[X4U] Re: How can we compete?

[lists3-200402]

i went to a mcdonalds and had a quarter pounder with cheeze, large 
fries and a super size coke...i paid with a $10 bill and walked away 
with change!!! woohoo!!! i'll never eat at gabriela's again!!!

:D
don

Chris Malanga <cmalanga at bgsualumni.com> wrote:

>A friend of mine just bought a new PC at Aldi (a chain of discount/grocery
>stores here in the US) for $799.
>
>This PC has the following specs:
>
>* IntelÆ PentiumÆ 4 Processor 3.0 GHz Supports Hyper Threading Technology
>* 800 MHz FSB, 1 MB L2 Cache
>* Dual layer DVD/CD writer 2.4x max DVD+R9
>* Additional DVD-ROM drive easily copies DVDs
>* Built-in wireless LAN 801.11g
>* Watch & record TV on your PC with the FM/TV tuner card
>* Wireless keyboard & wireless optical mouse included
>* RF remote control for easy control of DVD, TV, VCR, CD, radio
>* 160 GB hard drive @ 7200 rpm
>* 512 MB DDR SDRAM
>* 2x FireWire
>* 6x USB 2.0
>* 8 in 1 Card Reader
>* LAN 10/100 Mbit
>* Windows XP Home Edition
>* Microsoft Works
>* Norton AntiVirus 2004
>* 12 month warranty
>
>Now, I realize it is a no-name PC (Medion) running Windows XP Home, but what
>you get for the price is amazing.  And PC World magazine gave this system
>four out of five stars.
>
>How is Apple supposed to compete with this?  I've been waiting for a deal on
>a computer to be the "center of my digital hub" now, but even with an eMac
>at $799, I'd still have to add AirPort, a SuperDrive, wireless keyboard and
>mouse, a card reader, and EyeTV to even come close.  I'm seriously
>considering one of these Medions to fill the task until Apple comes out with
>something similar.
>
>I just wish Apple would realize that there is a market for two things: (1)
>lower cost machines without monitor, (2) a digital hub machine like the
>above.
>
>It's really hard to push people to the Mac, and I have done that five times
>in the past two years, but $799 PCs with all the above features make it
>*really* hard.
>
>What do you think?
>
>Chris Malanga
>cmalanga at bgsualumni.com