Aaron Adams’s Blowhard Blog

From Mac Mini update round out two-for-one Wednesday at ArsTechnica:

While the addition of the Core Duo to the low end is a welcome addition, we still long for the days of yore when there was a sub-$500 Mac Mini. When one adds in the price of keyboard and mouse and the impeding Leopard tax, the low end Mini can quickly grow in cost to something approaching the low-end iMac.

That’s a point that I’ve been making about Mac minis since they day they were introduced - that by the time you’re done properly equipping the thing, you’ve practically spent as much as an already-properly-equipped machine at the low end of the next model up. I’ve been scoffed at, but it seems like at least some people are coming around publicly.

What I really wanted to point out in this post, however, is the phrase “Leopard tax”. What an incredibly stupid thing to say, and considering that Leopard won’t be released until next spring, it irritates me that the crybabies are already out, whining that they’ll have to pay for a completely optional operating system upgrade.

All that’s required for stupidity to propagate is for more intelligent people to say nothing. So, as I often do, I’ll repeat myself: An optional operating system upgrade is not a “tax”. Taxes are something you are forced to pay involuntarily, via threat of adverse consequences. Nobody will force you to upgrade to Leopard. Stop being a whiny little bitch.

Tiger was released in April of 2005. That’s 17 months ago. Assuming Leopard really does ship in the spring (let’s be optimistic and say March 21), that’ll be roughly 23 months from one optional OS upgrade to another. I think it’s also safe to assume that Apple will keep their usual price of $129 for major yet optional OS upgrades.

$129 / 23 months = $5.60/month, assuming you purchase Leopard immediately..

For all the people who cry about paying for a new optional OS, is $129 in 23 months really hurting you that much? Are you really that freakin’ broke and unable to manage your money that you can’t put together $5.60 a month to make this optional purchase? I’ve made less-than-stellar incomes during many years of my life as a single adult, and I’ve always been able to prioritize things well enough that $5.60/month wasn’t going to make me or break me.

Have one less beer. Skip a pack of cigarettes. Don’t go to McDonald’s for lunch one day. Turn of electric things you’re not actively using. Give up call waiting. Walk somewhere instead of driving. Clip some coupons. Buy the store brand mustard. Set aside $129 of your tax refund and put it in a savings account at Emigrant Direct and get 5.15% for it. Coming up with $129 in 23 months isn’t hard if you’re employed.

So please, whiners, give us a break and quit your complaining about an OS “tax” that is no such thing.