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

    Good morning kristin_r_snyder, It certainly sounds like your experience with PC's has been more favorable than my own. I certainly was not referring to point & shoot pics as well but editing that ha many layers. My personal experience with PC has been less that stellar with a whole lot of work that has gone to the unknown.

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

    Good morning kristin_r_snyder, It certainly sounds like your experience with PC's has been more favorable than my own. I certainly was not referring to point & shoot pics as well but editing that ha many layers. My personal experience with PC has been less that stellar with a whole lot of work that has gone to the unknown.

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

    blackmagic8201 - that is exactly the problem with Mac users - the elitism. Saying that it's a "premium" product that should be left to a "premium" audience - elitists! Honestly what is the different between a Mac and a PC with the same components? Tell me that. How do two computers using the same chip set, same video card, and same configurations differ? Is it just that you PREFER the Mac? Or is there actual data to back up your performance claims?

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

    mannybrito - did you just compare PRICE or did you actually look at the technical specifications of the machines? Or all those numbers and words just gibberish to you Mac users?

  • 50 Posted by charanis on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    You are simply trying to get people to read your blog. This is silly - reference the hundreds of reviews that show component for component, software program for software program Mac's are far better products and cost the same if not less. When you add up the processor, video, screen, hard drive, memory, etc. etc. and iLife, Operating software + all the built in tools you would have to spend as much or more - and you know that. And these spec's = performance and user experience. Which everyone knows is much better then a vista-hp computer.

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

    hey charanis- hate to rain on your parade- why dont you click the link the blogger provided? Seems like a good start for what you are talking about.

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

    hey charanis- hate to rain on your parade- why dont you click the link the blogger provided? Seems like a good start for what you are talking about.

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

    gary4276 - I guess it has. It depends on the components of the computer whether or not it can handle large image files. And yes, I use Adobe Photoshop CS3 frequently and work with very large images (100MB +) with multiple layers (35+) and my RAM handles it wonderfully. It's all about knowing your computer and the hardware understanding your machine.

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

    another point about innovation - MAC OSX Server- every network component or feature is "borrowed" from Solaris, Netware, Microsoft, or Linux. So lets stop talking about a "borrowed" GUI and keep it real. The borrowed GUI story is "so 1984".

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

    Hey charanis - what chips are Macs using? Oh, that's right - Intel - the same ones they put in PCs. And graphics cards? Pretty sure it's the Nvidia GEForce cards - hey, that's what my PC has! Oh, maybe Macs have special hard drives? Or special memory? That's what makes them so superior? Do you even know how to gauge performance on your Mac? Do you even have tools that show you processor performance, memory usage, paging files, data transfer, etc.?

  • 56 Posted by r0adrunner2008 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I never had an Apple but I'm convinced that if you don't have to worry about viruses as much, that alone may pay the price of having an apple. Who needs the headaches? We all know that antivirus software are not all there cracked up to be. By the way I did read REAL statistics from a magazine (whos statistics are paid for by the consumers subsciption not buy the manufactures) that supports the idea that Apples are on the top of the list for reliability. Call me a sellout see if I care.

  • 57 Posted by lorenrutherford on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    For one Mac software is far better than PC, 2 it can run multiple applications with little to no fuss, and three it isn't plagued with viruses like Pc's. Three big reasons why they cost more. And yes, they are more stylish and form fitting. Innovators of space saving computers (iMac, Mac minni), that now everyone is copying. So they argument there is now that evryone else has these space savers, why doesn't Mac drop their price, it's simple...Windows Vista is horrible. If Windows ever figures out how to fix this program and run it efficiently then they will take on Mac and the prices will drop. Until then...good luck.

  • 58 Posted by emiwolf1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    No Mac for me double the Price and half the hardware .Government get s Mac's for a quarter of the Price.Why do there cheat us

  • 59 Posted by thomad on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:07PM EDT Report Abuse

    well even if this might be the case, it doesn't seem to be hurting apple's growth so there must be something important to consumers beyond cost.

  • 60 Posted by paul_ho_ks on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is a flawed comparison. A lowest price PC does not have the same Specification as a lowest price Mac. (I don't know where they got the specs) While it is correct to say that the cheapest mac cost more than the cheapest mac, I bought my Macbook souped up with extra hard disk space, etc. ~SGD$2700 A comparable DELL I have checked, cost ~SGD$3300, this is in the year 2006.

  • 61 Posted by maginthat15 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    The numbers are just off. I just bought a macbook, $1000 for my daughter at the apple educational store ( 2.1 ghz intel core duo etc). With it you get free a $100 HP printer and a $200 8 gig ipod nano or a $300 ipod touch. So the cost of the computer is $600-700. Which PC laptop are we comparing which contain comparable components and costs? To start with the twice as much figure is pure fantasy for comparable apples and pcs. Catches headlines but is far from the truth.

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

    Hey Lorenrutherford- Better software? Like what? "Microsoft Office". Better at handling Multiple Programs? Dont think so. I constantly run concurrent apps and never have a problem. Heck I even virtualize 7 operating systems on one computer- each virtualized OS gets 3GB of RAM. No problems here. Even running on the "bloated hog" Vista. Maybe you should try and qualify your comments first.

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

    Hey Paul- I have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe you should learn to price shop a bit more. The arguement set forth in this blog is a valid arguement. You can go price the computers out now. Start with an HPXW6600 and compare it to the latest MAC workstation. Price wise- HP comes far under.

  • 64 Posted by skwishykitty on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    This is an apples to oranges comparison. The article is way off base.

  • 65 Posted by laithwahab on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Apple has great computers but this stuff is for the rich people. This stuff isn't for your average person. It maybe an impresive computer, but I wouldn't spend twice the price of a regular PC or laptop for something that is simple and easy to use. Maybe they should make it easy to pay for. Hopefully, if I save enough, I might be able to pay for a laptop like this, like I said, Apple has great computers.

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