Avoid the Apple Tax – Cash in on the value of Windows

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    Avoid the Apple Tax – Cash in on the value of Windows


    Posted: 09 Apr 2009
    With the ailing global economy, I am looking at ways I get better value for my money. One way I can do this if I need to replace a computer is by avoiding the “Apple Tax.”

    Microsoft sponsored a new whitepaper (PDF) from Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates which takes a look at the tax from a tech analyst’s viewpoint. His paper shows the “Apple Tax” is the combination of what people pay up front when purchasing a Mac and what people pay over the life of their computer – the hidden tax.

    Roger looked into both aspects in his whitepaper, and has discovered some interesting findings around the “hidden tax” of owning a Mac – using the scenario of a hypothetical family of 4 and their costs over a five year period. Knowing that Tax Day is just around the corner here in the US (April 15), I decided to have a little fun with his findings by building a mock up tax form using Roger’s numbers that show the whopping difference this family would get purchasing Windows PCs over Macs: $3,367.



    I know taxes are calculated annually but I thought it would be more interesting to look in terms of total savings Roger outlined in choosing 2 Windows PCs over 2 Macs in that 5 year period.

    So what could you do with that $3,367 savings by avoiding the Apple Tax?

    If you want to get some exercise you could get bikes for the whole family, and still have money left over (All via Performance Bicycles)!


    • Schwinn Sid Coasting Bike ($499.99)
    • Schwinn Nancy Ladies Coasting Bike ($499.99)
    • Performance Girls 24” Kids Mountain Bike ($299.99)
    • 2008 Mongoose Amasa Comp Mountain Bike ($679.99)
    • 4 helmets: 2 Bell Ukon Sport Helmets @ $34.99, 1 Giro Women’s Kaya Helmet @ $39.99, and 1 Ascent Cruise Youth Helmet @ $29.99)
    Take the family out for a night at the movies - 117 times (4 tickets @ $7.18 = $28.72)!

    Make your home green, and save even more money!


    It is human nature to focus on the up-front price. The coverage around our Laptop Hunters ads jumps right to that (“PCs are cheaper”). The harder thing to capture is the overall cost and the VALUE. Roger’s paper does a great job illustrating this. Cost is getting something cheaper. Value is a function of getting more of what you want, regardless of what you spend. And you’re a lot more likely to find that with a Windows PC.

    Shoppers rarely do a lifetime cost of ownership calculation for a new computer (even though that’s the real cost and makes the PC advantage even greater) but they intrinsically calculate the value for a new computer. That’s what we see in the market every day and what we see in the choices made by Lauren and Giampaolo as they each selected a PC that met their own unique criteria (features and budget). They wanted the right value for them. And that’s the beauty of Windows PCs – the diversity of choice and options that exist so that people can find what’s right for their own needs, not someone else’s. You’re never forced to buy more than you need or give up features you want like Blu-ray, Mobile Broadband, Firewire, and more. And, Windows PCs offer this across a broadest range of price points and performance from low-end netbook PCs to high-end gaming rigs.

    But let’s limit ourselves to the narrow scenario where Apple does have offerings. We get questions about this all the time so we asked Roger to take a look at the comparison chart that we’ve used before to outline features, specs and price points across Macs and PCs. Part of his conclusion is, “Holding the price constant and examining specifications only serves to exaggerate the better deals on the Windows side.”

     

    Note: The chart splits the Mac and PC laptops in to 3 categories: Value for basic models, Mainstream for average models, and Performance for high end models to illustrate options where Apple has machines. Of course the full spectrum of PC laptops is much broader.

    What do you think about the concept of value? And what would you do with a $3,367 “Apple Tax Return”? Sound off in comments. In a few weeks I’ll showcase what people say they would do with their “Apple Tax Return” in a follow-up blog post.


    More...
    z3r010's Avatar Posted By: z3r010
    09 Apr 2009



  1. Posts : 89
    Windows 7 7068
       #1

    this is not really objective to me... "sponsored" only means one thing... non objective view.

    And look, they buy office for mac? because office is integrated in dell's? don't think so... add a $90

    other SW? software? because a pc don't need any other sw... what about a anti virus licence of kaspersky ho yhea a 60$ a year + burning tools + various adware etc..

    Apple care is better than Dell support, waaaaaay better

    Blue ray driver... why the sony one? there is much much cheaper and still compatible

    you dont change graphic card in a laptop, you can only replace it by the same one...
    but that is the same for pc and mac

    iLife upgarde? because Microsoft has anything comparable to iLife integrated to his os...dont tell me movie maker and image preview makes any sense, they are crap and we now it!


    Come on, let me laugh here...

    I own Pc's (2 dell's (laptop and desktop) and a macbook, and they both have great + points!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,282
    Windows 7 Ultimate Vista Ultimate x64
       #2

    Quantum said:
    this is not really objective to me... "sponsored" only means one thing... non objective view.

    And look, they buy office for mac? because office is integrated in dell's? don't think so... add a $90

    other SW? software? because a pc don't need any other sw... what about a anti virus licence of kaspersky ho yhea a 60$ a year + burning tools + various adware etc..

    Apple care is better than Dell support, waaaaaay better

    Blue ray driver... why the sony one? there is much much cheaper and still compatible

    you dont change graphic card in a laptop, you can only replace it by the same one...
    but that is the same for pc and mac

    iLife upgarde? because Microsoft has anything comparable to iLife integrated to his os...dont tell me movie maker and image preview makes any sense, they are crap and we now it!


    Come on, let me laugh here...

    I own Pc's (2 dell's (laptop and desktop) and a macbook, and they both have great + points!


    Why do I get the feeling that you are a true Apple supporter, well actually I always had that feeling.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,402
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #3

    Yes you're right Mr Grim, have to say that Apple shines red and bright up there!

    I never even liked that Avatar and signature, when i see them I turn them into Windows
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 89
    Windows 7 7068
       #4

    hahah, no i'm a dual supporter

    it's because i have a macbook pro (15"),and hell yhea that thing kick's ass (also got A Insiprion Laptop and at home i have a Dell desktop)

    but my dell laptop running on Windows 7, and i love it, it's so much better than everything windows done in the past (lucky us )... it's a new way of doing, having that customer-centred view really going to help them improving windows usability making it as cool to use as OSX is. Now when i start up my Pc, i'm happy, no slowdowns, no blue screens!!! everthing works fine.

    Though, little details as 3 finger trackpad, spaces and exposé, the super fast shutdown, the smooth frontrow, iLife (all OSx Integrated tools).... come on Pc, you can do it as good, why the hell do we still have those clumsy tools all over?

    By the way Os X does bug, haha, i had a major freeze after copying files from my external hard drive... -_-
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 351
    Windows 7 x64 (RTM via MSDN)
       #5

    Mr GRiM said:


    Why do I get the feeling that you are a true Apple supporter, well actually I always had that feeling.
    You know, there's nothing wrong about being an Apple supporter. Why an Apple supporter would be on this site is somewhat strange, but what gets me is the constant claim by Apple fans that the "Apple Tax" does not exist. Yes it does. Apples are more expensive than PCs for essentially the same hardware.

    Just like Dell now has the "Adamo Tax". If you can justify paying more for the same thing, or if OSX is really worth the additional $300-$1000 more, cool, be happy with your purchase. What I don't understand is the false sense of superiority that Apple tries to convey.

    It started with the "Think Different" campaign, and the greatness of the MacOS and PPC combination (yea, we see how well that worked out). Then Apple decided that Intels are all the rage (like we PC users didn't already know that), and OSX is the second coming. While I think that OSX has a certain "polish" to it that MS could learn from, I truly believe that Apple's lack of concern for security in the OS will end badly for them. Currently OSX is not a malware target simply because the OS makes up less than 5% of the computer population worldwide. There's no money in it for the malware guys. That doesn't stop Apple from airing the insanely stupid "I'm a Mac" commercials.

    The Apple is the hot, dumb blonde that looks good draped on your arm, but costs you an arm and a leg to keep "maintained". The PC is a bit more homely looking (but can be dressed up nicely if you really want her to) but she also has a brain and if you both work together you can be very successful as a couple.

    Just my observation.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 4,282
    Windows 7 Ultimate Vista Ultimate x64
       #6

    Nice down to earth perspective PhreePhly, thanks for the read.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 89
    Windows 7 7068
       #7

    I agree thanks mate!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #8

    I would personally like to say that everyone has a right to run whatever they like on their, or indeed as, their personal computer.

    What I have been personally seeing more and more is people buying macbooks to run windows 7, paying a premium for the hardware they want and then choosing the OS they want to go with it.

    Also this is an example of what is actually happening ....

    Microsoft Watch - Desktop & Mobile - How I Came to Get a PC and Not a Mac
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 1,402
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #9

    Just on Tuesday I installed Vista on a MacBookPro 17 to dual boot with Mac Os X - the person that requested it wants to eventually use it solely for Windows 7, but wants to know a bit about Vista as well.

    That is what I call open minded.
      My Computer


 
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