🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <40pccd$61p@bug.rahul.net>, Bill Moyer <ttk@rahul.net> wrote:


> 
>   Tangentally related to the subject above is the question of why
> PowerPC system hardware is so expensive.  The CPU itself is rela-
> tively inexpensive, but the surrounding hardware is outrageous. 
> I was hoping to see hardware come out which was similar to what's
> available for PC's today -- ~$200 motherboard, with bus slots for
> standard peripherals and SIMM slots for memory, modest BIOS ROMs,
> L2 cache extension sockets, and a dedicated plug for the keyboard.
>   When I heard about the PPC-specific support circuit Motorola put
> on a single die, I was thrilled.  I thought that surely this would
> make PPC motherboards even less expensive..

Actually, it IS less expensive. The problem is that you're comparing
Apples and Oranges.

Look at name brand computers. (See my post on comp.sys.mac.advocacy).
ComputerWorld printed a table showing various configurations from Apple,
Compaq, and IBM. The PowerMacs were 8-28% less expensive than the
comparable PCs. That doesn't even factor in that the PowerMacs were
faster, had CD-ROM (not included in the PCs AFAIK), and several had
advanced AV features. If you consider that these companies have similar
cost structure (actually Compaq R&D is probably lower than the other two),
and similar profitability (I believe Apple gross margins were actually
higher), the difference is probably related to the cost of assembling a
system.

The reason it LOOKS like PPC is more expensive is that you don't have a
significant clone market, yet. IMO, that's a good thing. Clones don't save
that much money (current PowerMac prices are comparable to clone Pentium
prices) and create a huge number of headaches.

> Bill Moyer <ttk@rahul.net>

-- 
Regards, Joe Ragosta -- 100% Chemical and proud of it.
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