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Subject: Re: Slashdot comments on G5 vs Xeon

Author: Roy Eassa

Date: 07:49:31 09/22/03

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On September 22, 2003 at 00:45:52, Steven Edwards wrote:

>See: http://apple.slashdot.org/apple/03/09/21/039223.shtml

to quote:


according to PCMAG, the G5 cost $4349 as tested. Using the apple store, i can
get that with the 2x1gb RAM modules, superdrive, no bluetooth/wifi, Radeon 9800,
and a modem. now, let's configure a similar Dell Precision 650. the review
doesn't mention that the Dell has a Radeon VE 32mb, no 56k modem, a 120gb ATA HD
(compared with the G5 and its 160gb SATA), and uses DDR266 (compared to the G5
using DDR400, but that can't be blamed on Dell, but the mobo config). According
to PCMAG, they were "comparing the results with a similarly configured (and
priced) Dell Precision 650 Workstation". Funny how they give the exact price of
the G5 and not of the "similarly priced" Dell.

as you can see, the Dell is $835 more. now, let's try and be objective,
something PCMAG disavowed in their introduction saying they took Apple's claims
about the speed of the G5 "with a grain of salt". in other words, the test was
designed to debunk Apple, thus throwing objectivity out the window.

IF we were to buy the RAM by a third party, drop the 56k modem on the G5, and
leave the default video card (which is still better than the Dell), the system
would cost $3188 (RAM is DDR400, 512mb+1gb on pricewatch). The Dell would cost
$4057 (again, with RAM from pricewatch). That would make it $869 more.

On top of that, PCMAG admits to not taking into account a certain loading time
(for controls ... they don't explain what it is, but they make it obvious that
said delay is not experienced on the Mac). According to the story, "on the
Windows system, loading the controls often took a minute or more. If these times
are added back to the actual test times, both Macintosh computers would have
clearly outperformed the Windows-based computer." They don't make a note of it
on the actual benchmarks, just the preface.

so if anything should be taken with a grain of salt, it's PCMAG.



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