Why buy a Mac?

Created by Mike Risi, Sr. Technology Consultant, Staples 129 - Niagara Falls

A cost-value analysis

22 Apple iMac 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 2nd gen 4GB RAM 500GB HDD Integrated WiFi SD Card reader Wireless keyboard + mouse Built-in display, HD webcam, speakers Ambient light sensor Mac OS X Lion

ASUS CM6630 2.9GHz Intel Core i5 2nd gen 6GB RAM 1.5TB HDD Integrated WiFi Card reader Windows 7 Home Premium No monitor No webcam

$1199

$649

Lets match features.

Every Mac comes with software to: - Edit and organize photos - Edit and publish videos - Create, mix, edit and publish multi-track audio

Every Windows machine comes with: - Pre-loaded trials and demos that should be removed for optimal performance - 4 hours of setup and con guration (or the customer pays at least $100) - No photo management software - No video editing software - No audio software - Trial security software - No monitor

Lets match features.

Add: - High-resolution IPS display ($199) - Wireless keyboard and mouse ($70) - HD webcam ($119)

$1199

$1039

Lets talk essentials.

Mac
- Microsoft O ce ($128) - Microsoft O ce ($128) - Setup with antivirus ($149) - Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Premiere ($189) - Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio: ($69)

Windows

$1199 + $128 $1327

$1039 $149 $189 + $69 $1446

Mac

Incidentals.

Windows

OS upgrades ($29) x 5 years $145

OS upgrades ($149) x 5 years (New windows every 2 years) $322 Service for OS issues (Estimate 3 times over 5 years at $150 per repair) $450 Antivirus that includes the same type of system utilities built into a Mac (Norton 360 ($100) * 5 years) $500

$1472

$2718

Visual comparison.

Convenience.
The Mac App store allows users to purchase software normally found in retail stores without leaving their house. Mac OS X automatically defragments the le system and has daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance scripts that run in the background. These same features can be found in some antivirus + system utility packages, including Norton 360, which costs about $100 per year. No messy wires, just one plug into the wall. Wireless mouse and keyboard included for a versatile and clutter-free experience.

Conclusion.
Matching specs and calculating incidental costs over 5 years, its clear that Apple computers are cheaper and deliver superior value to customers. The incidental costs of owning a PC push their price to nearly double that of a comparable Mac, not to mention the pleasing aesthetic of having everything in one, with 1 cable to the wall for power. An added bene t is that Mac OS X comes with its own malware protection that updates itself in the background. It protects from new malware and will never bother the user about an update.

Notes.
Feel free to distribute this, unmodi ed, among Staples employees. This analysis does not account for lost productivity. A repair for a software issue can put a computer out of service for 3 days or more. For a business, this means lost revenue along with the added cost of the repair, plus the inconvenience for the user and the users business. Yes, the iMac has less specs than the computer I compared it to, but despite the PCs slightly better specs, the Mac far outperforms the PC, if not for the simple reason that antivirus software isnt scanning all les the computer accesses.
iMac, Mac, Mac OS X, App Store, Lion are all registered trademarks of Apple, Inc. The images used are property of their respective companies.

And the winner is...

Apple iMac Asus CM6630

$1472

$2718

Mike Risi Sr. Technology Consultant Staples 129 - Niagara Falls

Personal: mikejrisi@gmail.com Work: s129sa@busdep.com

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