Apple Macs really really are cheaper than Windows machines
One of the most frustrating things about trying to convert your friends and family to Macs is that, no matter how strong your arguments of quality, performance and stability are, one counter-argument continually pops up: price.
Let’s be frank. The Apple price tag is a tad heftier than that of a bottom line, crap-o-licious Windows-based PC. No matter how much you try, telling them about the sexy effects and reassuring safety of OS X will not convince anyone they should learn a completely new system and pay more for the “same thing” (by which they mean a tool to email, Facebook, and IM) they could get for $399 at some discount retailer or website.
The problem is that people generally consider up-front costs, not long-term costs. Supposing you tire of a machine in a year or two, and need something else, how much has that shoddy machine you bought at a discounted price depreciated? Excluding the actual quality of Apple machines, the turnaround resell value of Mac is substantially higher than that of a Windows-based PC, and that’s where Macs turn out cheaper.
There’s no way you plan on keeping your machine until the day every hardware part fails and you’re forced to junk it. Most people update their machines every couple years, and wouldn’t those people rather get a higher return value on their old hardware than pennies on the dollar?
Farhad Manjoo of Salon.com wrote a very insightful article that points out how users actually save money in the long run, due to the rapid turnover in the technology industry, by choosing a Mac over a Windows-based machine.
Though I will let you read the article for yourselves to see the breakdown of the exact numbers, it is significant to note that users actually pay less in the long run if they sell their Macs at any point than users who choose Windows-based machines. Macs simply have a better turnaround resale value.
Sadly, this argument still might not persuade the normal Joe or Jill to buy a Mac; just like America’s obsession with credit and putting off payment of things, higher price tags up front speak louder than considering resale value.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your fanboy duty of presenting the cold hard evidence to those you care about; Windows lovers are people too, remember?
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November 7th, 2007
Manjo is a dumbass Mactard just like you. New and used Apples are more expensive because brainwashed Maczealots are happy to pay the Apple tax despite it’s the same hardware made in the same Chinese factories like any PC.
November 7th, 2007
The flaw in the argument is I can buy a dual core
Dell 2 gig, 250 meg with a 19″ LCD for $549 with a three year warranty. Anyone buying the Mini at that price is a fool. I believe Apple has the same issue as Radio Shack. They were doing well with Private Label receivers and TVs until the decision to carry name brands instead. That enabled direct comparisons with the big box electronic stores.
Guess what’s happening with the switch to Intel? Without the 5 year upgrade cycle PPC RISC VS CISC marketing voodoo, you can now do real hardware comparisons. Unless Apple stops allowing OS X to leverage advances in CPU architecture, you are going to see quicker obsolescence ala PPC 800 not recommended for Leopard. Quality and service is down, unless you’re buy the dubious theory that people changing products because of poor service are more likely to complain if the new product isn’t perfect:
http://mac.blorge.com/2007/10/13/is-apples-customer-care-failing/
A more likely reason is having many new customers that haven’t bought into the battered wife syndrome of the Cult of Jobs.
This article is that wife explaining being disciplined for her own good.
November 7th, 2007
The big flaw with your argument is the contention that computers actually maintain a resale value.
In my part of the world, not one of the major electrical/electronic/IT retailers bother with trade-in deals and reselling of used stock anymore – nobody wants it.
The simple fact is that like many things electrical, computers are now so cheap in real terms, and become obsolete far too quickly for thereto be any serious value in the second-hand market.
Why would I as an average joe bother about buying someone’s 2-year-old clunker for $300, when any of the retailers locally can get me into am entry level machine with better specs and a warranty for less than $700?
The other flaw is that you obviously live in a Mac-centric world, which is absolutely not the case where I live.
November 7th, 2007
[...] Triston McIntyre added an interesting post on Apple Macs really really are cheaper than Windows machinesHere’s a small excerptExcluding the actual quality of Apple machines, the turnaround resell value of Mac is substantially higher than that of a Windows-based PC, and that’s where Macs turn out cheaper. There’s no way you plan on keeping your machine until … [...]
November 7th, 2007
[...] Triston McIntyre placed an interesting blog post on Apple Macs really really are cheaper than Windows machinesHere’s a brief overview [...]
November 18th, 2007
[...] of the top reasons people won’t commit to switching to Macs is price. Though Mac technology isn’t any more expensive than Windows-based technology when considering…, here are a few great ways to break into the Mac world without buying a brand spanking new iMac or [...]