Comments on: Microsoft still pushing 'Apple tax' notion
Ahead of Macworld, top Windows marketer says consumers can't afford to go Mac. But with the economy in tatters, will people be buying any PCs other than Netbooks?
Most Popular
15 sites that went kaput in 2009
Web sites launch all the time, but they also shut their doors. We highlight 15 that bit the dust this year.
Top 10 news stories of the decade
Let the debate begin: Was the iPhone more important than iTunes? Was anything bigger than Google finding a great business model? CNET offers its list of the 10 most important stories of the '00s.
About Beyond Binary
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft.
Beyond Binary is a look at how technology is changing our lives and the people behind all that life-changing stuff, with an extra emphasis on that which emanates from Redmond, Wash.
Add this feed to your online news reader
Beyond Binary topics
Binary Bits
Follow Ina on Twitter (Twitter name: InaFried)
At work I have 2 windows machines and an iMac. I only use windows when I have to for testing etc.
Every time I do, I am plagued with annoyances - update virus checker, install new printer, etc
That would be fine, but I don't have a printer & I have to go through this mysterious HP install every time I boot up. That issue came out of nowhere one day & I can almost guarantee that once it is solved another will take its place.
What I am trying to illustrate here is how in my experience of Windows (I've had several years of full time use) there always seems to be a obstacle to overcome before you can get on with your task and that obstacle (which in modern times should be nothing more than a few clicks) takes far too much time & effort to overcome.
That is my reason for using a Mac. It has done wonders for my stress levels and -wow- I actually enjoy using the computer.
like Anti-Virus,anti-spyware not to mention the horror of continuous maintenance work
A Computer should do the work for you not force you to do work for it !
and that by itself is worth n e amount !
Plus Pc versions of the iLife suite and garageband alone
will be worth the price of a touchsmart PC
So MS can take their OS and shove it !
on 2nd though
Make a better OS than Leopard and then complain all you want !
competioin is the Os space is important afterall
Even us Mac users don't want Windows to be this far behind.
looks like Ms fanboys these days spend there time calling Mac users as Apple fanboys or trolls
how about prooving me wrong instead ???
AV: there are free ones, works for me
iLife? who needs that? We have open source options, you do too
But the mac is better made, even the keyboard feels more expensive. But the real difference is my macbook runs cooler, the battery lasts longer; the OS I have to say is much better designed than XP. Not even going into Vista.
It's true at the moment I don't have to worry so much about Virus software for the mac. there are safe guards already included; password before any software can install; this makes it easier.
MS has for a long time had the wrong idea, and the only reason they are still around is because they had such a market share already.
And this Mac has so few options on the software Isle, I have found I am not lacking in any way for options to get what I need done on the mac. Iwork is a great set of programs and is cheaper than Office.
I still like my Dell, but if I have to buy another computer in the future it will be a mac.
Innovation is something that is drying up at Redmond. It's why people are flocking to the Mac.
Yes it's pricey, but hey I'd rather have a gourmet meal than a meal at a fast food chain.
I work for the NHS, and the number of people I see on a day to day basis being unproductive because their Windows machine is that way inclined is enormous. Then (Windows Users get ready to have your giggle) you see the smaller Mac community getting on with their game without a hitch. Last year there was only a single department with Macs, this year there are another 4 departments who insist on purchasing Macs. People are beginning to see the Windows machine as a liability than an asset. Sure it's cheap ad you can do what you like with them but very little gels. There is little continuity from one app to another and what you think is a fast machine is the opposite less than a year later. Hmmm, that's what happens when you buys cheap.
Now, if I'm thinking tax then I would say that Windows machines tax my time when I want to productive. When we get our IT guy's over to solve a problem they're deliberately vague about the issues with our PC's. If my Mac ever has an issue, I'm in control in providing my own solutions and not at the mercy of IT people.
I think a side-by-side comparison of the 'taxing' Mac products against the fit and finish of those of MS OEMs taken from cnet's own archives would be this issue to rest.
Oh, and how many versions of OS do I have to try to wade through to see if my machine will do what I want? And is the computer I need to run it 'Vista Capable' or does it qualify for the discussion in the class action suit?
Once again it shows that MS just does not get it.
Not even a Bootleg copy of Microsoft Word that I bought for the price of a Blank CDR. I was going to load up windows on it but then I reasoned with myself and asked my self, WHAT ARE YOU NUTS?
David Webb... Bourne? :D
I disagree with you on your statement, your name made me think of bourne
The idea there is an "Apple Tax" is like saying there is a "Car" tax for the privilege of *not* driving a Yugo
so that alone is worth the premium
PS. Never listen to anyone with dog in their name. What's a matter? Your mother not like you when she was picking out your name?
:)
Do some research before you try to out snark a snark buddy.
PS. Thanks for protecting the country.
I have not been writing for a while because I have spent the last 10 years signing autographs at Ralf the Dog conventions. Here are a few of the stories I have written.
http://www.bbspot.com/News/2001/03/apple_interview.html
http://bbspot.com/News/2001/05/clash.html
http://www.bbspot.com/News/2001/04/dress_code.html
That's right. Not going to happen, is it. In that month I will have produced thousands upon thousands of dollars in customer work on my Mac while you're still trying to get something to print in color on 12x18 sheets (let alone properly edit an Illustrator file from a customer with spot color separations or create a press-ready PDF).
But hey, you can change the way the interface looks. Bonus!
Of course Macs have quality software! They have the money to do it!
Linux does not have the money backing them up and they still kicking ass!
Remember people, Linux is not owned by a big company, so then will never have the great quality apps.
The programmers for Linux are people that just love programming and creating apps for people. Sometimes it's one or a few programmers on a project, but Apple n M$ have tones of programmers with big pay checks!
You can't really compare Apples to Oranges (Linux), but the orange sure looks and taste great! Almost better than an Apple!
GIMP is better than photoshop
OpenOffice...I'm fine, I use MS Office on Wine though
With Microcrash, you get an operating system that requires an activation key -- even if you have to re-install it because your system requires it.
As for tax, there is no tax with Apple.
For example, owning two Macs, I don't have to pay for Antivirus, Antispyware, Anticrashware, Antimalware, Anticomputerware, Antiadware, Anticrapware, etc. junk -- who's paying an extra tax ??
PC users are the ones paying extra taxes.
With a Mac, I don't have to worry about your viruses and spyware -- you can have them (really) !!
While I pay more for my Macs, I save in not having to pay extra just to use it safely.
Unlike PC's, all Macs are safer -- much safer by far.
I'm not saying that Macs are perfect -- but in direct comparison against the PC, the Macs are indeed a better value.
If the average consumer keeps their computer for four years, they have to add $160 to each PC for the security software that you don't need on the Mac. I would call that the Norton tax. Accordingly, the cost of the Dell XPS One goes from $899 to $1,059.
Time is money. Assuming that the consumer's time is worth just $20 an hour, they have to multiply that $20 by the number of hours spent pounding a fist on the table saying "Why won't it work?" Assuming only one session per year lasting from midnight to 3:00 am, that adds $240 to the Dell XPS One, bringing its real cost to $1,299.
Even low-balling the value of the consumer's time, the real cost of the low-end iMac at $1,199 is at least $100 cheaper than the Dell XPS One at $899.
And we haven't even factored in the disadvantage that the Dell XPS One runs Windows.
True, the iMac costs more at the point of purchase, but if you consider all costs, it is less expensive than the Dell XPS One.
As an IT person at a very large printing company with over 150 various servers, desktops and notebooks, (mostly Mac) I could be the sole IT person for 100 users - a ratio of 1:100 in support terms: one IT professional to service 100 users. In fact, my ratio MIGHT have been higher (1:120?) if it hadn't been for the handful of Windows users/servers I had to spend inordinate amounts of time on.
I'm told that a 1:100 ratio of support to users is absolutely unheard of in the Windows world. The usual ratio in the Windows world is about 1:30. Maybe if you have a really good IT department and strict policies, you might get 1:45.
1:100 is only possible if you take Windows out of the equation.
$600 base cost
$20 building and making the cables "perfect"
$20 overclocking
$20 installing Linux and setting up
$40 installing Windows and setting up
$700- still awesome price for playable framerates with all high settings
There is certainly a Tax with Vista. It's called pain.
- by JuanGuapo January 5, 2009 8:48 PM PST
- Did anyone happen to notice the specs they have for the iMac vs. the HP and Dell? I'd gladly pay the Apple "tax", especially for the upgraded video card and CPU.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
Showing 3 of 4 pages (220 Comments)The Mac Mini is no-doubt more expensive than a PC counterpart (spec for spec) but I'd still rather have the mini.