‘Apple Watch’: Macs cost much more than their Windows counterparts
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Aug 6, 2008 at 5:08pm
Joe Wilcox at eWeek’s Apple Watch says that info from the NPD research group says that Macs are much more expensive on average than Windows systems.
He says that the data shows that the retail average selling price for Windows notebooks are about half of those of Mac laptops. Wilcox also says that, quoting NPD data, adds that “the ASP for Mac desktops is more than $1,000 greater than for Windows PCs, and Mac desktop ASPs were higher in June than they were two years ago.”
Wilcox lists six reasons why this price disparity may exist. But he concludes: “Windows computer ASPs have reached a plateau from which manufacturers are building bulkier systems. If Apple is going to continue its market share gains, or simply maintain that 8.5 percent U.S. share, prices must go down and configurations bulk up. The math is simply undeniable.”
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Harvey Says:
This is only true because there is a large market segment of cheap computers that Apple doesn’t participate in and because the author averaged prices without making sure that the computers were comparable. Apparently he had a deadline to write an article, couldn’t think of anything, so he combined his “research” with a trip to Best Buy and rehashed folk wisdom that has been around for decades.
I’m sitting here setting up a series of Dell laptops while I read this on my Mac. I’m up to my hips in Windows here. I don’t even have to get out of my chair to compare Macs and PCs.
My reaction? A shrug of the shoulders, a big yawn, and a desire to take a nap. I wouldn’t care even if Macs were more expensive.
Posted on August 06, 2008
couchpundit Says:
Apple has a surcharge for “not sucking as much as Windows counterparts.”
I gladly pay it.
Posted on August 06, 2008
dave Says:
They aren’t even saying they are comparing roughly equivalent machines. They are just saying that the ‘average’ price of all Windows notebook’s sold was about half the ‘average’ price of all Mac notebook’s sold.
Because there’s a large price-sensitive market out there, where cheap comes before quality or usability. Apple’s not going after that market [Mini be damned!], they are after the people who do put quality and usability of the whole solution above price.
Neither is good or bad, just different. But the article is written to make Apple look bad.
Posted on August 06, 2008
David Kelly Says:
I heard that an average Honda costs more than the average Porsche. Clearly Porsche needs to do something!
Then again if one options a Honda to Porsche levels (Acura NSX) the price is similar. This shouldn’t require a genius to understand.
Posted on August 06, 2008
mtboy2 Says:
I don’t see any comments on the software loaded on these computers? What software does Vista/XP/Dell come with that compares to iLife 8.
I saw the most shock and anger from a gentleman that had spent 3 months trying to get his Canon video camera to connect to his XP computer. I took the camera from his hands plugged the camera into an iMac download his 30 minute video in 10 minutes. He was just dumb founded. Thats the difference between PC’s and Macs.
Posted on August 06, 2008
MacManic Says:
This would only be usefull information if it was spec for spec. Not apples and pears.
Re-Spec, da Mac side is da best.
m
Posted on August 06, 2008
Marc Says:
I totally agree, your always a lot better to justify the pricing only once than the quality all the time. Apple never had to justify the price of their hardware. And the quality is always there. People know about it and purchase with confidence. PC’s always had problems with hardware quality and their pricing are up and down, this is proven bad for a business and doesn’t work. Joe Wilkox should read some good books about the way a company should operate.
Posted on August 06, 2008
JuggerNaut Says:
I don’t think twice for paying for a good product and what Apple offers on the market is totally worth it to me.
Posted on August 06, 2008
Nit Wit Says:
I have to agree with all the comments above! I hope your employer follows up on these comments…
We DON’T need another jack ass, no brained, fool commenting on things he knows nothing about. Sounds like your more interested in pushing an agenda than conveying the truth. Or is the motivation a paycheck and you thought this would be an article you could just ‘phone-in’.
I here Denny’s needs bus-boys, maybe you should apply, clearly you are not suited for this job.
Posted on August 07, 2008
Macinbama Says:
Well, duh! When Windows-based PCs have 90+ percent of the market with mostly junk machines what do you expect? Mac users are glad to pay more for far better machines and performance. Wilcox actually had to write the article to tell us something we already know?
Posted on August 07, 2008
Albert Says:
apple filosophy is a controversy betwen estecthics and lifestyle… a way of relaxing with the minimum cost
Posted on October 23, 2008
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
BayouMan Says:
Do to they take into account TCO or even the average lifespan of the machine when making the value judgements?(2 of my 3 Macs are six years old yet running the latest OS just fine)
It’s one thing if you make this type of statement IFF you’ve done your homework. And were comparable models even selected? I know to get a Dell configured like a MacBook Pro, the Dell costs MORE.
Posted on August 06, 2008