Today I got an email from the local Mac User's Group. Its nice in that they periodically get deals, rebates, etc., and pass the info along to members. One of the specials was for the Mac version of the GeForce 8800 GT for 1st generation Mac Pros, normally selling for $279, but with the referal code would only be $199.

That's great, except:

1. The 8800 GT came out last year.

2. Windows owners can go shopping from a variety of card-makers from a variety of sources, getting the exact same product for a lot less. Newegg has a PNY card that's normally $169, but is selling for $159.

3. 1st generation Mac Pro's don't do SLI. In fact, as far as I can tell neither can the new ones.

So, the normal price of a GeForce 8800 GT for Mac is a horrendous rip-off, and the sale price isn't competitive either, but Mac owners have no real choice in the matter. I use both OSX and Windows, and this is really the main reason I'll never completely convert to Mac hardware, even though I can run Windows on it; no freedom to choose and no competition. If Apple decides I don't need something, I'm not going to get it. The worst thing is I'm sure Nvidia and ATI are perfectly happy with the situation; I'm sure they've got a nice little arrangement with Apple to maintain this duopoly.

Windows is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but at least I can say I can most anything I want. I might not have the total freedom of Linux, or the "perfection" of OS X, but I'm certainly in the sweet spot between the required technical savvy for Linux and the "benevolent dictatorship" of Apple. And unlike those stupid "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads? I know how to keep my Windows machine running trouble free.