Why dont Apple sell hardware components separately ?

[linuxyogi]

Hi,

I have never used a MAC & frankly at that price I can assemble an awesome PC.

But I was wondering why Apple doesn't sell their hardware separately ? or do they ?

If MAC hardware becomes available we can assemble our own MAC. That will surely save

some money.

[Bachstelze]

Macs aren't alien technology, the components they use are pretty standard. What makes a Mac a Mac is the design, and obviously they aren't going to sell cases and suchlike separately, it would kill the brand. Apple's goal is not to make you "save some money", it is to maintain their brand image (whatever you think of it).

Oh, and they do sell "peripherals" (mice, keyboards, maybe others) separately.

[haqking]

Hi,

I have never used a MAC & frankly at that price I can assemble an awesome PC.

But I was wondering why Apple doesn't sell their hardware separately ? or do they ?

If MAC hardware becomes available we can assemble our own MAC. That will surely save

some money.


you said peripherals in your title ?

i take it you mean hardware such as the PC internals ? this is not peripherals

[akand074]

Mac hardware is just like any other computer. Just pick a Mac pc you like and just buy all the hardware it has individually. It's really just the graphics card that you'll want compatibility with though I'd imagine (just like Ubuntu really), the rest doesn't matter.

[linuxyogi]

Macs aren't alien technology, the components they use are pretty standard.

You mean the architecture of a MAC's mainboard is same as PC's ? No difference at all ?




Oh, and they do sell "peripherals" (mice, keyboards, maybe others) separately.


you said peripherals in your title ?

i take it you mean hardware such as the PC internals ? this is not peripherals

Yes I meant hardware like mainboard, Ram, PSU ....etc. Sorry for that.

[linuxyogi]

Mac hardware is just like any other computer. Just pick a Mac pc you like and just buy all the hardware it has individually. It's really just the graphics card that you'll want compatibility with though I'd imagine (just like Ubuntu really), the rest doesn't matter.

I heard that Windows OSs are incompatible with MAC hardware. Is that true ?

If everything is the same why the incompatibility ? If its the graphics card, replacing it with

a compatible one will make it compatible then ?

[3Miro]

Mac and Windows machines share the same hardware. You can swap parts between them, HDD, RAM, CPU ...

Apple doesn't manufacture any of those, so they don't sell them.

In terms of hardware, there is no difference between a Mac and a Windows machine. The only difference is the OS. You can install Windows on a Mac machine and it will run just fine. You can also install Mac OSX on a Windows machine, although it is illegal.

[haqking]

most of it you can buy from apple store.

http://store.apple.com/us

look down on left hand side and choose popular accessories for mac.

memory
graphics cards etc

mainboards can be bought online at various...just google "mac components" or whatever i found a few in UK

[Bachstelze]

I heard that Windows OSs are incompatible with MAC hardware. Is that true ?


It used to be true, back when Macs used PowerPC processors. Now that they use regular x86-64, you can certainly install Windows or any other OS on them.


You mean the architecture of a MAC's mainboard is same as PC's ? No difference at all ?

Yes, modulo the fact that Macs use EFI while most PCs still use Ye Olde BIOS. EFI is by no means an exclusive Mac technology, though

[haqking]

Mac and Windows machines share the same hardware. You can swap parts between them, HDD, RAM, CPU ...

Apple doesn't manufacture any of those, so they don't sell them.

In terms of hardware, there is no difference between a Mac and a Windows machine. The only difference is the OS. You can install Windows on a Mac machine and it will run just fine. You can also install Mac OSX on a Windows machine, although it is illegal.


that is true but you cant just take a AT or ATX case and stick a apple mainboard in it ?

it can be done but you need to modify things cos it is not standard ?

[whatthefunk]

The looming question is....












Why the **** would you want to assemble your own Mac?

[linuxyogi]

I see no point in purchasing a MAC. To me its nothing but the same thing (PC) with a fancy

cabinet. No offense to MAC users, I know its a personal choice.

Thanks everyone for the doubt clearing session.

[3Miro]

that is true but you cant just take a AT or ATX case and stick a apple mainboard in it ?

it can be done but you need to modify things cos it is not standard ?

Really? The Mac boxes don't look that different on the outside. Making a different standard is just silly, the way you physically mount the motherboard to the case has nothing to do with computers.

Anyway, it is not that anyone would build their own Mac, it would totally defeat the purpose of it.

[haqking]

Really? The Mac boxes don't look that different on the outside. Making a different standard is just silly, the way you physically mount the motherboard to the case has nothing to do with computers.

Anyway, it is not that anyone would build their own Mac, it would totally defeat the purpose of it.


yeah i believe that Apple mac uses a BTX design form factor but does not comply with standard.

and yes i agree, it would be like making your own ferrari kit car, it just aint the same

[linuxyogi]

MAC is an over priced Linux OS system basically. If you go back far enough like back to Unics, all computers where the same waaaaaaaaaaay back then. Some people in the industry had more of a following and they developed into what you see today, Linux, Windows, and Apple. Honestly, the only thing that separates apple from Linux is te fact that there programs are certified to work with another, something I have been complaining about from Linux for a long time, basic file formats are a thing of the past. Only reason Dell, is accepting Ubuntu System is because Open office finally came about and kids can us them for college. If Linux folks took the time to make graphic/web design programs do the same, I would literally burn my windows machine on you tube and then mail the remains to windows HQ.

Anyway, you don't have to buy Mac products, I mean, if you want you can build a bare bones PC and install a Mac OS system on it. I got Snow Leopard laying around here somewhere if yea want it. But honestly, why would you go there? Mac's are garbage, they don't do anything! You can't program in them, at least not as you can in a Linux or Windows machine. You can barely play any games,.. You wanna go there cause it's pretty shiney and white? Give me a can of spray paint and I'll send you a computer for 1/4 of the cost that performs better then a Mac. You forget, everything comes from China so in the end your over paying anyway.



http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=11001909&postcount=12

I thought MAC uses different hardware in comparison to PC ..... but now I know thats not the case.

Even if MAC used different & hardware & say I assembled one. I was never planning to use OS X......most probably Ubuntu :P

[linuxyogi]

yeah i believe that Apple mac uses a BTX design form factor but does not comply with standard.


:confused:

I need to be more patient.

But no plans for assembling a MAC anymore :lolflag:

[akand074]

:confused:

I need to be more patient.

But no plans for assembling a MAC anymore :lolflag:
All they were saying is that Mac computers made by Apple use that format. You can still use any other mainboard. Building a Mac is the same as building any other PC really.

[Bandit]

you said peripherals in your title ?

i take it you mean hardware such as the PC internals ? this is not peripherals

Actually yes Peripherals is correct term.
Hence the initial-ism PCI, Peripheral Component Interconnect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Local_Bus).

[Bachstelze]

Actually yes Peripherals is correct term.
Hence the initial-ism PCI, Peripheral Component Interconnect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Local_Bus).

RAM and PSUs use PCI now?

[Bandit]

RAM and PSUs use PCI now?

I was referring to internal add-on cards. One poster mentioned that peripherals were only on the "outside" of the computer, which in fact isnt true. Pointing out that PCI slots were in fact called Peripheral Component Interconnect was to prove that peripherals can in fact also go inside the computer. I was however not stating all internals are peripherals as you tried to misconstrue.

Even older cards that plugged into legacy style ISA slots were also generalised as peripherals.

[Spr0k3t]

All of the components in a modern mac use standard components with alternate formfactors for the primary logic board. All drives are SATA, all memory is DDR2 or DDR3, All video cards are PCIx (unless internal). The CPUs are all Intel based. The actual guts of the logic boards use the same cheap components you find on Dell, Acer, Toshiba, eMachines type boards. The external cases on the otherhand are all overengineered masterpieces (with the exception of missing mousebuttons).

The very best part about a modern mac though, you can run Linux on them quite well if you are able to get used to the lack of a missing mouse button.

[linuxyogi]

All they were saying is that Mac computers made by Apple use that format. You can still use any other mainboard. Building a Mac is the same as building any other PC really.

Understood.

[linuxyogi]

The external cases on the otherhand are all overengineered masterpieces.


By "masterpieces" you mean ? good looking ?

[magmon]

To be as off topic as possible, why was your grammar incorrect in the title but correct in a similar sentence in your post?

[linuxyogi]

To be as off topic as possible, why was your grammar incorrect in the title but correct in a similar sentence in your post?

May be its a symptom of split personality disorder :-k

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1739031

[Spr0k3t]

By "masterpieces" you mean ? good looking ?

Aesthetic designs are done well... unless you have to do any sort of work on the hardware to repair them. I usually end up charging an extra hour of my time when I have to work on them for whatever reason. Macs get worse the smaller or thinner you get. Like, try replacing a screen on an older G5 imac... you're better off just buying a junk unit and moving all the guts over.

[wolfen69]

Mac and Windows machines share the same hardware.

Have you compared a mac mobo and pc mobo? I've taken a few macs apart, and the mobo didn't look like any pc mobo I've seen.

[magmon]

May be its a symptom of split personality disorder :-k

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1739031

Interesting... Makes me feel less bad about attempting to go Super Saiyan too frequently for someone of my age.

[haqking]

Actually yes Peripherals is correct term.
Hence the initial-ism PCI, Peripheral Component Interconnect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Local_Bus).


Peripherals and its definitions are Computer Science 101.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral

Computer internals (parts of the computer hardware) is not a peripheral item.

the initial-ism does not make a PCI component a peripheral device necessarily.

He was asking about building his own mac, and how to get internal componentry,hardware, expansion cards etc....which 99% of people in the IT inudstry do not refer to as Peripherals.

either way it still comes down to, why build your own mac, one of the reasons they are popular is down to the aesthetic appeal because Apple are good at deisgning pretty things ;-)

[Bandit]

Peripherals and its definitions are Computer Science 101.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral

Computer internals (parts of the computer hardware) is not a peripheral item.

the initial-ism does not make a PCI component a peripheral device necessarily.

He was asking about building his own mac, and how to get internal componentry,hardware, expansion cards etc....which 99% of people in the IT inudstry do not refer to as Peripherals.

either way it still comes down to, why build your own mac, one of the reasons they are popular is down to the aesthetic appeal because Apple are good at deisgning pretty things ;-)

From the wiki link you gave:
"A peripheral is a device attached to a host computer, but not part of it, and is more or less dependent on the host. It expands the host's capabilities, but does not form part of the core computer architecture."

Thus PCI cards or any addon cards are peripheral components since they can be removed. If they were fused in with solder. Then that would be a different ball game perhaps. But this is also why RAM and CPU is not a peripheral component. :D

You can say what you wish in the matter, I am not trying to be argumentative over it. But needless to say, if you plan on passing the A+ exam in the future. Your going have to breakdown and call them peripherals along with the rest of the IT community.

[tgalati4]

Everytime I take a Mac apart I think to myself--THIS WAS DESIGNED BY ALIENS!

[grahammechanical]

In answer to this question


I heard that Windows OSs are incompatible with MAC hardware. Is that true ?

Here is a quote from wikipedia under Motorola


The company was also strong in semiconductor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor) technology, including integrated circuits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuits) used in computers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer). In particular, it is well known for the 6800 family (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6800_family) and 68000 family (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_68000_family) of microprocessors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprocessor) used in Atari ST (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_ST), Commodore Amiga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiga), Color Computer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS-80_Color_Computer), and Apple (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Computer) Macintosh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Macintosh) personal computers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer). The PowerPC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerPC) family was developed with IBM (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Business_Machines) and in a partnership with Apple (known as the AIM alliance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM_alliance)).

So, a Microsoft OS that ran on an Intel processor would indeed be incompatible with a Motorola processor used by Apple until not that long ago. As I thought. But I wanted confirmation.

Regards.

[mips]

Have you compared a mac mobo and pc mobo? I've taken a few macs apart, and the mobo didn't look like any pc mobo I've seen.

The shape of the motherboard might differ but the chipsets found on them are the same as those on normal PCs.

Are both these pictures of watermelons or don't you consider a square watermelon a watermelon?
http://rentoid.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/square-watermelon-2.jpg?w=450
http://kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com/kidsnews/assets/news_images/0054712-watermelon-lg.jpg

[3rdalbum]

Consumer-level desktop Macintosh hardware is more similar to consumer-level laptop PC hardware, actually. iMacs use mobile GPUs to prevent the back of the case from melting.

Personally, if I was buying a Mac, I'd rather they used a silent fan such as one made by Noctua, and put a desktop GPU into it for more grunt.

[handy]

It all comes down to the size of the load you are carrying, & on what gradient. :)