[scarface74]

So Apple has been surviving on brand only for 40+ years?

Anecdotally: I am looking at a 5K iMac - 6 Core I5 with 256GB SSD and 16GB of RAM for $2099. The only reputable company that I can find that sells a 5K display is LG and it’s $1300 by itself.

If I try to find an equivalent price Dell it doesn’t cost any less.

[mantap]

If a regular display breaks, you can replace it.

If the display in your iMac breaks, you have to spend $$$ to repair it. And maybe apple will tell you that it can't be repaired.

All-in-ones are fine as low end machines but I would never buy a premium one.

[scarface74]

So if my regular 5K LG display breaks and it can’t be fixed I am out of $1300.

If my iMac with a 5K display breaks and Apple can’t fix it. I’m out of $2100.

But, Apple usually will offer (non free) repairs for 7 years after a product has been discontinued.

But that still didn’t answer the question, where can you spec out a similar PC much cheaper?

[shearskill]

If you really want to try - the site https://pcpartpicker.com/ is pretty easy to use for specs.

[scarface74]

The original poster said you were paying a “significant markup” for Apple computers and I specifically mentioned the $2100 iMac Pro - 16Gb 6 Core i5 with a 256GB SSD. Seeing the monitor by itself would be $1300. That leaves an $800 budget for an equivalent computer.

So define “significant” and I’m Not building a computer myself like it’s the 90s flipping through Computer Shopper.

[panpanna]

> I'm Not building a computer myself like it’s the 90s flipping through Computer Shopper.

Maybe off topic, but...

What's wrong with researching the market and making more edcudated purchases?

[scarface74]

If something goes wrong with the Mac hardware, I lug it into an Apple Store and pluck it down on the Genius Bar. If something goes wrong with the FrankenPC not so much.

[shearskill]

Was not meaning to challenge you or your opinions, just posting a useful link for pricing PC parts. I own macs and self built PCs, there are benefits to both, depending on what you need and want to invest in. Gaming boxes aren’t something most people buy off the shelf and the data grid on that particular site is impressively well presented for a not-corporate endeavor. Not everyone wants to build their own but my early sysadmin career required it, so I am biased and think it’s a really useful tech skill.

[rplst8]

You can build a lot of PC for $800.

[scarface74]

You still haven’t given a price....

[mantap]

The display is an example. I have bought an iMac in the past, I regretted it because if anything goes wrong it's a non-standard form factor and it's expensive to fix.

I would happily pay more money for an ATX case with standard components and a separate display. It saves money in the long term because you can do repairs yourself and buy standard replacement parts. This also means if something goes wrong my computer can be repaired on the same day.

If you want the iMac, or you want MacOS, then go ahead and buy it. Just remember to budget for the cost of repairs and the impossibility of upgrades later on.

[scarface74]

Did anything go wrong?

[spectramax]

How often do you break your display? Are you carrying around your iMac to places?

This is a poor argument against something that will just sit on your desk without moving it for months if not years.

[boomboomsubban]

Leaving it motionless on your desk reduces the risk, but you're still one relatively minor mistake from a broken display. If you're unlucky enough to have that happen, Apple products cost much more to repair.

Plus, all of the design related breaks mentioned in the article.

[spectramax]

I still find it absolutely ridiculous and extremely unlikely, something that you shouldn’t have to account for. I can understand breaking an iPhone screen since you carry with you at all times.

It is like comparing and shopping for a car based on whether it will accidentally catch fire. Unlikely and there more things to worry about than breaking your monitor screen.

[boomboomsubban]

It would still be possible for you to break your screen through one minor accident. If you rely on your computer, the possible emergency repair costs should be considered before purchase, even if it's unlikely.

[scarface74]

How many computer geeks don’t have at least one spare computer around? For me, all my development is cross platform. If push came to shove, I would setup a VM on AWS and use the Workspaces client for my iPad.

Of course if you’re doing iOS/Mac development the situation is different.

[mappu]

5K is a price outlier. LG Display are the only panel manufacturer, and they appeared in very few retail products. It just didn't become an industry standard size (8K has a better chance).

You can buy a 4K screen with the same pixel density for under 300USD, from a well-known brand.

You can buy four of those for less than that single 5K display. So I would suggest dual 4K.

[spectramax]

Not even close.

Sub $300 4k displays are TN panels, or cheap IPS panels with sRGB color gamut, horrible viewing angles, poor calibration, contrast ratio, etc.

If you want to compare, compare it with something like Dell UP2718Q which costs a whopping $1500.

[panpanna]

I think a better question is how many need the perfect monitor and how many could do with these "horrible" IPs panel.

I am not a graphic designer, I don't really need the best of the best. But what percentage of the market do??

[scarface74]

There is a difference between not “needing” expensive hardware and saying the hardware is overpriced compared to the competition.

If you haven’t noticed, Apple doesn’t sell low end products. You’re not going to find a Mac with an “Intel® Pentium® Gold Processor G5400” with 4GB OF RAM for $349.

[panpanna]

What Im saying is that this is a very niche market. Other companies are barely present here.

It's the same with Microsofts 40" Surface machines. If you let that define "The workstation" then no one has a real alternative to that.

[scarface74]

The submitted article is about:

- An Apple product

- a 32 inch monitor with a 6K display for $6000

- that will probably be sold with a $5000 computer that is expandable to 1.5TB of RAM and a 28 core workstation class processor.

Which part of this discussion is not about a niche product?

On the other hand, the entire desktop market is a niche market. Most PCs being sold today are laptops.