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It seems my last column (Mac Myths and the
Apple Challenge) touched a nerve or two. In particular, the claim
that Macs are not, in fact, more expensive that Windows machines
seemed to raise the ire of more than one reader.
If anything, this only proved that Apple has a hard slog ahead of
it if it wants to debunk entrenched myths.
Invariably, the humble readers who took the time to write politely
pointed me to several online stores that would sell exceptional PC
hardware at a remarkably competitive price. Dell, HP, Gateway, et al,
were in evidence, and price comparisons were in the PC's favor.
However, I'm the type of person who takes the long view. I try to
look at the total cost of buying something. This analytical side of
me looks for the hidden costs of items that seem to be a bargain.
Cars are a good (and somewhat overused) example of this. I paid a
small premium when I bought a Honda Civic hatchback. At the time I
also considered the Hyundai Accent, which was cheaper and had more
options. Logic would dictate that the Accent was a better buy. The
Accent is roughly the same as the Civic for less money with more
features.
So why did I buy the Civic?
The magic words are total cost of ownership. The Honda has a
better reliability record than the Accent. I buy my cars, so this
matters. For a little more cash up front, I'll probably save a fair
bit of cash further down the road. By buying the Honda, I likely have
fewer repairs, fewer towing charges, and I'll maybe even be able to
squeeze an extra year or two of decent driving out of the vehicle.
All of this adds up, and the Hyundai looks less like a great
deal.
Please note that this is no way an attack on Hyundais or Hyundai
owners. I like Hyundais, and they've come a long long way since the
bad old days of the Pony,, but Honda and Toyota are still the
reigning reliability champs.
The same sort of logic applies to the Mac/PC cost. You can easily
buy a PC for $500, no question. Where, however, are the hidden
costs?
I have several friends who have bought cheap PCs. At the time,
they thought they were getting a great deal. Eventually, though, I'll
get a call because something is irrevocably screwed up. Faulty
hardware, viruses, spyware, you name it. And, because I like to help
people out, I'll truck on out there and help fix the problem at no
charge.
If I did charge them for the time I spent on their PCs, their
"cheap machines" would suddenly cost a few hundred dollars more.
In addition to the repairs to their machines, my friends seem to
buy new ones every 18-24 months. That adds up, especially considering
that I have a seven-year-old Mac that's still good for basic email
and word processing.
And don't forget the warranty! If you don't buy a chop shop PC and
get one with a decent warranty, you're covered, right? Maybe. How
much is your time worth? How much is your data worth? The time you're
on the line getting something fixed under warranty is time that could
be spent generating money or doing something pleasurable.
And I won't even mention lost data. It goes without saying that
lost data can be major expense.
This isn't to say that Macs never break down; they do. But they
are usually cheaper to maintain and repair. Don't take my word for
it, though. There are several articles out there that will support
this claim.
For me, it's self-evident that a PC will cost more than a Mac in
the long run. This fact destroys any argument that PCs are cheaper
than Macs.
But I'm preaching to the converted here, I think. Up front cost
vs. TCO is an ancient argument, and it never ceases to amaze me that
I have to repeat it.
Stephen Van
Esch is the founder and president of
the
E-learning Foundry, an online training
resource for Mac users. Steve loves the Mac and is doubly bilingual,
since he's also fluent in Windows and French.
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