Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Apple Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dan Fleuris who wrote (44505)	5/3/2005 8:21:17 PM
From: William F. Wager, Jr.	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 213185

>>iMac refresh. I've been waiting for that. When do they go on sale?<< The new iMac G5 line is available immediately through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com/), at Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. apple.com

To: Dan Fleuris who wrote (44505)	5/3/2005 11:24:16 PM
From: HerbVic	Respond to of 213185

iMac Refresh. Yep! This is the one I was waiting for too. 128MB dedicated graphics RAM; wireless networking and bluetooth; and 512MB up front. The iMac sales should light up the cash registers for a few months now. I love my iMac G4 though. It does it all, so I'll probably wait a couple of months longer. On another note ... Dell. My first impression on browsing their current online store with a friend (one who wants to buy a first time new computer, but is shopping in the under $500 catagory) is this. They are engaging their customers in some of the most underhanded subtrifuge, it astounds me that people are stupid enough to fall for it. Example: My friend had seen a Dell ad on TV and was left with the impression that she could get a complete Dell computer for $299. Up until then she had her heart set on a Mac mini, knowing that the $499 only included the tissue box sized computer. So, I said, "Let's just take a look at what they are offering for your $300." We clicked into the store in the Home and Home Office catagory and then found a link which promised "Desktops Starting At $299" and started looking for the $299 deal she had seen on TV. The lowest priced "DEAL" was a Dimension 3000 bundle at $399. The $299 deal was completely MIA. However, there was a "High-Speed Internet. Up to $100 Mail-In Rebate. The Dell Advantage." link to click on. Perhaps the $299 deal involved a tie to an ISP. So, we looked at the specs for the $399 deal. It was described as a "Dimension 3000, Essential Technology on a Budget." I went down the list with her, commenting on the virtues and foibles of each. 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 - "OK, that's not bad for a home system." XP Home Edition - "Virus magnet and abridged version of a pretty good XP Pro." 512MB RAM - "Hey, that's pretty good for a $399 computer!" 80GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive (7200 RPM) - "Hey, that's pretty good for a $399 computer!" 17" Conventional CRT Monitor - "Decent, but you're not going to like it." 48X CD-ROM Drive - "Mmmmm, that means read only. You don't get to burn ... ANYTHING." She said, "Really?" I answered, "Well, unless you spend more money." I didn't even get into the crappy CD burners with dual drives that Dell offers. Office Productivity Software, No Productivity Suite - Corel WordPerfect® word processor only - "That means, unless you get more software, all you can do is surf the Web and write in your word processor." She said, "That's it?" I answered, "Well, unless you spend more money." Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options, No Extended Service, Support or Ltd Warranty4 - And the 4 led us to a note: You can get a copy of our limited warranties and guarantees by writing Dell USA LP, Attn: Warranties, One Dell Way, Round Rock, TX 78682. Then I told her that if she called Tech Support for Dell, she would get someone in Bangladesh, while Apple's Tech Support is in Austin, Texas. I was showboating just a little. Needless to say, her expectations were pretty deflated. But, here's the kicker! That "High-Speed Internet. Up to $100 Mail-In Rebate. The Dell Advantage." deal was not a Dell advantage at all! It was this: * First 30 days Free2 & $100 mail-in rebate from Dell with activation of Verizon On-line High-Speed * $100 mail-in rebate from Dell with activation of Comcast, SBC Yahoo! or BellSouth High-Speed Internet * $25 mail- in rebate from Dell with activation of Earthlink, Qwest and Sprint High-Speed Internet With this little note: 1 Limited time offer. No system purchase required. New member accounts only. Customer must select DSL, Cable, or Satellite Internet access from Dell Home Systems, activate account within 30 calendar days of selection and submit required documents within 90 calendar days of activation. If the $100 rebate is to be considered in the price of the Dell system, then it also applies to any price quoted by Apple. So, if Dell can advertise their stuff at $299, that makes the Mac mini come in at $399 if you TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DELL instead of taking the Dell Advantage. I didn't even get into finding out what Dell Home Systems is all about. Herb