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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  • 26 Posted by d_bostanashvili on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    why buy a product from a company that sells the same stuff twice as much and PLUS tells every pc user that they are boring chubby loosers (remember the Mac ads). look at all their victims addicted to technology, spending nights in huge lines to get a piece of plastic...

  • 27 Posted by punkbeggs24 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have had 4 Macs for over the course of 8 years now and i still dont have any problems at all. At work I , unfortunately, still have to use XP, BUT i run it on a mac (Fusion) and the mac makes it work better. The integration between all the apple programs, high FREE security, easiness, and the ability to still use widows programs, if needed, is well worth the price.

  • 28 Posted by traversbelize on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Show us the long term cost of ownership numbers, not just the initial purchase price. This is just a small part of the story. I use both Mac and Windows PCs, and my numbers (and lots of other studies) do not support this conclusion.

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

    A couple of factoids for you folks- one to the person who commented about drivers- Hardware manufactures generally develop drivers- not the OS groups. In many cases the two groups work together to develop a reliable driver. Windows drivers are as reliable as any driver that is out there provided you are not "tinkering". MAC folks dont know how to tinker in many cases so they do not really experience driver issues.

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

    Also to the first person who commented on this blog- its a shame your 2k mac didnt come with a reasonable grammar checker.

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

    As far as the comparision of the MAC (BMW) vs Windows (Hyundai). They both get you to the same place huh? What place is that for you? The Internet? A blog? I can do that on a Linux machine that costs nothing. Go look at any Linux distro- they can all get you to the Internet with minimal effort. Now the question is what else can I do with my Windows computer? Lets see- develop software that controls all of the electrical appliances in my house. Record my favorite TV shows and store them long term in a standardized format. Provision easy to use remote access. a host of software apps just waiting to be used. What can MAC do again? Blog? Photoshop? Final Cut Pro? I can do that too.

  • 32 Posted by kristin_r_snyder on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    This article is pointless. The responses are ridiculous. People are buying into the whole "Mac is more expensive and thus better than a PC!" Check out the components - Macs are now using the same chip sets as PCs as well as most of the same hardware. You're not paying for a "better" machine - you're paying for elitism. And once Windows locks down security enough that PC users won't get viruses (since most viruses are coded for PC users), who will the coders turn to next? That's right, they'll go after your Macs. Macs don't have better protection against viruses - they are just lucky that not many people waste their time writing viruses for that platform!

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

    As far as the comparision of the MAC (BMW) vs Windows (Hyundai). They both get you to the same place huh? What place is that for you? The Internet? A blog? I can do that on a Linux machine that costs nothing. Go look at any Linux distro- they can all get you to the Internet with minimal effort.

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

    Now the question is what else can I do with my Windows computer? Lets see- develop software that controls all of the electrical appliances in my house. Record my favorite TV shows and store them long term in a standardized format. Provision easy to use remote access. a host of software apps just waiting to be used. What can MAC do again? Blog? Photoshop? Final Cut Pro? I can do that too.

  • 35 Posted by kristin_r_snyder on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Oh, and guess what people? Software is software - the interface doesn't change whether it's used on a Mac or PC. The specs of the machine determine the way it handles the software, not the name of the machine. So no, a Mac does not handle software better than a PC. That's a blanket ignorant myth propagated by Mac users who want to make themselves feel justified for shelling out so much for a machine. Also, if half of you actually took time out of your busy iLife, you might learn something about Vista - pick up a book and do some reading. But no - you're on a Mac and they're built for morons who really don't want to learn anything about the machine they use!

  • 36 Posted by gary4276 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you edit digital pictures on a regular basis the Mac easily out performs its counterpart. This difference is especially true in the complexed editing of pics/art that requires large crunching of data where PC's are noted for locking up. I in-fact use both computers on a daily basis but will go out of my way to use the Mac for anything to do with pics!

  • 37 Posted by royt123 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'll have to go with aquia33 on this one. I have NEVER experienced a problem with my Mac. I'm a "halo effect" guy from the iPhone experience. I'm used to love tweaking computers with command line interaction. But my work requires dependability now. I still have my old Dells. But the notebook XP suddenly stopped recognizing the home wireless. And I don't need that kind of noise. I want drop dead simple at this point in my life. That's the iPhone. That's the Mac. And oh, by the way, my wife, who is foreign born, saw the difference almost immediately and wants a Mac notebook.

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

    hey gary- you are wrong. Try picking up a Windows computer that has comparable hardware to a MAC. Generally the Windows computer will outperform. Sorry. I work with both- I see them all the time. MACs tend to run slower in comparision with equal hardware. Even when comparing to Vista.

  • 39 Posted by kristin_r_snyder on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hey, gary4276 - if you process photos on a PC that has the same video card, chip set, and memory as a Mac guess what? They perform the same! I regularly use my HP Notebook (3GB RAM, GEForce 8600, Intel Core 2 Duo T7500) to process high resolution images and work with the Adobe CS3 Suite and I've never had any performance problems - it's fast and works like a dream. Oh yeah, and I'm running Vista.

  • 40 Posted by kristin_r_snyder on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Oh, and gary4276 - I'm not talking about editing jpgs from a point and shoot - I'm talking editing large RAW files. My HP running VISTA performs flawlessly.

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

    Lets talk about innovation while we are it. Vista has superior Speech Recognition, Handwriting recogntition. Who would use stupid features like that? MAC people like the mouse. Windows users can write on a screen. Thats INNOVATION.

  • 42 Posted by blackmagic8201 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    While it is true that a Mac is a "premium" product, I am a firm believer that they should be left to the "premium" audience... namely, those that use these machines for purposes beyond the casual computer user. I'm a video/audio editor and truthfully, play between both platforms just fine. My job can pay for the macs.

  • 43 Posted by kristin_r_snyder on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    And the kicker, folks! Most Mac users spend $2000 on a machine and do what with it? Blog? Surf MySpace/Facebook/social networking sites? Browse the internet? Wow, great way to waste money! I guess those commercials are true - get a PC if you want to do REAL work, buy a Mac if you want to mess around and email photos of yourself to your internet friends!

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

    blackmagic8201 - I wouldnt consider myself a casual user. Nor would a number of people I know.

  • 45 Posted by mannybrito on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't believe it. A year ago, when I bought my MacBook, I was actually still considering getting a PC. I compared the price of the $1299 MacBook with comparable Dells, HPs, and Toshibas. Depending on the deal running that week, the price difference was within$150. A few times, the Mac was actually a little cheaper.

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