“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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Oh Stockboy,
I purchased Apple stock at 18 dollars a share. At the unsplit price is is now worth around 130 dollars a share?
Did you spend any money on this tanking stock?
Had you the vision I believe you could have a some money…..go fish in another pond. Come on and get real with the facts-you are “stockboy.”
Oh, it market share is rising too.
I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE STOCK PRICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apple computers will never, ever be the cheapest box on the market. Why this fact is such a mind bending reality to some people is beyond me.
I accepted long ago that if I wanted the quality of a Mac I would have to pay for it. I just don’t get these people who try to cheap-out on everything they buy and then demand the highest quality product, which they didn’t pay for in the first place.
And what about those freak-tards who compare the cheapest Dell laptop to the most expensive powerbook? “Dude, I can get a Dell Inspirion for $699 and it has better specs than your 17in Macbook Pro! You were so ripped off!”.
Here’s the thing: you get what you pay for. It’s true with everything – even computers.
Ralph:
You are always pointing to that forum as proof that iLife is bug-ridden.
***It’s a support forum.***
People go there when they have a problem so the forum is going to be filled with people having problems.
You seem to believe that a lot of people are experiencing these problems but here, on MDN, you are being told, repeatedly, that most people aren’t having problems.
Ralph Winston
You have nothing better to do then troll Mac news sites? c’mon man, really go get laid, Its old now. We Mac users have something to turn to when problems do occur and they sometimes do. keep your cheap peecee oh and make sure you send in your rebates and coupons.
We told you time and time again…
“People who know use Mac”
it just works
Zupchuck…the quote that should have come to mind was:
“The lady doth protest too much, methinks”
This came from Hamlet, perhaps you should consider reading it, rather than trying to impress us with your erodition.
Ralph,
Sometimes people have a problem with software, even Apple software. That’s why all software companies offer some sort of support.
However, pointing to support forums is not evidence of something being bug-ridden. You have no idea what those people may have done to their systems, and in many cases, even what systems they are running the software on.
Quite a few people download and install software willy-nilly and never uninstall, or at least don’t try to do it properly. Some third party apps cause problems in Apple products, and vice versa. That doesn’t necessarily mean the software is bug-ridden.
However, if you prefer Adobe products, I’m sure Adobe will be happy to supply you with them. That’s what a free market is about.
Mike,
I stand corrected. Congrats for googling the proper quote.
Oh, and “erodition” is not a word. Perhaps you meant “erudition”
An article that damns with faint praise saying it’s not 20% to 30% more expensive it’s only 10% to 12% more expensive. Not true.
Factor in the value of iLife, which has had the bugs fixed and works fine now, and other extras on the Mac that are not available on the PC comparables.
Factor in the costs of third party AV software and disc management software that the PCs need to operate but the Macs owners don’t need to purchase.
Now see the percentage difference in initial cost. It’s negligible.
Then look at the extra total cost of ownership and lower resale value of the PC vs the Mac and you will get a 10% to 12% advantage with the Mac purchase.
Every equivalent PC, even DIY PCs, when used to do the same tasks, costs more, over the life of the computer, than a Mac, as long as your time has any value.
Too bad the sheeple don’t get that message.
“‘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.”
First, you can get an OEM edition (which is a FULL edition) of Windows XP home for $89.00:
http://www.buycheapsoftware.com/ms_products~subcategory~24.asp
Second, you WILL NOT, I REPEAT – WILL NOT be able to use your reinstall disk from Dell etc. to use on your Mac. WHY? Because once Windows XP is installed on your PC system, it becomes tied to your particular hardware. During a Windows XP install, it basically takes an inventory of your hardware (HD serial numbers etc.) and creates a unique indentifier based on this. This is what it uses when you get updates etc. If you install the same version on your Mac it will consider it a pirated copy – YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE IT. I’ve heard this a thousand times now and it’s simply NOT TRUE. XP ties itself to ONE computer and one computer only. Install it on another computer (your Mac) and you will not be able to get updates OR activate it. PERIOD. (unless you use an illegally hacked version)
If you are looking for an illegally hacked version of XP Pro on a disc you can usually find one at your local flea market / boot sale for about $40 or equivalent.
Good hunting.