Mac - PC PriceWatch 2001

2001 retail prices of computers in Australia (taxes included)

updated December 2001.

September 2001 - mid range package and high end laptops
July 2001 - mid range desktops and laptops
May 2001 - mid range desktops and entry level laptops
March 2001 - entry level desktops and high end laptops
February 2001 - entry level and home digital video

Prices in 2000

December 2001

entry level desktops

a pre Christmas price cutting war leads to cheaper PCs

Harvey Norman catalogue
page 1

ending 8/12/01

 Apple Store online
Sydney Morning Herald
Icon page 24
8-9 December, 2001
Acer catalogue
December , 2001
  Packard Bell iConnect iMac500 Dell Dimension 2100 AcerPower SxB
Processor 1000MHz Intel Celeron 500MHz PowerPC G3 1000MHz Intel Celeron Celeron900MhzIntel
Level 2 cache ? 256k at 500MHz ? ?
Memory
 128 MB PC133 128MB PC 133 256 Mb SDRAM 128 Mb PC133
Hard disk drive 20GB 20GB Ultra ATA 20GB 20 GB
Graphics 4Mb shared with 16MB of SDRAM dedicated graphics memory; AGP 2X support Intel 3D Direct AGP ?
Optical drive CR-RW tray-loading Slot-loading CD-RW 8x4x24x CD-ROM (48x) CD-ROM (52x)
USB and FireWire   USB 2 x ports (12Mbps each)
FireWire 2 x 400Mbps (IEEE 1394) port; includes 4-pin-to-6-pin FireWire cable for connecting DV camera		 ? ?
Ethernet and Wireless networking no Built in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector); AirPort ready
Support for optional 11Mbps AirPort Card		 no Built in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
Modem no Built in 56K V.90 fax/modem (RJ-11 connector) no no
System Software Windows XP Home Mac OS X 10.1and Mac OS 9.2.1 Windows XP Home WinMe
Bundled Software "Word, Works V6, Money and more" AppleWorks, iMovie 2, iTunes, Palm Desktop, FAXstf, Cro-Mag Rally, Bugdom and Nanosaur.

Works Suite 2001

 

 Lotus Smartsuite Millennium
notes

advertised price $1,999

•need to add antivirus software $100 (plus cost of definition updates each year)
•network card $49
•modem $149
•Firewire card $139
•add 128 Mb SDRAM $70

significant software bundle

advertised price $2,195

•add 128 Mb SDRAM $70

significant software bundle including video editing software and two operating systems preloaded

advertised price $1,199

•need to add antivirus software $100 (plus cost of definition updates each year)
•CD-RW internal drive $ 320
•network card $49
•modem $149
•Firewire card $139

advertised price $1,299

•need to add antivirus software $100 (plus cost of definition updates each year)
•CD-RW internal drive $ 320
•add 128 Mb SDRAM $70
•modem $149
•Firewire card $139
comparable price $2,506 $2,265 $1,856 $2,077
top

 

September 2001
midrange package:
computer, printer, scanner
highend laptops

Harvey Norman catalogue
page 2

ending 30/9/01

 Sydney Morning Herald
IT section page 6
25 September, 2001
Sydney Morning Herald
page 4
20 September, 2001
Harvey Norman catalogue
page 4
20 September , 2001
  Comaq Presario 5000 iMac500 Snow Titanium Powerbook Toshiba Satellite 2835UXDVD
Processor 850MHz Intel Celeron 500MHz PowerPC G3 Power PC G4 / 500Mhz Intel PIII 900Mhz
Level 2 cache ? 256k at 500MHz 256k at 600MHz ?
Memory
 128 MB 128MB 256 128
Hard disk drive 20GB Ultra ATA 20GB Ultra ATA 20GB Ultra ATA 30 ATA
Graphics ? with 16MB of SDRAM dedicated graphics memory; AGP 2X support ATI RAGE 128 Ultra graphics accelerator with 8MB of SDRAM
1152x768 max res.		 16Mb GeForce graphics card
Optical drive CR-RW tray-loading 12x4x32x (maximum) Slot-loading 8x4x24x DVD-ROM DVD-ROM
FireWire nil 400Mbps FireWire (IEEE 1394) port; includes 4-pin-to-6-pin FireWire cable for connecting DV camera 400Mbps FireWire (IEEE 1394) port; includes 4-pin-to-6-pin FireWire cable for connecting DV camera ?
USB ? Two ports (12Mbps each) Two ports (12Mbps each) ?
Infrared no no yes ?
Ethernet ? Built in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector) Built in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector) Built in 10/100BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)
Wireless networking ? AirPort ready
Support for optional 11Mbps AirPort Card; 		AirPort ready
Support for optional 11Mbps AirPort Card; 		no built in airport support - IEEE 802.11.
Modem Built in 56K V.90 fax/modem Built in 56K V.90 fax/modem (RJ-11 connector) Built in 56K V.90 fax/modem (RJ-11 connector) Built in 56K V.90 fax/modem (RJ-11 connector)
System Software Windows Me Mac OS X and Mac OS 9.1 Mac OS X and Mac OS 9.1 WinMe
Bundled Software Works 2001, Money 2001, Norton Antivirus AppleWorks, iMovie 2, iTunes, Palm Desktop, FAXstf, Cro-Mag Rally, Bugdom and Nanosaur.

iTunes, iMovie2, FAXst Pro, Palm desktop, Hardware Test CD

 

 ?
notes

includes
Compaq IJ650 printer
Compaq S4100 scanner

includes Lexmark Z22 printer

add scanner c. $195 (to $2,195 advertissed price)

 

 VGA out; S-video out
battery up to 5hours
weighs 2.4kg
2 expansion bays		 need to add antivirus software
$2,499 $2,390 $6,499 $6,499
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July 2001

mid range desktops
iMac over $400 cheaper than a Compaq !

laptops
iBook over $1,500 cheaper than Sony Vaio !

Sydney Morning Herald
17th July 2001
IT section, p. 3		 Sydney Morning Herald
Icon page 5
14-15th July , 2001 		iOpener Sydney Morning Herald
IT page 5
3rd July , 2001
Brand/Model iMac 500 Compaq Desktop Pro SB iBook 500 Sony Vaio PCG-R505CT
processor / clock speed 500MHz Power PC Intel PIII 1,000Mhz Power PC G3 / 500 Intel PIII 850Mhz
RAM 64 64 128 (256k level 2) 128
HD size in gig 20 20 10 ATA 20 ATA
monitor size (inches) 15 15 12.1 - max. res. 1024x768 12.1 - max. res. 1024x768
OS 9.1 Win98se 9.1 WinMe
modem yes 56k no yes 56k yes 56k
network card yes 10/100 no yes 10/100 yes 10/100
bundled software Appleworks, Bugdom, Fax, Palm, iMovie2, iTunes nil yes (Appleworks, Palm, games) nil
virus software not applicable no not applicable no
warranty (years) 1 1 1 1
notes included:
CD-RW drive
Firewire port
free Epson 580 printer

combo drive: DVD and CD-RW
VGA and RGB ports
USB and Firewire ports battery up to 5hours
weighs 2.2kg

much larger HD
USB and Firewire ports
VGA port; memory stick reader extra??
battery up to 4 hours
advertised price $2,495 $1,749 $3,695 $5,899
additions to reach similar configuration
(some prices are approximate)		  

Works $150
virus software $100
network card? $49
modem $149
speakers $39
Firewire card $139
Epson 580 printer $249
CD-RW internal drive $ 320

 La Cie Pocket hard drive 10gig Firewire $759

virus software $100
Works $150

DVD and CD-RW drives would add even more to the cost of the Vaio!
comparable price $2,495 $2,944

$4,454

 $6,049
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mid range desktops
entry level laptops
May 2001

Sydney Morning Herald
26th May 2001
iOpener insert

 Sydney Morning Herald
Icon page 3
26th May , 2001

Sydney Morning Herald
26th May 2001
iOpener insert

 Sydney Morning Herald
Icon page 3
26th May , 2001
Brand/Model iMac 500 Dell 4100 iBook 500 Dell Inspiron 2500 G700ST
processor / clock speed 500MHz Power PC Intel PIII 866Mhz Power PC G3 / 500 Intel PIII 700Mhz
RAM 64 64 64 (256k level 2) 128 (includes free upgrade)
HD size in gig 20 20 10 5
monitor size (inches) 15 15 12 active 12.1 active
OS 9.1 WinMe 9.1 WinMe
modem yes 56k no 56k no
network card yes 10/100 no yes 10/100 no
bundled software Appleworks, Bugdom, Fax, Palm, iMovie2, iTunes Works 2001 yes Works 2001
virus software not applicable no not applicable no
warranty (years) 1 1 1 1
notes Firewire port included
more software

Firewire port included
hard disk twice as big!

  
advertised price $2,495 $1,699 $2,995 $3.099
additions to reach similar configuration
(some prices are approximate)		  

virus software $100
network card? $75
modem? $100
Firewire card ? $190
Pinnacle Studio DC10 Digital editing software $615 (see Feb 2001)

 extra memory (64) $100

virus software $100
network card?? $125
modem?? $100

comparable price $2,495 $2,779

$3,095

 $3,424

top

 

entry level desktops
high end laptops
March 2001

Buzzle
various sources;
week ending 16 March 2001

 Sun Herald
11 March , 2001 p 30

Sydney Morning Herald
Icon page 9
13 March , 2001 p9

Sydney Morning Herald
Icon page 9
10 March , 2001 p9
Brand/Model iMac 400 Gateway PowerBook ("Pismo") IBM Thinkpad T21
processor / clock speed 400MHz Power PC Intel Celeron 700 Mhz Power PC G3 / 400 Celeron 750Mhz
RAM 64 64 256 128
HD size in gig 10 10 10 10
monitor size (inches) 15 15 14 active 13.3"
OS 9.1 not stated 9.1 Win98
modem yes 56k not stated 56k yes 56k
network card yes 10/100 not stated yes 10/100 yes 10/100
bundled software Appleworks, Bugdom, Fax, Palm, i Movie yes, no details nil Lotus Smartsuite
virus software not applicable no not applicable no
warranty (years) 1 not stated 1 3
notes free printer Lexmark c$125
free Logitech Webcam c $125

DVD ROM
Firewire port included
extra memory

  
advertised price $1,795 $1,899 $4,495 $4,799
additions to reach similar configuration
(some prices are approximate)		 add printer Lexmark c$125
add Logitech Webcam c $125
 virus software $100
network card?? $75
modem?? $100		 Appleworks $170?
extra warranty $150?

virus software $100
DVD ROM drive $250??
extra memory (128) $120
comparable price $2,045 $2,174

$4,715

 $5,269

top

 

entry level desktops
home digital video solution
February 2001

Buzzle
various sources;
week ending 18 February 2001

 Harvey Norman catalogue
week ending 18 February , 2001 p 2

AppleStore online 17.2.01

 Harvey Norman catalogue
week ending 18 February , 2001
pp. 6-7
Brand/Model iMac 350 Acer

PowerMac G4

 Packard Bell ixtreme
processor / clock speed 350MHz Power PC Intel Celeron 667 Mhz  

533MHz PowerPC G4

Pentium III 1,000Mhz
RAM 64 64  

128MB SDRAM
1MB L2 cache

128
HD size in gig 7 10  

40 ultra ATA

 40
monitor size (inches) 15 15  

Sony 17 add c. $600
RAGE 128 Pro Graphics card

 17;
NVII GeForce graphics card
OS 9.1 Win 98  

9.1

 WinMe
modem yes 56k yes 56k  

yes 56k

 yes 56k
network card yes 10/100 no  

yes 10/100/1000

 no
bundled software Appleworks, Bugdom, Fax, Palm, Lotus Smartsuite  

iTunes; iDVD; iMovie 2; QuickTime 4

 Word 2000, Works 2000, many others
virus software not applicable no  

not applicable

 Norton 2000
warranty (years) 1 not stated  

1

 not stated
notes free printer HP640c larger hard disk  

Gigabit(1,000) ethernet
2 Firewire ports
CD-Read/Write Drive

1 Firewire port
substantial software bundle - mostly games
advertised price $1,795 $1,699

$4,595

 $4,999
additions to reach similar configuration
(some prices are approximate)
virus software $100
network card $100
HP 640 deskjet $174		  

Sony 17" monitor add c. $600
Appleworks $170?

 Pinnacle Studio DC10 plus digital editing software $615
10/100 network card $100
comparable price $1,795 $2,073  

$5,365

 $5,714
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