Windows is buggy and slow lets buy a Mac

[quarkx]

Well, I love this debate, but lets look at the things  no one really wants to Address on the MAC. I know flame me all you want, for I am an Aniti-Mac fan boy, but lets look at it from another angle.
First, If I wanted to run OSX, I would run it on a custom built box. It's no big secreat that OSX can run (with a patch) on any hardware. Apple's overpriced hardware has proven really suspect lately, thats because they are using ECS and Foxcomm Motherboards and parts.
Any system builder worth their salt knows that manufacturer's like ECS and Foxcom are just about the cheapest and worst (quality wise) components and it has been showing lately with the failture rates of the Mac hardware.This is also true of companies like HP and Dell (although Dell lately has only been using intel boards, but Intel boards are "middle of the Road" for quality also).
I can build a complete low end Foxcomm based system for under $200, not including a fancy case.

Second, Lets look at the OS, FreeBSD is the same, so is OSX really worth paying for when you can get FreeBSD? BTW I am building a FreeBSD server this week, so I can comment more on that later.

So, from a "Good" system builder angle, would you want a box that has really lowend components, and a "Free" OS,- granted with a bit of work, you can have a Mac for under $200-$300.

Now, I also know that a lot of Mac software wont run just on FreeBSD, so lets (for a giggle) buy OSX and download the "patch". Now we are running a Mac Clone for under $500. Now, If I were to do this, I would want "good" hardware, so I would upgrade to an ASUS board, max out the system and still be under $800.

I am no lover of Win 7, if I am going to spend $800 on a new system, it will be with XP, now I can ditch the Intel processor and get me an AMD Phenom and really have some fun, and dual boot to FreeBSD all for under $800. Now to be fair,I can get a Mini-Mac for like $600 , so I guess it all boils down to personal preferences.

[quarkx]

Apple uses Foxconn motherboards, or motherboards manufactured by Foxconn at least. So does Intel. So does almost everyone.

Foxconn is the largest manufacturer of electronics and computer components worldwide, and mainly manufactures on contract to other companies. Among other things, Foxconn produces the Mac mini, the iPod and the iPhone for Apple Inc.; Intel-branded motherboards for Intel Corp.; various orders for American computer manufacturers Dell and Hewlett-Packard; motherboards for UK computer manufacturer Zoostorm; the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 for Sony; the Wii for Nintendo; the Xbox 360 for Microsoft, cell phones for Motorola, the Amazon Kindle, and Cisco equipment. - From Wikipedia.

This may be true, I am not debating this, but anybody who is a system builder (I have worked as a system builder for over 25 years now) knows the 3 worst MoBo's to build a system on are: ECS, Foxcomm, and PC Partner (I am not sure if PC Partner is still around). Infact, the distributer we had, exchanged these boards "No questions asked" because the failure rate was so high on the boards. The only reason we used the boards is because they were so cheap. ECS sold "SOM" systems where the CPU was soldered right on the Motherboard and overclocked for less the $40- I think the boss was paying $25 in quantity. We could build a complete system and sell it for less then $250 and still make a few bucks profit. We use to find whole lots of Foxcomm boards defective- not just boxes but lot numbers.And, Yes, back in 2003, ECS was making the Apple laptops and also HP laptops. We use to get the HP ads and sell the "ECS branded" laptop for $50 less then HP, then HP got wise and started to cusom design their own cases.
We had a good running joke with PC Partner. If anyone remembers, PC Partner used the same packaging for all their motherboards and a photocopied "Manual". We used to joke that it was one guy out of his basement, and if you sent back the motherboard box and manual, you would get $5 back, so he could re-use them again.