Steve Jobs is iDead

[Opethian]

I dont think any mac manufactured 4 years ago can run OSX Lion today ...

[geise]

Oh he just built the thing before Tax season.  it's some 6 core intel desktop workstation. 

[Arkhan Asylum]

Im not really afraid of Apple.  It's more like extremely frigging annoyed by them.  Maybe once I finish my masters up (in 1 or 2 semesters!) and I am no longer on a college campus full of dingbats with Macbook air/pro's, I will be less annoyed.  Every day on campus is like an iPod commercial.  They might as well all be black silhouettes, flailing around in the halls.

He wanted a machine that could last him at least 4 years.

Then why did he buy a Mac?

[UglyJoe]

A Mac is not more versatile.  I've yet to find someone tell me something their mac can do that a PC can't.  I don't think I ever will. I'm open to suggestions.

I've yet to find a Windows laptop that handles multi-touch gestures on the touchpad in a competent manner.  They say that they're multi-touch, but, oh man, are they ever awful.  I also haven't found a good solution in Windows for having multiple workspaces/desktops (although Linux handles this beautifully).

[Arkhan Asylum]

Who needs multitouch gestures when you have a right mouse button?

Theres a few options for multi workspacing (I've used Crystal Desktop).

There is also some dock nonsense that mimics OSX.  I think it was called Stardock.  I forget, since docks serve no purpose for me.

[UglyJoe]

Who needs multitouch gestures when you have a right mouse button?

I would honestly only use them for window management (three finger swipe up for Expose, three finger swipe down for show Desktop, etc).  The "pinch" gestures are so incredibly unintuitive to me, so I don't mind losing them at all.

Theres a few options for multi workspacing (I've used Crystal Desktop).

I haven't tried that one, but the handful that I did try all seem to work minimizing/restoring windows as you switch desktops.  It always ends up being buggy.  Either the windows don't show up properly, or if they do the wrong program has focus.  Maybe this one is better, but all that I've tried has been so hacky that I don't care to try anymore.  I'm using Win7's keyboard shortcuts and two monitors to handle things, and it's working well enough.

There is also some dock nonsense that mimics OSX.  I think it was called Stardock.  I forget, since docks serve no purpose for me.

Stardock is the company, Objectdock is the product.  I agree that the dock is totally useless.  Of course, I'm a guy who always sets the taskbar to auto-hide, so maybe I'm a bit biased.  Stardock makes quality software, though.  I use Fences on just about every Windows installation that I have.

[geise]

Im not really afraid of Apple.  It's more like extremely frigging annoyed by them.  Maybe once I finish my masters up (in 1 or 2 semesters!) and I am no longer on a college campus full of dingbats with Macbook air/pro's, I will be less annoyed.  Every day on campus is like an iPod commercial.  They might as well all be black silhouettes, flailing around in the halls.

He wanted a machine that could last him at least 4 years.

Then why did he buy a Mac?

Do a lot of freelance graphic design and video editing and you'll know why.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Do a lot of freelance graphic design and video editing and you'll know why.

but I thought he wanted it to last for 4 years.

I would honestly only use them for window management (three finger swipe up for Expose, three finger swipe down for show Desktop, etc).  The "pinch" gestures are so incredibly unintuitive to me, so I don't mind losing them at all.

I use keyboard shortcuts where I can.  Mac keyboard shortcuts annoyed me.  Mostly because that swirly thing that I call "The Akalabeth Town" is goony.  It was used as the town icon in Akalabeth, so that's what it is to me.  It shouldn't be on my keyboard!

I haven't tried that one, but the handful that I did try all seem to work minimizing/restoring windows as you switch desktops.  It always ends up being buggy.  Either the windows don't show up properly, or if they do the wrong program has focus.  Maybe this one is better, but all that I've tried has been so hacky that I don't care to try anymore.  I'm using Win7's keyboard shortcuts and two monitors to handle things, and it's working well enough.

I've been doing the same and like it. But Crystal Desktop didn't suck when I used it.  The other one did.  I forget it's name, since it sucked.  

Stardock is the company, Objectdock is the product.  I agree that the dock is totally useless.  Of course, I'm a guy who always sets the taskbar to auto-hide, so maybe I'm a bit biased.  Stardock makes quality software, though.  I use Fences on just about every Windows installation that I have.

Stardock definitely makes nice stuff, but it's mostly stuff I have no use for.

It's funny though that most of the things on a mac that make it "different", can be done on a PC because someone made the software for it.

[Joe Redifer]

I dont think any mac manufactured 4 years ago can run OSX Lion today ...

LOLOLOL my Mac Pro is from 2006 and it runs OS X like a boss.  It's still faster than many of the models released today.  Yeah, the video card it came with is ancient, but I swapped that out with an ATI Radeon 5770 or some such shit a while ago.  I tried Lion on it and it worked fine, but I felt it was a rather shitty OS compared to Snow Leopard so I moved back.

[Arkhan Asylum]

I dont think any mac manufactured 4 years ago can run OSX Lion today ...

LOLOLOL my Mac Pro is from 2006 and it runs OS X like a boss.  It's still faster than many of the models released today.  Yeah, the video card it came with is ancient, but I swapped that out with an ATI Radeon 5770 or some such shit a while ago.  I tried Lion on it and it worked fine, but I felt it was a rather shitty OS compared to Snow Leopard so I moved back.

Youre forgetting the average mac user can't even open a pack of gum, let alone a computer.

[Joe Redifer]

Well, since the Mac "just works", the gum is supposed to open and chew itself.

[jperryss]

Well, since the Mac "just works", the gum is supposed to open and chew itself.

Any company can make a pack of gum, but Apple did it right.

[VestCunt]

My friend just bought a new $2000 Mac because he couldn't upgrade to Pro Tools 9 on his $2000 G5.  When I asked why not, he said, "because PT9 requires the new OS and the new OS isn't compatible with my processor."  I said "why don't you just upgrade your processor, it's really easy."  He said, "I can't.  It's a Mac."

Fuck that.

[geise]

actually he could upgrade the processor if it's the same socket set, unless they put a really shitty power supply in there.

[BlueBMW]

"What's that Sansa MP3 player?  It must suck."

Wow, so I'm not the only one out there that thought the Sansa line of MP3 players were downright awesome?!

[Joe Redifer]

Xeons (which Mac Pros use) have their own weird-ass socket.  He might be able to use a different processor but I've never heard of anyone doing it.  The Intel Macs are much more "serviceable" in this regard than the old G5s.  The G5 may have been $2000 when he bought it, but that's like saying you replaced your $25,000 car with another $25,000 car therefore "fuck that".  Or maybe that you replaced your $100 graphics card with another $100 graphics card, therefore fuck that.  That argument doesn't hold a lot of weight.  He's obviously willing to pay the price. Does he deserve to be berated for it?  No.  It's his money and he can buy what he wants.  You see, the mindset of an average Apple user may be douchey, but the average mindset of a PC user (from what I've seen on the internet) certainly isn't better.  Psycho Arkhan comes off as a foul human being with his rants.  And similar diatribe doesn't really help anything.  Let people spend money on what they want.  Who gives a fuck?  You're no better than they are.  I don't hear this same bitchiness from people who spend $30,000 on a car when a $500 Yugo could get them to the same place just as well.

[OldRover]

The argument holds plenty of weight. He's not griping that the *other* guy spent such a ridiculously stupid amount of money on a disposable machine, he's saying that he himself would never do something so ridiculously stupid. It's this kind of "can't upgrade it so we have to throw it away" attitude that led to the rise of the Walmart society, where everything is disposable and no one gives a shit about anything anymore. Because of this, companies stopped caring and now only produce cheap, low-grade products that are tossable rather than creating stuff that lasts.

[nectarsis]

I don't hear this same bitchiness from people who spend $30,000 on a car when a $500 Yugo could get them to the same place just as well.

You've obviously NEVER been in a Yugo.  Good/well will never enter that equation LOL

[Arkhan Asylum]

You see, the mindset of an average Apple user may be douchey, but the average mindset of a PC user (from what I've seen on the internet) certainly isn't better.  Psycho Arkhan comes off as a foul human being with his rants.  And similar diatribe doesn't really help anything.  Let people spend money on what they want.  Who gives a fuck?  You're no better than they are.  I don't hear this same bitchiness from people who spend $30,000 on a car when a $500 Yugo could get them to the same place just as well.

You call it being a foul human being, I call it being brutally honest and not sugar coating it.  I am far better than the Appletard Cult.  I don't repeat lame commercials and use them to form the basis for my love of the platform, and I don't talk about how Bill Gates is the messiah and a huge inspiration, and all of that bullshit.  And you know what?  Apple started all of the bullshit.  They're the morons that chose to "be different" by basically flaming the other party.  They asked for it every time they released a HULLO IM A HIP MAC, and I'm a boring PC commercial. 

Sorry, my clear blue computer with blue LEDs all the fuck over it, hooked up to a tron keyboard and mouse, playing games at max settings is a lot more hip and cool than a toaster looking machine with a screen on it that can't do shit except Photoshop and cut up videos.  Guess what, my bluebox of doom can run the entire Adobe line, and probably runs it better because I have SLI'd GTX 480s in the fucker right now. 

I just loves me some IBM compatibles and love being able to do whatever the fuck I want to them without needing some special, retarded screw driver just to get into the thing.  Ever try opening a Macbook?  Its a real punch in the cock. 

I stated my reasons for dislike pretty bluntly.  You won't hear me *only* giving the typical anti PC (Apple computers are PCs, lolol)/M$ propaganda nonsense like the iCultists.  All they can do is repeat commercials and have no idea what they're talking about.  The blind leading the blind.  At least my "diatribe" has valid reasoning.  I'm not just hating to hate.  There are reasons.  I tried Mac, I tried putting up with the morons, I gave it all a shot.  And the results are in: The stuff blows.  I even performed an experiment.  I successfully talked 5 people into buying Macbooks by simply repeating the commercials after buying my Macbook.  All I did was repeat all of the crap, and putz around on the thing.  Before I knew it, everyone went and took out Apple credit cards and got Macbooks.  3 of those 5 people regret the living shit out of it.

I don't care if they're buying the stuff.  Go ahead.  It just gives me more reasons to call the people complete dumbfucks.  *shrug*. 

wayback.gawker.com/what-everyone-is-too-polite-to-say-about-steve-jobs
/300234_1853445276504_1851974134_1278155_571045484_.jpg

Insanity was programmed on a 1ghz NEC (fuck yeah) laptop w/ Linux for about 70% of it, and then moved to an HP w/ Vista/Win7.  Suck it, Apple.  No turbob for you.

[nat]

wayback.gawker.com/what-everyone-is-too-polite-to-say-about-steve-jobs

Quote from article:

He has no public record of giving to charity over the years

HA HA, what the hell? They devoted three paragraphs in that article to discussing this. Who gives a flying fuck?

He must be an awful guy, there is no "public record" of any donations to charity. People are really worried about this? Please.

There is no "public record" of any (albeit small) donations I've made to charities in my life. Anyone who is worried about what someone else is doing with their own money, the money they earned, ought to take a long, hard look at their own life and perhaps reconsider their priorities.

I bet there is no public record of him helping little old ladies cross the street, either. What a fucking DICK.

[Joe Redifer]

There is no "public record" of any donations I've made to charities in my life.

What?  No charity?  I hate you.  I am going to waste my time and emotions on hating you.  I don't know why everyone else thinks you're god.

[Arkhan Asylum]

I think the reason they focused on that is because typically when big businesses/famous people make donations, they are well, big.  They don't fly under the radar.  Maybe he did, but I wouldn't be shocked if he didn't donate to charity. 

He spent his early years being a tool for various personal/business reasons, and spent his later years going off the deep end.  Oh well.

When I go, I want people to exclaim that I was a dick.  trollface.jpg better be on the little cards at the funeral, lol.

[Joe Redifer]

Those donations don't fly under the radar because usually the person doing the donating doesn't want them to fly under the radar.  They want it known how great of a person they are.

[OldRover]

Those donations don't fly under the radar because usually the person doing the donating doesn't want them to fly under the radar.  They want it known how great of a person they are.

So true. But in cases like this, you'd assume scumsuckers like Pat Robertson would be all over this... except he's never given to charity either.

[nat]

I think the reason they focused on that is because typically when big businesses/famous people make donations, they are well, big.  They don't fly under the radar.  Maybe he did, but I wouldn't be shocked if he didn't donate to charity. 

You're missing my point.

Who cares if he donated to charity or not? Donations are nobody's business but the person who is making the donation.

I'm guessing he probably did donate, quietly, but even if he didn't, what difference does it make? What bearing does it have on ANYTHING?

These people are making it out like a lack of charitable donations somehow belittles any of the man's life accomplishments. I find it hilarious.

[OldRover]

I think it's because it tends to show a lack of humanitarianism. A person who makes a shitload of money and sits on their wealth is only interested in their own selfish desires and doesn't give a rat's ass about their fellow humans. One might argue that his products helped others, but it wasn't altruistic in nature and therefore it wasn't as "worthy" as someone who does "something for nothing". I have no opinion on this either way so I'm not making a judgment, just outlining the way I'm interpreting the various viewpoints.

[Arkhan Asylum]

A self centered guy like Jobs would've probably made a spectacle about his donation.  He likes everyone to see what great thing he is doing so he can stand there with that smug grin on his face and take in the applause and religious-caliber worship.

He'd call it iCharity and tell everyone they need to do the same thing.  There'd be an app for that.

The guy has about as many dick-moves as he does great "inventions" (read: recycled crap).  He started off by screwing people over.  then there is the whole kid thing. 

I could care less if he donated or not, but I see the point of why it was mentioned.  Maybe they're running a bit too far with it, but I see what they're getting at.  I sure hope a rich prick like Jobs donated money to something useful at some point in his career.  Wozniak did.  Maybe Jobs just figured "hey, Woz already did it for me, so I'm good to go!", and suited up for another turtleneck filled day at Apple.

Even if he did donate to charity, he'd still be a polesmoker in my book.

[geise]

Why do you care?  He's dead.  Let others still worship him if they want too, it sure doesn't bother me.  They can buy Mac's all they want as it probably suits their form over function needs.  Not everyone knows what you know about computers.  They most likely never will.  That's where these companies make their "business".  I don't like Jobs but I have to  him for the business sense.  He obviously did something right if he's pissing off a PC user so well.  Most Mac users could care less about using it as a gaming machine.  They just want to buy a computer, turn it on, then do whatever they want without having to install extra stuff.  That was the whole point of a mac.  An easy to use computer out of the box.  I think their great well built machines that (yes) are overpriced.  They still are nice, but I don't own one cause I need more than what a Mac offers.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

My friend just bought a new $2000 Mac because he couldn't upgrade to Pro Tools 9 on his $2000 G5.  When I asked why not, he said, "because PT9 requires the new OS and the new OS isn't compatible with my processor."  I said "why don't you just upgrade your processor, it's really easy."  He said, "I can't.  It's a Mac."

Whether or not he could upgrade the CPU is irrelevant (where would one even buy a PowerPC CPU?), as Pro Tools 9 is built for x86 processors.  Those that bought the last PowerPC systems kinda got screwed on the update path, but at least Apple made PowerPC versions of OSX for a couple releases.  Would MS do the same thing?  I doubt it; they still support all-but-dead IA-64, but enterprise stuff is kinda apples and oranges.

In any case, it's a five or six year old computer; try upgrading a PC of similar vintage and you'll find that it's just not worth it (the best LGA775 processors are three years old, and it's even worse if it's entirely hopeless if it's a 478).  Sure you could upgrade the mobo on the PC, but the hdd, memory, and video card are also slow and outdated; change it all out and you end up saving the case, dvd drive, and maybe the power supply.  Big fucking deal.


As for donations, who the fuck cares?  I don't know if Jobs personally opened his wallet to lend a hand, but I know that Apple has donated millions to one of the AIDS groups and recently started a donation matching program for its employees; and while it wasn't money directly out of Jobs's pocket, the bulk of his wealth was in company stock and therefor it did affect his bottom line.  Besides, his biggest charity was obvious - look at all the kids in China that have jobs thanks to Jobs!

[Arkhan Asylum]

Why do you care?  He's dead.  Let others still worship him if they want too, it sure doesn't bother me. 

Try going to a college campus full of hipster mactards.  You will change your tune very quickly.  Some professors (who use Macs for lecture power point nonsense) cancelled classes for the week.  Give me a break.  I remember when Snow Leopard came out "YO BRAH, YOU GONNA UPGRADE YOUR MAC? IM SO STOKED.  WERE ALL GONNA GO DOWN TO ELEMENTS AND UPGRADE".  FFS.

Elements is a sweet cafe on Euclid Ave.  Get it? Euclid's Elements? mathnerd ftw.  lol.

I had a few doofs in my one programming class that were sitting with Ubuntu on their MBP's, talking about how they downloaded stuff at "4megs a second because Macs are better at the internet".

4mb/second downloads aren't even possible on our campus WiFi.  I think they downloaded <4mb files, and it happened really fast and the calculation in FireFox didn't really get started right.  lol

He obviously did something right if he's pissing off a PC user so well.

Macs are PCs.  Stop that.  And, that's part of the problem.  Jobs' marketing scheme was designed to attack and annoy.  IF YOURE NOT WITH US, YOURE A LOSER.  That sort of thing.  That's dumb marketing.  Then again, most people are dumb.  If your marketing requires you to make the person feel uncool until they're a part of it, your product probably sucks.  You notice how the ads never talk about the power/performance?  It's all fluffy stuff.
 

Most Mac users could care less about using it as a gaming machine. 
 

Sucks to be them.  I remember when Macs had games.  My old-ass Mac has Wolf3D, Starcraft, Warcraft, and some other stuff.  What happened?
 

They just want to buy a computer, turn it on, then do whatever they want without having to install extra stuff.  That was the whole point of a mac.  An easy to use computer out of the box.  I think their great well built machines that (yes) are overpriced.  They still are nice, but I don't own one cause I need more than what a Mac offers.

You can do that with a Windows machine too, it just doesn't come with the cult experience that makes you feel like you're doing something special and revolutionary by buying one.  A fresh install of Windows 7 results in lots of magical computer adventures for everyone.

the only thing I liked about Macs is the packaging.  They also smell really nice when they're new. 

[VestCunt]

The G5 may have been $2000 when he bought it, but that's like saying you replaced your $25,000 car with another $25,000 car therefore "fuck that".  Or maybe that you replaced your $100 graphics card with another $100 graphics card, therefore fuck that.  That argument doesn't hold a lot of weight.  He's obviously willing to pay the price. Does he deserve to be berated for it?  No.  It's his money and he can buy what he wants.  You see, the mindset of an average Apple user may be douchey, but the average mindset of a PC user (from what I've seen on the internet) certainly isn't better.  Arkhan comes off as a foul human being with his rants.  And similar diatribe doesn't really help anything.  Let people spend money on what they want.  Who gives a fuck?  You're no better than they are. 

My first computer was a Mac back in '94 and there's still a lot of things I like about them.  They're user friendly, stable, and you don't have to slow them down running a bunch of anti-virus stuff.  Every time I see someone wait ten minutes for their five-year-old, infected Dell laptop to boot and download Vistas updates I shake my head and think "damn, this guy needs to buy a Mac!"  For a lot of people, especially people with money to throw around, they're perfectly good computers.  On the other hand, there are people like my ex-roommate, whose friend convinced him to buy a $1500 Mac Book Pro:  he uses it to surf the net and listen to CDs and wonders why he doesn't have a "good typing program."  He could have done fine with $200 netbook.   

Personally, I like getting under the hood and wrenching on PCs.  Also, the limited upgrade potential on Macs (AND Dells and other brands) is one step closer to the planned obsolescence than I'm comfortable with.

Anyway, don't get so bent out of shape about Arkan's comments.  Unlike the average troll, he has both valid objections and humor underneath all of that bluster.

[Joe Redifer]

I can understand people liking to tinker and the such with their own self-built computers.  I have a self-built computer myself but it is pretty old.  I originally built it to run projectors in movie theaters back in the late 90's.  It had Windows 2000.  It is now my home computer and I have done a few upgrades on it and now it is Windows XP SP2 or 3.  I don't want to game on it and I use it mainly for audio recording because it has a fantastic full duplex Yamaha sound card (though no digital inputs).  It's also a fantastic machine to surf for porn on.  No viruses and no virus protection. 

Most Mac users could care less about using it as a gaming machine.

Very true. I have game consoles for that.  Games on computers rarely appeal to me.  Granted I do have Steam and downloaded Portal 1 and 2 since they were free.  They can be run on full resolution, max settings on my 5 year old Mac Pro.  It's pretty cool to play but I usually am using the computer for other reasons.  Also, Steam is intrusive and I had to disable it from starting up every time my computer boots.

Will my next computer be a Mac?  Well that depends on the direction they take.  This 64-bit, 5 year old computer still has at least 2 or 3 good years left on it.  If Apple goes the direction where I think Steve Jobs wanted to take it, hell no, I will build a PC and go touch-screen crazy with the absolutely fabulous Windows 8.  Oh wait, it is not absolutely fabulous, but oh well.  Once Apple ruins their pro apps, there would be no reason for me to stick with them.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

good read-

wayback.oudaily.com/2011/oct/column-grieving-steve-jobs-becoming-overdone/

COLUMN: Grieving for Steve Jobs becoming overdone
_{By Jacob Oller, The Oklahoma Daily
Published: October 13, 2011}

By now, I assume you know Steve Jobs died. I'll also assume you witnessed the torrent of mourning after his death was announced. Across the Internet, especially on my Facebook news feed for some reason (seriously guys, he's dead, he can't see those), the surprising love for a giant corporate CEO surged. Really? In the midst of Occupy Wall Street, America really needs to make up its mind. Do you actually love the mega-capitalist who immediately canceled all philanthropic activities as soon as he helmed Apple?

Apple actually inhibits consumers from philanthropy with Apple products. The company won't allow applications for donations and hasn't publicly said why. If I'm really going to mourn a businessman's passing, it'll be someone who's improved the world such as Bill Gates.

Gates, who has worked to eradicate malaria, provided clean drinking water to third-world countries, improved America's school system and pledged to donate 95 percent of his wealth to charity, has personally enriched the world. Yet the public's opinion on Bill Gates is something like "Man, screw that rich guy." Jobs found corporate success by marketing "If you don't have one of these, you're a second-class citizen" to people.

In fact, Jobs exploited a loophole in the United Network for Organ Sharing registration system to get a transplanted liver before other people on the list. By having a private jet, Jobs could register for a liver transplant in every clinic in America. As the loophole's been closed, having what scientists are calling "basically infinite money" will now be .01 percent less useful in cheating the system.

The point is yes, Steve Jobs died. And while he was alive, he created and saved from disaster a company that is very popular now. The man knew how to make money. Death is sad and mourning him is warranted, but let's not overdo it people.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Damn straight its a good read!

BILL GATES IS THE REAL MESSIAH.

I think he is a cyborg.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

Damn straight its a good read!

BILL GATES IS THE REAL MESSIAH.

I think he is a cylon.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Damn straight its a good read!

BILL GATES IS THE REAL MESSIAH.

I think he is a cyberman.

[Joe Redifer]

Yeah, Bill Gates has probably done more for the world.  But mourning even his death would be a bucket full of hypocrisy for the OWS protesters which supposedly represent 99% of all the USA.

[Arkhan Asylum]

nah its only hypocrisy if you mourn one tool and hate on mourning another.

Bill Gates isn't a tool.

[Joe Redifer]

I wouldn't call Jobs a tool, either.  Fucker definitely knew what he was doing, even if it did make him an asshole.  But the hypocrisy is that they are mourning mega-capitalists and protesting for the US to become more communist/less capitalist at the same time.

OK, now let's get down to the nitty-gritty.  I want an honest answer here.  Approximately how much would it cost me to build the following Windows machine with these specs:

-Two 2.93 Ghz 6-core processors (or better)
-8 GB DDR3 ECC SDRAM (or better)
-At least 1 TB hard drive.
-ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB (or better)
-Phuggin' wicked-ass sound card (full duplex with digital in and out... can be on motherboard)
-DVD or Blu-ray burner
-Case
-Power supply
-Internal LED lights that let everyone know I am a class-A douche
-Mouse
-Keyboard
-Appropriate motherboard, CPU fans/heat sink, etc
-Windows 7 64-bit (not the shitty home version, the full thing)

Guesstimate price?

[roflmao]

OK, now let's get down to the nitty-gritty.  I want an honest answer here.  Approximately how much would it cost me to build the following Windows machine with these specs:

-Two 2.93 Ghz 6-core processors (or better)
-8 GB DDR3 ECC SDRAM (or better)
-At least 1 TB hard drive.
-ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB (or better)
-Phuggin' wicked-ass sound card (full duplex with digital in and out... can be on motherboard)
-DVD or Blu-ray burner
-Case
-Power supply
-Internal LED lights that let everyone know I am a class-A douche
-Mouse
-Keyboard
-Appropriate motherboard, CPU fans/heat sink, etc
-Windows 7 64-bit (not the shitty home version, the full thing)

Guesstimate price?

Just last week I built almost that exact same setup (only had one 3ghz 6-core processor and used an onboard video - ATI 4250) and it came out to about $550.  The 5770 goes for $100 (after rebate) at newegg.  So I would guess you'd be looking at maybe $850-$950 to build that machine?  I'm not going to go through the trouble of researching it, but add $100 for a video card, maybe $150 for a motherboard than can support 2 physical cpus (I think I'm overestimating there) and $160 for the extra cpu.  Round it up to a grand to be safe.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Way more than 1000$.

[Joe Redifer]

A Mac version of similar specs is over $6,000, so I just want to see what the difference is.  Obviously the PC will cost less, I just want to know how much less.  The prices for Macs seem to have gone up in recent years as well.  They've always been more expensive, but not THAT much more expensive.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Well, last I remember, the board alone is around 250$ and the CPUs are like, 1000$ each.  Something like that.  Those CPUs are crazy expensive. (and I have one in my computer at work! =P)

So to be safe, like 2500$ for the board + CPU.

The rest of it is probably around 800$ depending what brands you get for RAM/Lights/drives. 

So, probably about half as much for the same functionality.   Par for the course with mac vs. pc pricing...

[Opethian]

what exactly is shitty about the home version? If you dont need to connect to a domain but you still need media center why waste money on ultimate? seriously does any one on a home machine use drive encryption?

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Approximately how much would it cost me to build the following Windows machine with these specs:

Prices culled from newegg:

$2884  -Two 2.93 Ghz 6-core processors
$115  -12 GB DDR3 ECC SDRAM ¹
$55  -At least 1 TB hard drive.
$120  -ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB (or better)
$200  -Phuggin' wicked-ass sound card (full duplex with digital in and out... can be on motherboard) ²
$20 (take your pick)  -DVD or Blu-ray burner ³
$580  -Appropriate motherboard, CPU fans/heat sink, etc
$140  -Windows 7 64-bit (not the shitty home version, the full thing) ⁴
$300 and up  -Case, power supply, mouse, and keyboard ⁵
$4114 grand total

So Apple is charging you nearly $2000 to put it all together for you.  Is it overpriced?  Perhaps, but not any worse than other workstation manufacturers; a comparably equipped Dell T5500 is $5969, an HP Z600 is $7206 , and a Xi workstation is $5433 (all three rape you on the processors and memory).

¹ - 8GB can't be done unless you want to forgo the speed benefit of DDR3 (requires groups of three).
² - Do you mean two digital ports?  This one has just one in/out port, and I don't know of any cards that have a pair; if there are any, they're probably not any more expensive than this beast.
³ - Bluray's about $70 more.
⁴ - If you want bitlocker (does OSX have such a feature?), add $50 for Win7 Ultimate.
⁵ - The sky's the limit here, but that price will get you a decent aluminum case, smallish power supply, and basic wired mouse/keyboard.

[OldRover]

Sure... you're buying Intel processors. That will fuck you every time. Isn't there a comparable AMD version?

[Arkhan Asylum]

what exactly is shitty about the home version? If you dont need to connect to a domain but you still need media center why waste money on ultimate? seriously does any one on a home machine use drive encryption?

You have RAM capacity limits in Home.  iirc.   I have Pro Ultimate, so I didn't look too far into it , lol

AMD ftw. Screw Intel!

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Sure... you're buying Intel processors. That will fuck you every time.

That's only true when you're buying one of their flagship processors, as they're price competitive for equally performing processors and blow AMD's doors off when overclocking capabilities are factored in.

Isn't there a comparable AMD version?

The fastest six core Opteron is $640 for a pair, but it'd get thumped bad by the Xeons listed.  The only way Opterons can compete is with more cores, but those get pricey and lose clock speed - it'd take a pair of 6174s (12 cores at 2.2ghz) at a cost of $2560 to even approach the Xeons.

[Joe Redifer]

Thanks for doing that, Necro.  I find the sound card interesting.  It only has one set of inputs/outputs.  You can't have inputs and outputs connected at the same time?  My Mac has two digital TOS-link optical connections, one for in, one for out.  It also has line in and line out but I don't think it has any of that microphone nonsense (who needs that any more?)

The cases never have to be fancy, just good enough to allow for the needed air flow.  And honestly, no internal lights because I am not a complete tool.  The keyboard and mouse can be pretty standard.  Don't need to game on this thing.

[BlueBMW]

And now I'm reminded why I never buy top of the line stuff   Still running my old cheap intel Q6700 cpu here with two radeon 6850s, plays everything just fine except when I run on the triple screen at 3840x1024, but that's.. excessive

In other news, I picked up my friends old iphone 4 on the cheap (since he got the new one of course  )  and so far, comparing it side by side with my droid x... I'll stick with the droid thank you