“After forming a comparison of Apple Computer’s new iMac and MacBook Pro computers against several PCs from Dell and HP, analysts for PiperJaffray found that the average difference in price for comparable components on a desktop is only 13 percent lower for a Windows PC, while for notebooks the price difference is a mere 10 percent,” Katie Marsal reports for AppleInsider. “‘We believe both consumers and investors tend to believe that purchasing a Mac will cost 20 percent to 30 percent more than a PC,’ analyst Gene Munster explained to clients in a research note issued early Tuesday morning.”
“The analyst also took a look at the cost of an iMac and MacBook Pro running both the Windows and Mac OS operating systems via Apple’s Boot Camp software. He found that, on average, an iMac running Boot Camp with both operating systems is 22 percent more expensive than a comparable PC running only Windows. Meanwhile, PC notebooks cost, on average, 16 percent less than a dual operating system MacBook Pro,” Marsal reports. “However, Munster notes that the cost of running dual operating systems on Apple’s new Macs may be negligible for most PC users. ‘While many Mac buyers will go out and buy Windows Home Editionfor $199 [in order to run Windows on their Mac], those who have recently purchased a PC, or will be buying a PC in the near term, should be able to take advantage of the fact that PC manufacturers, such as Dell and HP, will provide customers with Windows re-install discs for free or for a $10 fee,’ he wrote. ‘We believe this will make the move to a Boot Camp-enabled Mac more feasible for many potential buyers.'”
Marsal reports, “For users who don’t need to drop the added $199 for a copy of Windows, the price premium required to purchase a Mac over a PC is less considerable, the analyst indicated.”
Full article, including PC vs Mac desktop and notebook price comparison charts performed by PiperJaffray, here.
MacDailyNews Take: The operative word: “comparable.” What exactly is comparable from Dell, HP, or Fred’s PCs to Mac OS X, iLife, iChat AV, etc.? Answer: there is no comparable PC to an Apple Macintosh which can run Mac OS X and Apple’s best-in-class Mac-only applications and also slum it when needed to run Windows applications. Dell, HP, and any other Windows box assembler simply cannot compete at any price. Of course, when you look at total cost of ownership, the Mac wins easily.
You only live once. You deserve a Macintosh.
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