UGN InfoManager

The DELL commercials on TV offer a tower-style desktop computer with lots of muscle and features for just $479. While that's not at all earth-shattering for a DELL, they sweeten the deal if you by including a 17-inch flat-panel display, a printer, speakers, and other assorted goodies for FREE, plus FREE shipping, if you order now.

Now, I ask "how can they do that?"

Well, one might say the products are really cheap, manufactured by Chinese (or Mexicans) who are paid fifty-cents an hour. But still, Apple's flat panel carries a hefty price tag, and even the no-name monitors at the Best-Buy and Costco are upwards to $300.

I understand that printers are throw-aways, with the printer manufacturers making up the short-fall by selling $50, 100-print ink cartridges.

I also understand the speakers could be in the low $30 range. But when you add it all up and do a little math, you see that either that equipment is so dangerously cheap, or DELL is losing a pile of money.

More troublesome is the fact that probably thousands of uninformed consumers will call the toll-free number and order -- simply based on the low price and give-aways.

I bought an iMac last night for my office desk.

The old beige G3 and the G4 (Quicksilver) are simply taking up too much room and are too outdated to go on. After paying close to $1,700 for the iMac, then seeing this DELL ad for $495, I feel like I've either been a) ripped off, or b) very smart. I like to think the latter is the case.

I love the iMacs in spite of my Brother's iMac melt-down, and my daughter's exploding/smoking Powerbook. So I guess I'll still take delivery on that shiny new iMac (With AppleCare!) and hope that Apple stays in the Mac business for at least a few more years.

When and if Apple does go out of the Mac business, I'll probably move to the islands and give all this up completely. Anyone want to come along?

Fred