Re: Mac vs. PC TCO
Re: Mac vs. PC TCO
- Subject: Re: Mac vs. PC TCO
- From: Deborah Shadovitz <email@hidden>
- Date: Sat, 22 Nov 2003 01:59:19 -0800
On 11/22/03 12:40 AM, "Richard Huggins" <email@hidden> typed:
>
TCO = Total Cost of Ownership, and here's a link to a Newsfactor.com story
>
that looks at both sides of the issue for both computers. We've always
>
heard, for example, that though Macs cost more they are less expensive to
>
own or suport because they don't break and the OS is more stable. No
>
deal-making/deal-breaking conclusions but a good look at how hard it is to
>
figure TCO between the two platforms.
>
>
<http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/22738.html>
My experiences are not in tune with that at all.
July, Aug, and Sept I worked for Palm at Office Depot, Staples, Best Buy,
CompUSA, and OfficeMax. For a week or two there, there was a steady flow of
people coming in and buying anti-virus and any other software they though
could protect them. Entire office networks were shut down, either due to the
viruses or to prevent getting the viruses. Computers were taken offline.
(These are facts reported to us in the stores daily for these times.)
CompUSA took its public network access down and it remained down for 2
months. It was still down when I left the 2nd week of Oct. At CompUSA all
summer vacations for the techs were cancelled due to the severe back up of
PCs that were brought in to be virus-wiped.
As we here all know, nothing like this ever happened with the Mac. And this
was not the first time it happened with Windows.
Articles like that are silly and useless. No, harmful to those choosing a
platform. What's the difference if a PC consultant costs less if you have
the guy there 4 times more? And CompUSA does not charge less for Windows
than Mac.
As far as prices, do your own searching. I did, for a Mac Addict feature
last year. In fact, my friends did for me too. We looked for comparable
models, then called the vendors to verify prices and features. Look at RAM
and cost to bring them equal with ram. Look at Ethernet, usb, firewire, etc.
The PC models were never cheaper. The same perhaps but not hundreds cheaper.
And, bear in mind that PC manufacturers such as Compaq, Dell, Gateway do
things to alter (cripple) the ROM. That's why you get told to wipe the drive
and reinstall from the disks that came with the computer. When I needed a PC
so I could write my cross platform books and needed a reliable machine
because I work from early betas, a PC author/tech pal of mine warned me
against getting one of those pre-built models for that (ROM) reason. He said
it is worse with laptops if I recall correctly. Instead, he painstakingly
bought all the parts for me and put a machine together for me using only the
high-end most reliable parts.
Now add in that users of Macs use more apps and are more productive than a
PC user. I have relatives that kept telling me they understood my loyalty
but they were fine on their Windows computers. I came to visit those various
folks 2 years ago. Got to one cousin to set up the new email address I'd
given him and his wife. Do you use Outlook? Ummm... dunno. I find Outlook
and double-click it. Opps... error message. Try again. Same. Ask cousin Jon.
Oh, we always get that. We just don't use that program. And so the day went.
They just don't use the next app either. That was Boston. Next stop is New
Jersey. Same story. Then my friend Jodi. Same thing. These errors are a way
of life with these folks. They just stop using that app.
I'd go on, but this is too long already. If you or anyone finds my
experiences interesting, you're welcome to quote me on any or all of this
(bearing in mind that I said a PC author/tech friend told me the ROM stuff
and I take his word on that).
~ Deborah Shadovitz <
http://www.shadovitz.com>
_______________________________________________
augd mailing list | email@hidden
Help/Unsubscribe/Archives:
http://www.lists.apple.com/mailman/listinfo/augd
Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.