Another Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , another MacBook Pro - vs.-comparable - PC comparing .

As some referee may know , I write up a comparing Monday between the Intel - based MacBook Pro and a similarly - configured Dell laptop . I was exalt to make such a compare after readingan articleclaiming that the MacBook Pro was $ 1,000 more than a comparable Dell Inspiron . As it turned out , that “ comparable ” laptop was n’t really comparable , so I set out to prove to find one that was and see how it come in term of price .

The point of my original article was n’t that Macs are cheaper than dell — Dell allow for you with many more customization choice , including the power to remove feature you do n’t require for lower the price , so it ’s definitely potential to configure a Dell less expensively . The purpose of the article was but to retrieve the Dell that could be configure mostsimilarlyto the MacBook Pro so that a price comparison would at least be equate orchard apple tree to apples , so to talk .

Would n’t you recognize it ? Less than a day after that clause was post , Apple announced that the MacBook Pro is embark — and with better specs for the same money , to boot . So much of my comparability became obsolete a small more than 12 hr after it went live .

As of today , the $ 1,999 MacBook Pro runs at 1.83GHz , with the $ 2,499 model yield you 2.0GHz ; both can be upgraded to a 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo CPU . That means that to make a MacBook Pro comparable to the 1.83GHz Dell Inspiron 9400 used in my previous clause , I can in reality select the $ 1,999 MacBook Pro and simply advance the RAM to 1 GB and the intemperate drive to 100 GB . Those options add $ 200 to the price , bring it to $ 2,199 , as equate to $ 2,499 figure I earlier used . ( One remainder : The $ 1,999 model has 128 Bachelor of Medicine of video RAM versus 256 megabit for the $ 2,499 model . )

Here ’s the updated comparison mesa :

MacBook Pro vs. Dell Inspiron

  • usance alternative ; * * After voucher or discount ( see body of article )

Notes : A “ standard ” screen is available for the Dell for $ 149 less , but the UltraSharp is of comparable quality ( color truth and brightness ) to the screen of the MacBook Pro . The same Inspiron 9400 configured through Dell ’s Medium & Large Business store was $ 2,944 on the twenty-four hour period of my comparing , $ 263 more , but include a 90 - day antivirus subscription and Word Perfect .

The burden is that you’re able to now get practically the same specs as the originally - announced $ 2,499 MacBook Pro for $ 300 less , wee-wee the MacBook Pro evenlessless expensive , at least at “ before voucher ” toll , than the Dell laptop—$482 tawdry overall , to be exact .

Coupons for everyone !

As I noted in the original article , Dell frequently offers coupons ; a savvy net shopper will be able-bodied to get the above Dell model for less than list cost . The big such deduction I ’ve ever come across is a rare $ 650 voucher gas in the clause that spur this comparison in the first place . ( A coupon which , accidentally , is no longer valid — good luck finding a alike one . ) So for the rice beer of argument , let ’s enforce that voucher , which brings the Dell laptop computer ’s cost down to $ 2,031 .

But if we ’re going to be fair , Amazon currently offers a $ 150 rebate on the MacBook Pro , bring its effectual cost down to $ 2,049 .

Updated result

With the shipping MacBook Pro configuration , and the good - case discounts available for both laptop computer , our comparison now results in a terms difference of only $ 18 in favor of the Dell . And that does n’t admit the fact that the MacBook Pro comes with a bunch of great software ; the Dell , not so much . To make the Dell actuallyusable , you need to purchase ( or , if you ’re the techie case , find , download , and install ) quite a number of software , as well as computer virus protective cover .

In other words , if “ The Mac Duo is almost $ 1,000 more ! ” claim was questionable before , it ’s positively laughable now .

Of naturally , it ’s not possible to make the two laptops just corresponding . The MacBook Pro includes a built - in video photographic camera and mike , faster networking , double - link video output , optical audio recording in / out , an illuminated keyboard , ambient light sensor , the MagSafe power connector , and Apple ’s Remote ascendance . The Dell offers a larger screen , more USB embrasure , more video RAM , a medium calling card reader , dissolute ( and three-fold - layer ) DVD burning , S - Video output , and a modem . But right now , this is as closely as a Dell laptop computer can be configured to the MacBook Pro , and Apple ’s unexampled “ pro ” laptop is obviously Leontyne Price - free-enterprise . In fact , my conclusion from yesterday is that much more true today :