Apple Archive

Computer Cost and Quality

- 2002.09.27

I have noticed that computer quality has gone down over the past few years. It's not just Apple; many companies have products that don't hold up as well as they should.

If you've ever used a compact Mac, you've probably noticed that they are built like tanks. They are very hard to damage accidentally, unlike some of today's machines. The same thing goes for the older keyboards and mice, while today's keyboards are made of flimsy plastic and are easily broken.

While computers aren't made as well as they were, for example, 12 years ago, they don't cost as much either. If companies put as much quality into manufacturing as they did in 1990, computers would still be very expensive.

Computers have become remarkably affordable within the past few years, but the lack of quality means that consumers may have to replace parts on their own and deal with confusing hardware problems. This isn't a new problem, but the issues have become more difficult for technicians to fix now that computers are more advanced. Advancement of technology is a good thing, though - the computers of 12 years ago can't do much of what people do on today's computers. Just try browsing the modern Internet on a Mac II.

Some computers are lemons to begin with, and the problems always seem to start as soon as the computer's out of warranty. Other computers work perfectly for years. There really is no way to explain it.

The general rule in computing is that you get what you pay for. A $699 Dell is not going to be as well made as a $1,599 Dell, just like a $899 CRT iMac isn't going to be as well made as a $2,000 G4 tower.

Hard drives seem to be what dies first on most computers, and the low-end models don't usually come with the best drives available. If you do buy a low-end computer, consider replacing the hard drive with a better, faster one as soon as you get the machine.

One nice thing that PC users can do is move the logic board and power supply into a newer, bigger case. Mac user's don't have that as a realistic option (although some people have done it anyway), but there are a lot of external peripherals that can be added to make up for features that might be missing in an inexpensive Mac.

The power supply is another thing that often goes bad on inexpensive computers. While you can't just go out and buy a better one for a Mac, you can help it last longer by making sure that any vents on the computer aren't blocked and are kept free from dust buildup. If your Mac has a fan, make sure that is kept clean also - a recent computer I worked on had about an inch of dust on the fan, which basically meant that it was doing absolutely nothing.

Another option, instead of buying a new bottom-line Mac, is to buy a used or refurbished midrange or high-end Mac (such as a G4 tower instead of an iMac), which will give you a few more features and better overall quality.

Of course, computers these days aren't typically used for more than a few years anyway - if your iMac dies when it's four years old, you might have been starting to think of a new machine anyway. But if you plan to keep a computer for more than three or four years, don't buy a low end model.

Join us on Facebook!

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
Support Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Apple Archive articles copyright ©2000-07 by Adam Robert Guha. Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay