Bored and decided to price two systems out.
iMac 21.5inch
Intel C2D 3.06GHz dual core CPU (guessing this is 45nm Penryn, 2+ years old)
4GB DDR3
1TB SATA HDD
ATI 4670 video 256mb
Apple wireless kb/magic mouse
No extra software/warranty
$1,599 + ship
Memory Express
Antec Sonata III case/PSU
Intel Core i7 860 CPU (2.8GHz quad core, newest arcitecture)
Asus P7 MB
6GB DDR3
2x 1TB SATA HDD's
DVDRW
ATI 5770 1gb video
Logitech G7 wireless kb/mouse
Windows 7 Home Premium
$1,225 + ship which leaves $374 to buy a high quality S-IPS/PVA type LCD (the Dell U2410 24inch goes on sale for $399 regularly), or could save money and get a TN panel 23/24inch for $250 or whatever.
The Windows box will destory the iMac in power, and can actually render modern 3D games at an acceptable frame rate, more storage, more memory etc. It's not even close.
Now saying that, is any of the extra power relevant to someone surfing the web, editing/posting personal photography, managing their media collection (if they like iTunes)? Nope, but in that case you could spec out a comparable system to the Apple for well under $1k (with a nice LCD).
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