Please do not put this under a user review because you do not own the product. Publish this on a blog if you want people to read your opinion.
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No, I do not believe that the Civic and the RSX are identical and I never said these were identical. The point of the comparison was to argue that the RSX (a luxury transportation means of a size comparable to the Civic's) should not be three times more expensive than the Civic (a basic transportation means of a size comparable to the RSX').
Similarly, the Macbook is a luxury item, but it is not designed for any professional applications. This one is a luxury everyday user laptop. The question remains: is that reasonable that the luxury part accounts for nearly 66.7% of the total? -
You are actually completely wrong here. I too, like you, own an MSI Wind and am very satisfied with it. However, there are many limitations to the wind such as a missing optical drive and very limited performance, both problems which are addressed by the MacBook that you claim is a toy. Also, the MacBook offers a completely new touchpad interface as well as many other features that are both user friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
Admittedly, it is slightly more expensive than expensive than comparable products, but for OS X and the additional features you get, it is worth it for many customers.
This is not telling everyone to buy a MacBook, but just a counterview to this review that has called the MacBook a toy compared to the MSI wind, which it clearly is not. -
@b_rad
(a) if my memory serves, Macbooks are built by Foxconn. Foxconn and MSI are both largely contract manufacturers. It is likely that MSI also made their bid to manufacture Apple products but Foxconn was cheaper. I wouldn't expect the build quality of MSI to be generally lower than Foxconn.
(b) Go to Ebay and type in "macbook." You will see hundreds of used Macbooks for sale. Then search completed auctions to see how much they generally go for. If this is a good resale value for a computer this expensive, then I'll be applying for a job with Enron. -
Quality of the product matters too, inside and out. Macbook still has resale value. and chances are you'll have way more problems with your MSI wind than a Macbook.
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In US economy, the price is driven by demand and supply. $900 may not justify for you if you looking for value basic processing computer. I sincerely believe that Wind is perfect for you, I respect your choice. However, there are people out there looking for more than that just like when you are buying clothes. Other than basic spec and functionality factor, there are also branding, design, and even personal like or dislike factoring in what justify for one's price. You are right that one can probably find a PC notebook with similar price with better spec, but if one likes the mac system only, that;s the price one has to pay. For some graphic professional, $900 is more than justify for a macbook rather than a Wind. Like I said, macbook is not cheap, but it is also not insanely steep. There is some branding premium one have to pay to get a macbook. But at least, like I said is better than Sony and B&O - at least you can;t reli find a notebook yet can run OSX other than buying form Apple
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If your theory holds true for everyone, then there is no wonder why US economy is dying. You seriously believe Civic and RSX are identical? Then why on Earth Honda will own Acura line - to compete with their own Civic? - they are in the same market in your theory. A Mercedes is still a Civic but will much jacked up engine, supreme leather, audio, navigation, bigger frame, etc then? Why some car cost $1M more than Civic you think then? If you really believe in what you are saying, I am wondering if you really follow your believe in your lifestyle. Are you driving only the cheapest car that can run (basic purpose). Wear clothes that are cheapest regardless of brand or design because it still cover your body (basic again). Drink only the cheapest beer or wine because afterall they made from the wheat and grape the same. Are your life all basic?
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If you, people, are into comparisons, then I think the Civic vs. Acura RSX would be an apt one. The RSX has a more powerful engine, better grip, leather trim, and so on. But after all, it is still a Civic, all dressed up and jacked up. What I mean is that the Wind or what have you covers one's basic everyday computing needs pretty well. One cannot run Photoshop CS4 or Quake 4 on it. There is no iChat client for Windows, to begin with. But answer me this: does the added ability to run Photoshop or Quake cost $900 or even $1200? Hey, you can get a PC laptop for that kind of money and dedicate it entirely to your Photoshop. Now answer me this: do you really dig hauling around 4.5 pounds of weight just to be able to run your Photoshop or Quake once in a while? Is it really so convenient to photoshop or play games on a 13.3" screen? Whichever angle you look at it from, this Macbook isn't just valuable enough to justify the price.
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I'll have to agree with quinnt01. Admittedly,it is not even close to cheap especially when you compared with the 'netbook' market. Truly, you can perform similar basic processing task on your Wind just the same as Macbook. But is it fair?
All netbooks are designed just for the tasks you mentioned but nothing else (well, maybe ip chat, and watch some video). Can your Wind run Photoshop CS4? Can your Wind run Quake 4? Can you Wind do all sorts of fancy 3D interface like iChat?
Macbook hasnever positioned itself against the netbooks. Macbook is a laptop or a notebook computer. Its power potential is far greater than those in netbooks.
The concept is simple, Wind is like a Civic - it can run and serve basic functionality right; macbook maybe like a Audi - it still can run just like the Civic, but much faster with more fancy functions. Then should all but the cheapest car manufacturers close their door because their existence is nonsense?
Macbook is a good deal if you consider a sony TT. -
1. I own an MSI Wind. It could have been a Schwind. It could have been anything.
2. I was looking for a compact mainstream laptop with a larger screen. I did give this Macbook a try, thanks partly to the Cnet review and my respect for Apple products. I ended up not buying it.
3. What I found out is that the Macbook offers me mostly what the Wind already does, plus fewer connection options, at triple the cost. I also found out that there are several laptops currently on the market that perform better than this Macbook, beat it soundly in terms of connectivity, have a solid build quality, and cost significantly less. Hence my conclusion that the Macbook is more of an expensive elitist's toy than a useful computer. The cost-benefit analysis always matters.
4. Regular people don't lash out at negative reviews. Those who do aren't being honest. They need no objective opinions at all; they only look to reaffirm their thesis that Apple products are better than anything else. -
So you find your MSI WIND useful? Enjoy your $400 toy. Apple doesn't play in the $400 game. Concerned with elitists? Does that make you egalitarian? Why are they experiencing larger market share?
Sure I'd like every connectivity that exists. So Apple is not perfect, but it is what it is. And they are doing rather nicely in the marketplace. -
Something that sucks? Johnny, you're in the right place! Besides, I have Eee 901 so I can see what you're saying about the Mac.
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If you're gonna flame something. Flame something that sucks like, say...., windows vista.
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A 400$ MSI Wind has better connectivity than a 1300$ Macbook. LOL. True and hilarious.
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I have to say, JohnnyTheJohn, that I've owned may Windows laptops over the years and there was always something going wrong with them. Not necessarily the hardware, but Windows and its apps were a constant source of aggravation. I moved to an Apple laptop about a year ago and have found OSX to be a joy to use and a much more productive "tool" as you put it. The reason for buying a Apple laptop is the operating system, not the hardware. I'll gladly pay double for a machine that runs OSX, regardless of who makes it.
(BTW, I'm not an Apple bigot. I bought my first IBM PC back in '81 and grew up with DOS/Windows. The delights of OSX came as quite a surprise). -
Ok, cool. But your MSI Wind also received an 7.2 from Cnet... Great product you got there (sarcasm). I think I'll take the MacBook, but thanks for the ****** review even though you don't own the product!
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What!? Apple has always been "expensive", emphasising "quality" and "style". THe original ipod cost $400, which if you compare to a cd player at the time, was hella-expensive....yet it sold...because it was high quality. Apple has always used the higher price points. Infact they use the same, if not similar price points now for all of their product line.
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