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Re:Apple M1 Ultra by gtvwill on Tuesday March 08, 2022 @06:05PM (#30608572)
1000 bucks for 45 mins work? Maybe 1.5hrs tops? I didn't realise their wage was >500 an hour?
Re:Apple M1 Ultra by Normal_gaussian on Tuesday March 08, 2022 @06:37PM (#30608895)
To be fair here, there is more to it than just assembly.

You have to spec out the parts, ensuring compatibility. Manage multiple orders and deliveries. Assemble it. Install drivers/configuration specific packages.

All of these things are easier today than ten or twenty years ago - but assigning it to a random mid-level engineer and I'd set my project management gamble on half a day for the busiest, most focused engineers least likely to take the time to fuss over specs, or one day for the majority.

ofc. to get to $1000 for that they'd still have to be on $230k to $460k.

Re:Apple M1 Ultra by fouc on Tuesday March 08, 2022 @11:09PM (#30610833)
Given that the last time I put together a PC computer was 2006, it'd probably take me DAYS to spec out a machine because of all the rabbit holes I'd be exploring, esp with all the advances in computer tech.
Re:Apple M1 Ultra by rpmisms on Tuesday March 08, 2022 @07:13PM (#30609263)
PC part picker will do the heavy lifting for you. There are also management tools that will let you install software bundles easily, no real extra time investment.
Re:Apple M1 Ultra by asoneth on Wednesday March 09, 2022 @08:41AM (#30614275)
Just knowing about services like PC Part Picker and the management tools you mention requires time and expertise that people generally do not have before they build a computer, so "no real extra time investment" may only be true for someone who can amortize those upfront costs across many builds.

In my case I have built a couple PCs before, but it was so long ago that I'd have to re-learn which retailers are trustworthy, what the new connection standards are these days, etc. It's just not worth it to me to spend a dozen hours learning, specing, ordering, assembling, installing, configuring, etc to save a few hundred bucks.

Re:Apple M1 Ultra by swiftcoder on Wednesday March 09, 2022 @04:21AM (#30612509)
It's a lot closer than you might think.

A senior engineer in the Bay can easily pull down $400k/year in total comp, which is $200/hour. The rule of thumb I've always heard is that a fully-loaded engineer costs roughly 2x their comp in taxes/insurance/facilities/etc.

When someone costs the company north of $3k/day, it's cheaper all round to just plonk a brand new $6k MacBook Pro on their desk if they have a hardware issue.

Re:Apple M1 Ultra by jtbayly on Wednesday March 09, 2022 @08:52AM (#30614364)
It would take me over 1.5 hours just to figure out what parts I need to buy.