Buying iMac with Windows license instead?

You don't pay anything for the OS X licence: that is part of the bundled software with Apple computers. So all you need to do is to buy the Mac and the Windows OS (whichever of the versions you wish to install) and you are done.

Isn't it kinda expensive to pay all that money just for the design? Isn't that one of the points PC people use, that their computers and stuffs are so much cheaper than Macs?

It's not for the "design." It's for Mac OS X.

And you seem to have economics backwards. Apple charges what it does for Macs because that's what more than enough customers are willing to pay (for a Mac OS X computer) to keep Apple in business and highly profitable (so it can go on to create more products that its customers desire). Ultimately, it's the customers (acting as a group) that determine what Apple can charge for Mac OS X computers. If not enough customers buy, the price will trend downward. If Apple can't keep products on the shelves, the price will trend upward.

So is it expensive? No. It's the fair price for a Mac OS X computer.

That sounds like Microsoft's new ad campaign. There are a number of articles in publications like Computer World. For a look at the ad, and some comments try this: http://blogs.computerworld.com/microsoftapple_pc_wars_advertisement_crispen_porter_get_a_mac_adsballme

There is also a good analysis at Rixstep: http://rixstep.com/2/1/20090330,00.shtml

A friend has a pile of bits upstairs that cost considerably less than the iMac next to it, but with taxi fares to the repair shop, plus replacement parts, that PC is fast catching up.

Apple does not charge for the OS X license if you purchase a computer. To keep costs down, all machines are made with disks pre-imaged at the factory with OS X. They aren't sold any other way. The OS X media that comes with your computer is not the retail media and won't work with other models of Mac -- it's essentially recovery media like OEM-locked Windows media that comes with a new PC. The salient point there is that it's not suitable for resale (just like Windows CDs that usually come with new PCs).

Note that Windows requires you to either use Apple's BootCamp (requires OS X to install), or a retail version of Windows Vista SP1 64-bit, which is the only version of Windows for x86_64 systems that supports EFI (used in the Apple hardware). For Linux, you should verify that you select one that comes with elilo or an EFI-aware grub boot-loader.

While Linux is OK, I'm not sure what the availability of hardware drivers for Vista 64 on iMac is. Most of the hardware shouldn't be a problem if you have Vista SP1, though you may need to hunt for compatible wi-fi and bluetooth drivers.

I'll just have to wait until Apple is nice enough to sell their computers preinstalled with Windows or Linux....

Don't hold your breath. They haven't found need to do so for 30 years!

Secondly, Linux is not that different from Mac OS X. Mac OS X is a FreeBSD and NetBSD based Unix, with X11 support, and sourceforge support, built-in C++ compiler and command line support. If you like those features, you'll like Mac OS X.

The price is for the software and hardware integration. Part of that integration doesn't allow an older operating system to be installed than what shipped with the Mac when it comes to Mac OS X, though virtualization has allowed older Windows and Linux to be installed on Macs.

I think once you get to play with Mac OS X more than you have before, you'll begin to appreciate that integration.

Message was edited by: a brody

chunii wrote:
But that's the thing, I specifically don't want a Mac OSX computer. I want an aluminium all-in-one monitor-computer that looks nice.

Then get a Sony. They have a few iMac knock offs, although not nearly as nice looking, but at least it gets you into the ballpark you want and it will come pre-installed with Vista for the price.

chunii wrote:
Have you ever tried organising your 25,000 tracks using iTunes?

Yes. Well to be fair mine isn't THAT large, but it is now over 10,000 tracks and I find it very easy to manage since I don't have to do it, iTunes does it. I don't see any reason why the organization would be any different for 100, 10,000 or 25,000 tracks.
Best of luck with your new Sony,
Patrick

I wouldn't advise anyone to get a Sony. Having owned Sony VAIO computers, I can attest to their mediocre reliability and performance and the hefty price associated with repairing them. We had a desktop VAIO at one point where the power supply died just after the machine went off warranty. No big deal, a PS isn't a deal-breaker... but then I found out that the bay for the PS was an odd shape, the motherboard didn't use standard connectors or voltages and he cheapest I could find a replacement at the time was something like $300. The MB wasn't even standard ATX form-factor either, so no switching the case. They call that "Sony Style"!

You can get a Apple certified refurb for $999.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB324LL/A?mco=MjE0NDk5Mw

Install Linux on that, if you want. But why don't you at least try using Mac OS X for a while. It's Unix below the GUI. Anyone who uses Linux will be right at home.

Have you ever tried organising your 25,000 tracks using iTunes?

I don't have 25,000. Maybe 10,000. What's the problem?

Were you aware there is a program to edit your Metadata on iTunes?

http://metahoot.3ivx.com/

Of course I'd backup your library before attempting any changes.

chunii wrote:
I used iTunes until about 13,000. Unfortunately, iTunes isn't very easy to write scripts to automatically name the files (e.g. Concerto for Piano in A minor Op.54 Mov.1 ...). With my current system, I can rename file tracks simply by typing in all the properties of the piece, then run the script. Its also much more accurate and faster when searching for something. However, it isn't as user friendly without plugins and for people who don't know much about scripting.

Are you aware that you can change the data on multiple tracks at the same time in iTunes? Assuming that is what you want to do, you can select ALL the tracks you want to change something the same way for all of the (for example Album title), Get Info on the whole bunch, then change the field you want to change on all of them, hit OK and it is applied to ALL the selected tracks. I assume that is what you doing with your scripting?

chunii wrote:
For the people who say Mac OSX is quite similar to Linux,

I believe the comment was that UNIX is quite similar to Linux, not Mac OS X (which runs on a Unix system).
Patrick

Leopard is only about $100 so even if Apple were to sell a mac without it (which they won't) it would technically only knock off $100. But as stated by others, its free, so there would be no price drop.

Regards