Why a Mac costs more than a PC...

[scarred]

This isn't controversial. Macs are more expensive because, in the market of those who are already dead set on getting a Mac, there is zero competition.

Wow, such a fail comment. How do you become dead set on getting a Mac? Oh right, you look at the PC market first. You look at the options there and then decide that the cost/benefit of getting a Mac is suitable to your needs. You seriously don't consider that competition?

Or are you insinuating that only Mac fanboys buy Macs? If that is the case, how exactly is Apple growing their market share?

 

[Tech198]

A/c

Isn't that the truth!

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about the powerbook or the air conditioner?

 

[Pro31]

The way I see it, is hands down win for the Mac in the Laptop division, but for a desktop, PC all the way. I have a nice PC desktop and love it, and a 17" Macbook Pro and love it. Its nice when I dont have to argue back and forth and can appreciate both.

 

[Ice Dragon]

The way I see it, is hands down win for the Mac in the Laptop division, but for a desktop, PC all the way. I have a nice PC desktop and love it, and a 17" Macbook Pro and love it. Its nice when I dont have to argue back and forth and can appreciate both.

I agree. There are good things are both sides of the aisle.

 

[Sa1en]

Searched for monoblock. Found than cheaper of all - iMac. Damn, who can belive in it?) And its even here, in EU. In USA I guess its the most cheaper computers (and coming with awesome Mac OS X).

Near to it - only Sony monoblocks, but they are from plastic :X and with windows... and with multitouch screen, but who need it on desktop? :O

 

[MacbookiPro]

Good info but visiting the Apple forums too many people are having WAY too many issues that would NEVER be presented with PCs...I mean, there are people having so many 'freeze' issues with MBP (13", 15", 17") that some have had to return the item to the store even an alarming SIX times! Then the iMacs have color issues along with gray spots at the edge of the screen!!!...and this is brand new!

To me Apple is obviously taking 'shortcuts' in China and apparently nobody is monitoring what the Chinese are doing. I find it hard to spend over 2,500 dollars for a machine that breaks down just days after buying it (and we are not mentioning the logic boards which have to be replaced every single day at Apple service shops).

I'm afraid for now Apple is obviously not the better choice. I know I've had my Acer Aspire for almost 3 years now running Windows 7...no issues whatsoever. I do lots of Photoshop, 3D modeling and video work...no issues whatsoever...in fact, from what I understand Hackintosh is actually the way to go if one wants the best of both worlds.

I hope Apple solves their 'freeze' issue and the iMac issues...otherwise those TV commercials are a pure fraud.

 

[DarwinOSX]

No of course not, PC's would never do that...Get serious.
Expect to see lots of complaints on forums. Its not an overall indicator.

Good info but visiting the Apple forums too many people are having WAY too many issues that would NEVER be presented with PCs...I mean, there are people having so many 'freeze' issues with MBP (13", 15", 17") that some have had to return the item to the store even an alarming SIX times! Then the iMacs have color issues along with gray spots at the edge of the screen!!!...and this is brand new!

To me Apple is obviously taking 'shortcuts' in China and apparently nobody is monitoring what the Chinese are doing. I find it hard to spend over 2,500 dollars for a machine that breaks down just days after buying it (and we are not mentioning the logic boards which have to be replaced every single day at Apple service shops).

I'm afraid for now Apple is obviously not the better choice. I know I've had my Acer Aspire for almost 3 years now running Windows 7...no issues whatsoever. I do lots of Photoshop, 3D modeling and video work...no issues whatsoever...in fact, from what I understand Hackintosh is actually the way to go if one wants the best of both worlds.

I hope Apple solves their 'freeze' issue and the iMac issues...otherwise those TV commercials are a pure fraud.

 

[roebeet]

I've scanned this thread very lightly, so maybe this has been said already...but my 2 cents. I'm mainly a Windows / Linux PC guy, although I have owned a few Macs and have experience up to OSX SL.

First off, imo there is an "Apple tax" - take a Macbook Pro with similar hardware specs and match it up with a non-Apple laptop with similar specs and then compare prices. Done. Same for a Mac Pro versus a home-built or even a Windows PC retailer system with similar specs, for example. I know this because I've done this myself. You will pay a premium for an Apple system - in the case of a Mac Pro, it could actually be significantly higher.

But just because your paying a premium doesn't mean you're paying more. and there-in lies the difference.

When you put down your hard earned money for a Mac, you're not just paying for a bunch of hardware components bundled together into chassis - you're paying for a (generally) well-built computer integrated with an OS that was designed with that particular hardware in mind. You also get MacOS X which, imho, is just a tad better than Windows 7. But a user could go either way on that one, so it's a bit subjective. As a tech person, I like OSX because it blends the application compatibility that Windows has (except for gaming - that still an issue) but with the guts of BSD which appeals to my geek side.

But where I think you really get your money's worth is in two areas : support and re-sale value. The former is probably familiar with most of you -- the system crashes and you need help. Who do you call if you have a DELL system? Or an HP system? I happen to know and it's not a fun experience at all. Not only do have decent phone support with Apple, but if you're lucky you even have an Apple Store near you and can deal with someone directly - that's absolutely key imo for anyone who's not technically savvy. And i added re-sale because one day you'll want to replace that Mac, and getting a few hundred back on a resale can go a long way to helping you buy that new Mac. I don't see the same re-sale numbers on Windows PC's - perhaps the higher end models are better, but definitely the mid and low range systems cannot compete with an Apple system, when it comes to keeping its value.

So there are my reasons -- superior OS (imo), better support and good re-sale value. Is that worth paying a premium for? That's up to the buyer.

 

[LorenK]

Mac vs. PC

When all is said and done, the MacOS makes all the difference in the world. I both a Mac and PC and the PC can't be used for much more than a web browser now because some virus killed its ability to operate .exe. I have had a Mac for over fifteen years and while I have caused my own problems with my system, it has never been a virus and other malware doing it. My Mac is five years old and is still humming along. I'm on my third PC in that time. My mother taught that quality lasts, and that's why I buy a Mac.

 

[BreakGuy]

I don't really think there is all that much of a price difference really. I mean once you buy your PC, then get all the software you need for it you may as well have spent the money on a Mac that comes with the software.

 

[thekev]

I don't really think there is all that much of a price difference really. I mean once you buy your PC, then get all the software you need for it you may as well have spent the money on a Mac that comes with the software.

*sigh* I must be doing it wrong then seeing as I have a Mac and I've spent thousands on software (literally) The math doesn't work out like you are suggesting here. Here's an idea.... if a Mac is a better solution for you, buy one. If it isn't, buy a PC. This debate could go on forever.

 

[BreakGuy]

*sigh* I must be doing it wrong then seeing as I have a Mac and I've spent thousands on software (literally) The math doesn't work out like you are suggesting here. Here's an idea.... if a Mac is a better solution for you, buy one. If it isn't, buy a PC. This debate could go on forever.

I'm not talking about professional software... photoshop, aperture or whatever else you use. I'm talking about general, everyday household software. Things like iLife and iWork.

 

[kas23]

I'm not talking about professional software... photoshop, aperture or whatever else you use. I'm talking about general, everyday household software. Things like iLife and iWork.

Macs don't come with iWork. Just saying.

 

[BreakGuy]

Macs don't come with iWork. Just saying.

Compare the price of iWork to Microsoft Office. Just saying.

 

[r0k]

Compare the price of iWork to Microsoft Office. Just saying.

And Macs don't come with iLife any more either. You can buy bits and pieces of iLife in the App store.

I picked up MS Office 2011 for $10 under the "home use" program at my job. I felt like it was $10 too much. It's bloated and took over my wife's Mac. When her HDD crashed and I "forgot" to put it back, she never asked for it back and I hope she never does.

To be objective, there are a few things Office does better than iWork. At work I (more or less) happily use Office but when I'm at home, I'd rather use LibreOffice or iWork.

*sigh* I must be doing it wrong then seeing as I have a Mac and I've spent thousands on software (literally) The math doesn't work out like you are suggesting here. Here's an idea.... if a Mac is a better solution for you, buy one. If it isn't, buy a PC. This debate could go on forever.

I agree this debate probably will go on forever... It's still fun to visit this thread from time to time.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

And Macs don't come with iLife any more either. You can buy bits and pieces of iLife in the App store.

They still come with iLife, though iWeb and iDVD have been removed from the iLife suite and can't even be purchased via the Mac App Store (MAS).

http://www.apple.com/macpro/specs.html
http://www.apple.com/macbookair/built-in-apps.html
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/built-in-apps.html
http://www.apple.com/macmini/built-in-apps.html
http://www.apple.com/imac/built-in-apps.html

 

[r0k]

They still come with iLife, though iWeb and iDVD have been removed from the iLife suite and can't even be purchased via the Mac App Store (MAS).

http://www.apple.com/macpro/specs.html
http://www.apple.com/macbookair/built-in-apps.html
http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/built-in-apps.html
http://www.apple.com/macmini/built-in-apps.html
http://www.apple.com/imac/built-in-apps.html

Oops. I haven't shopped for a Mac lately. Thanks for clearing that up. So the market for those App Store versions of iLife apps (garage band, iphoto) is purely upgraders, eh? Interesting.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Oops. I haven't shopped for a Mac lately. Thanks for clearing that up. So the market for those App Store versions of iLife apps (garage band, iphoto) is purely upgraders, eh? Interesting.

Yep, as Apple wants to ged rid of optical media, thus they removed the boxes of software from their Retail Stores, though you can still get software on optical media via the Apple Online Store.

 

[Dane D.]

As one who has used both for over 20 years, the Mac does not cost more. I'm typing this on a 13 year old B/W G3. In that time period, how much of your time was devoted to maintaining your Windows unit? How much time did you spend looking for the drivers that actually work? How much time did you spend re-installing the system? How much time did you spend protecting your Windows unit? How much time did you spend trying to get some app to work? How much time did you spend searching for answers?

The point is, time is money. Maybe not at home but at work, I can't afford to be down. Downtime is non-productive and costs money. We have 9 Macs running daily and 3 Windows units, guess which costs us money, the Windows unit. Even at home, downtime is time taken away from you to fix whatever problem you may be experiencing.

My point is, in my experience, Macs deliver year-in-year-out. I use both systems and prefer the Mac experience. I never think about the system when using a Mac. Using a Windows system is taxing on me, it gets in my way and will not operate smoothly when you start running more than a handful of apps.

My system runs 24/7/365, my Son's MacBookPro listed in sig has been on since we bought in over 2 years ago. I still use a 8600/200 PowerPC at work to talk to an EPSON 24" printer from the same era.

 

[radardude]

The reason Mac costs more than a PC is because of the brand name. They can charge mor

Hope it works out for you. You need to stick with the PC. By the way when MS charges $300.00 for their next windows upgrade and Apple charges $29.00 for theirs, keep us posted on what a good deal you got.

 

[Geekbabe]

Good info but visiting the Apple forums too many people are having WAY too many issues that would NEVER be presented with PCs...I mean, there are people having so many 'freeze' issues with MBP (13", 15", 17") that some have had to return the item to the store even an alarming SIX times! Then the iMacs have color issues along with gray spots at the edge of the screen!!!...and this is brand new!

To me Apple is obviously taking 'shortcuts' in China and apparently nobody is monitoring what the Chinese are doing. I find it hard to spend over 2,500 dollars for a machine that breaks down just days after buying it (and we are not mentioning the logic boards which have to be replaced every single day at Apple service shops).

I'm afraid for now Apple is obviously not the better choice. I know I've had my Acer Aspire for almost 3 years now running Windows 7...no issues whatsoever. I do lots of Photoshop, 3D modeling and video work...no issues whatsoever...in fact, from what I understand Hackintosh is actually the way to go if one wants the best of both worlds.

I hope Apple solves their 'freeze' issue and the iMac issues...otherwise those TV commercials are a pure fraud.

I had an Acer desktop, a small form factor model, the power supply died on this thing exactly 8 days after the warranty coverage expired. When the power supply died it crippled the motherboard & damaged the memory. I'm good with fixing my computers but finding replacement parts was difficult, cost of those parts was prohibitive (over $100 to replace the crappy power supply alone) I ended up pulling the drives & cpu & buying an Asus for my next system.

The build quality of my Air is very good,it is the lightest, quietest computer I've ever owned. My dealings with Apple customer service have been top notch thus far. Apple products aren't cheap when you buy them but imho if you should be unlucky enough to have a problem that cost becomes quite reasonable once you have to reach for the phone to call for help.

Seriously, I don't have hours to sit on hold, I don't want to tell my story over and over again to CS reps who have difficulty understanding the English language and who's responses are clearly scripted. LOL,I'd just rather pay the increased price for a system upfront & not have to worry about having my blood pressure go through the roof if I need service later on.
pulling the HD

 

[kas23]

Compare the price of iWork to Microsoft Office. Just saying.

Well, that's not what you originally said. You said iWork comes preinstalled on Macs. Anyway you twist it, it's simply an erroneous statement.

Now, just to play along. I paid $89 for MS Office. Compare this to $60 on the Mac App Store and $79 if you want to buy the box. To me, these prices are very comparable, but MS Office, as a whole clearly out functions iWork.

In addition, on many, many U.S. college campuses, if you are a student, you can even get Office for free. I remember getting Office 2003 and 2007 for free.

 

[A Hebrew]

The reason I see Apple pricing EVERYTHING highly is that people will buy it anyway. A 500 dollar tablet? I could get a laptop for that much that is much more useful. A 2,000 dollar so-called desktop computer? I HAVE a desktop that is less than 1,000 that runs smoother. (Though I might be wrong since the iMac I have used is connected to a large server which probably slows it down) Personally, I LOVE the laptops Apple produces, but I hate the desktops.

They are over priced because people will buy them no matter what because they are considered 'cool' by society today, or at least the younger generations.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

The reason I see Apple pricing EVERYTHING highly is that people will buy it anyway. A 500 dollar tablet? I could get a laptop for that much that is much more useful. A 2,000 dollar so-called desktop computer? I HAVE a desktop that is less than 1,000 that runs smoother. (Though I might be wrong since the iMac I have used is connected to a large server which probably slows it down) Personally, I LOVE the laptops Apple produces, but I hate the desktops.

They are over priced because people will buy them no matter what because they are considered 'cool' by society today, or at least the younger generations.

They are overpriced? I guess you can build the same desktop computer for half as much as the iMac costs, with the same quality components, especially the display?

You won't convince us of the unworthiness of Macs, and we can't convince of its worthiness. We have seen those posts thousands of times, and they won't get any fresher the more they get posted. So either leave it at that or get out.
Or discuss with proper arguments, as as of now, your post seems to be only opinionated drivel, at least to me, as this post may even seem to you. It is a vicious circle, we probably never get out of. It's like comparing a Fiat Panda to a Škoda Octavia.

Anyway, have a good day nonetheless.

 

[A Hebrew]

They are overpriced? I guess you can build the same desktop computer for half as much as the iMac costs, with the same quality components, especially the display?

You won't convince us of the unworthiness of Macs, and we can't convince of its worthiness. We have seen those posts thousands of times, and they won't get any fresher the more they get posted. So either leave it at that or get out.
Or discuss with proper arguments, as as of now, your post seems to be only opinionated drivel, at least to me, as this post may even seem to you. It is a vicious circle, we probably never get out of. It's like comparing a Fiat Panda to a Škoda Octavia.

Anyway, have a good day nonetheless.

...so basically you posted saying that your post is useless ?


Counter productiveness is amazing.


EDIT: Opinions are opinions, no need to point out uselessness with uselessness. A lot of PC users think HP is a terrible brand, I have never had a problem with it. Apparently a lot of people think iMac is good, I have had multiple problems with them performance wise and stability wise.