Study: Apple computers cost twice as much as PCs

Wed Aug 6, 2008 7:15PM EDT

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Interested in purchasing a shiny new Apple computer? Expect to pay twice as much as you would for a PC, according to NPD Group's vice president of industry analysis Stephen Baker.

According to the blog Apple Watch, the average price for a comparably-equipped Windows PC laptop is $700, down $177 since June of 2006. The average price for an Apple laptop? More than double the PC price at $1,515, down only $59 in the same time frame. The price gap for desktops is even more extreme, with a Mac desktop averaging at $1,543, almost triple the cost of a comparably-equipped Windows PC's at $550. Ouch.

So what gives with Apple's pricing scheme? Apple Watch's Joe Wilcox outlines several explanations, with this one offering the most validity in my opinion.

Apple chooses to sell its computers at premium prices, meaning above $1,000. The lowest-priced Mac notebook starts at $1,099 (MacBook) and the lowest-priced desktop (iMac) for $1,199; granted the Mac Mini starts at $599, but its sales volume is negligible.

This statement is striking: Since Apple's computer manufacturing process moved to Intel-based hardware, many of the hardware components on the inside are identical to those found in Windows notebooks. In fact, many of the MacBooks created today are manufactured by companies that also manufacture lower priced PCs (Asustek is the first that comes to mind). So why does Apple choose to release products at higher prices? Because they can. Apple has positioned itself  as a premium product. When you purchase a Mac, you're letting others know that you're willing to plunk down more money for several tangible (OSX, aesthetic design) and intangible (hip, different, and cool variable) factors.

Of course, there are other big reasons why Apple has had so much success with their Mac lineups. Check out the rest of the list over at Apple Watch. And here's a question for the readers: What's your reason for getting an Apple? In today's economy, is it worth it to pay twice as much to get a Mac when most of us are just checking email, blogging, downloading music, and chatting away online?

Links:

Apple Watch -  Should You Pay Twice as Much for a Mac?

Electronista - Average Mac price now 2X Windows PCs (Via Gizmodo)

 

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  • 226 Posted by kupriaa1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hunter590111- You are my favorite poster. I have been waiting for you. You are a god. The resale value of computers. Thats it. YOU ARE AN IDIOT. The biggest one I have ever met.

  • 227 Posted by kupriaa1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    remraf_c_b- Do you know what a page table is? DEP? PAE? IS-IS, ISAKMP, Arcnet, CIFS,SSH, RPC, Mandatory Integrity Control? Switch fabric? Do you know anyone of these? Dont call someone ignorant if you do not know what ignorance is.

  • 228 Posted by rsjrev on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Dell Desktop replacement notebook running XP, and a Mac G4 12" laptop for travel. My next desktop will probably be a Mac, for one reason: Vista! It takes 2GB RAM for my wife's new laptop to run as well as my 2 year old Dell. Vista brings nothing of value over XP, and makes any machine grind to a slow walk. I'd happily stay with XP, but since Microsoft has made that impossible for my next purchase, I'll have to go Mac.

  • 229 Posted by akasidepocket on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:48PM EDT Report Abuse

    Compare the cost of the notebook with the cost of a lower grade because your MS laptop pick one (froze up, picked up a virus, compatabilty issue, randomly refuses to recognize the OS a legit.) How much do you pay per semester hour? Can you say bye-bye scholarship due to lowered GPA.Get Apple for the extra $$, or buy two MS systems so you have a backup. I have/had 5 laptops. Much as I like HP and Toshiba the POS OS from MS has caused me grief for the last time. I figure I can save the cost in 3rd party backups, running a working laptop to my child, etc. Next one is a MAC

  • 230 Posted by stevehartkopf on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've had my Apple G4 laptop for over 4 years and it runs as well today as it did when I bought it. Can any PC owners make that statement?

  • 231 Posted by musicaman45 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    The more you use computers, the more you appreciate the efficiency of a Mac. The OS is what drives the computer and makes it all work. OSX is solid as a rock and time tested. Cost is not the same as value. I value my time. In general, Windows machines are a mess and a Rube Goldberg scenario.

  • 233 Posted by l_retta on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    You pay for what you get. I worked on a PC at the office (SLOWLY) when I bring work home and do it on my MAC I accomplish 3 times as much in half the time. When will the corporate world catch up with MAC technology? OSX rocks my world! And for graphics, PC can't touch it. Even my 9 year old grandson knows the difference.

  • 234 Posted by omega_smiles13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    IDK if this is a stupid question... but i'll never know if i don't ask. what is OSX... ?

  • 235 Posted by arosadler on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    macs can't even relate to pcs on graphics, macs don't do games. OSX might actually take off if apple would free it from overpriced apple hardware.(psystar as an example). I use pc but am not fond of vista, xp was great but its outdated. Linux isn't quite ready for primetime, so OSX would be an interesting choice, but I can't justify paying so much more for the computer to run it.

  • 236 Posted by omega_smiles13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    wow. after reading people's great reviews on the macs, i wanna save up for one. :) they sound great. cool... Apple, you shall have a new customer, in a few years... (that's alot of money)...

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