Ok this is just ridiculous. I own a mac and pcs... I like new shiny hardware, and I'm well aware of it's costs. I optimize all my technology dollars, I build my own pcs, and upgrade my own macs etc. Try lookin at it in a different way.
I look at it a different way.
Price vs cost
The initial price may be less, but what is the cost in the long run?
You need to remember to add the price of antivirus software every year. What other software do you need when you switch?
Do we really need to pay? I've been using AVG free for years. Now Microsoft has Essentials (which is also free and has been working great.) Also as for new apps, that's true, but honestly for most people who normally use the computer for web, documents etc, other than office there's not much else in costs. While people who use the computers more for work will need more specialized apps etc, most of the time those are provided by the company/school your work for.
What is the warranty period of the $700 Best Buy computer? How much does it cost?
Consider the intangibles:
What is the turnaround time on the repair of the Best Buy computer? It's not unusual for people to be without their computer for weeks at a time when they take it into Best Buy to be repaired. If the problem is not fixed, you have to send it back 3 times before they will consider replacing it. Read the horror stories about Best Buy service before you even think about it.
What's the warranty on a mac? 1 year. What's it on most PCs? 1 year. You can get applecare, but that's not free either. Especially on a Macbook pro which can run you up to 349$. To be honest, what I do in this case with macs and PCs is that I use my amex card. I end up with 1 year of additional warranty on it. So 2 years warranty on macbook or PCs.
Now Do you get better service with a mac? Yes. I do love the customer service, I also recommend it to my relatives and friends that can afford it. To be honest I kind of think of buying macs like buying a luxury car like a lexus. The dealers are nice etc, and the hardware is nice, and they really work to get and keep your buisness. That's because of the money involved, they have high margins, and the market will always be there.
Buying a PC is more like buying a tool. Or in the car analogy, like buying a corolla. You're going to be in a busy dealer, where they might not be waiting on you hand and foot. You're going to get a tool that works, but not all the nice things and the service. But not everyone can afford or needs that.
To be honest, probably 90% of people get the service they need, we always read about the 10% of people who get screwed over horribly, or to be honest are truly whiners. I mean just look around at the forums here. Mac forums, but we still get stories of problems etc, but that's because people come here for information, and to bitch.
Finally, time is money. What is your time worth? This may seem irrelevant cost to some people, but it is very real to me. I look at the hours I spent on a PC removing crapware, finding drivers, backing up and re-formatting and reinstalling software. Waiting on hold for 30 minutes, only to get an idiot half a world away, who can't understand my problem.
No thanks. I will pay a little more for a Mac initially to avoid the high cost of a PC down the road.
Ahh I do agree with you, my time is slowly worth more and more to me, also because I'm not a student anymore and I get paid lol. Sadly I've been really disappointed with mac service in NYC, I can't ever seem to get a genius appointment unless I book it first thing at midnight for 3 days from now. If I walk into any apple store, I have to tackle someone, pin them against the wall to ask a question. (It is that busy here) I was much happier with the service in Boston. I liked walking in and talking about my issues and getting them fixed. (even though they were clueless as well about my issues, at least they'd try to help)
To be honest though, not everyone can afford to pay the premium. The cheapest refurb 15 is 1299, and 17 is 1949. To be honest I would likely never buy a 15 or 17 due to size and cost.
Just a quick perusal of newegg shows I can get a Lenovo 15 inch for 499. It's not top of the line by any means, nor is it as fast as the refurb 1299, but it's almost 1/3rd the price. (And if you needed something with discrete graphics and LED backlit etc it would run you 616$)
There are toshiba and MSI 17inch laptops for 549-599. Again the specs are not as fast as the 17inch mac, but the price is less than 1/3 of th the 17 refurb.
For most people these laptops would do fine, and to be honest if I wanted something with a 17 inch display, I'd have to balk a bit paying an extra 1400$ if I didn't need a machine with top of the line specs.
For many people the upfront costs are alot... I could probably scrape up 600$ in a short period of time, but 2 grand? that'd take planning and scrimping and saving. Do I still recommend macbooks for people? yes, it just depends on the person and situation.
