NZMac.com - Supporting the New Zealand Mac community

I don't have a mac. Yet. I want one though.

So please don't think that because of any of the following, I'm a windows fan (yuck) or a mac hater. I'm not. If I had my way, I'd own a mac today.

Here's the thing - and I'm sure youhear this all the time from people who don't own a mac: I have no explanation for the price that I see for macs, especially in NZ. It's like whoever decides the price comes from another planet. I look at the specs, and look at the specs on a PC equivalent, and I think "maybe they live in a cardboard box, and they set the prices inside that cardboard box, and they just don't know what hardware costs outside that cardboard box."

As mac owners, you'll know that this isn't an overstatement. Magnum mac sells this entry level imac for $1899. When writing this post I looked around for a PC to compare it to, but - totally seriously - I couldn't even find a brand new one that had a combination of a CPU with specs that low and also only 1 gig of RAM,a nd the closest I could find (albeit with more powerful CPU, and less powerful graphics graphics - here) were way cheaper, like $1200. And getting an imac with good specs, Lord have mercy!

"So just shut up and buy the cheaper PC and don't whine about macs," you might say. But I don't want a PC. It's like Apple is deliberately making sure the poor plebs never buy macs, so their market share will stay small and elite.

But every now and then, a local computer retail will have some sweet Hire Purchase deal available, 36 months interest free or something. But there's always a footnote: "Excludes Apple products." It's like someone from on high has stepped in and said "No - you MUST make it more difficult for people who want to own an already super expensive mac."

I want a mac.. I do. I plan to own one at some point. But I don't get it! Why? How on earth do Apple justify structuring their prices this way? Is it a status thing? The hardware is not worth what they charge - it just flat out is not - and unless people buy Mac hardware they can't use Mac OS.

It's like they want us to give up and go away.

Hi Beretta .
I hear ya !
Not much we can do.
Some times its just worth the extra to have a more sensible OS with a nice machine ( I have both )

For your amusement .... http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/reviews/4258725.html?page=4

Not sure if this helps, but....
http://www.nzmac.com/fight-the-good-fight.html

Cheers, Phil

I didn't think that the difference was that big . Remember that the iMac is a very well designed one piece unit rather than a tower and a screen. I think the industrial design costs extra. The pity is that there is not a middle of the line Mac tower, somewhere between the Mini and the Mac Pro for those people with displays.

Speaking as someone who works in the industry I know for a fact the price thing is a myth.

While Apple uses PC hardware it is NOT off the shelf stuff and as a result you will always pay a premium. Apple designs their own motherboards, cases, and displays so there's costs involved in that.

Apple also uses top end parts which always command a price as well. Apple's displays are much clearer than most other companies and the only other companies I've seen come close are Dell and ViewSonic.

Factor in the cost of feature for feature PCs (which includes OS and other software) and you'll realise that the idea that Macs are more expensive is incorrect. For example there is no package like iLife on the PC, instead you would need to purchase separate applications which are probably each around the cost of the entire iLife package you're going to be forking out 5 times the cost of iLife.

As for cost of RAM not only does Apple use quality RAM all RAM has been rigorously tested which incurs costs so you're not paying for nothing.

All in all the cost of a Mac initially is not that much more than a PC however over time the Mac is by far the cheaper machine.

There will always be a bigger difference between Apple's machines and a generic machine built by a PC shop, than the difference between Apple and say Dell or HP (although of course the latter still favours the PC, just not so much). The higher spec'd you go the closer in price you get. Apple have never tried to compete at the budget PC level, but compare a mid range iMac with similar spec'd Dell and you'll find they are closer in price.

So what do you get for your extra $$$. Here's how I see it.

A very elegant simple to operate OS that allows you to get on with what you want to achieve without the OS getting in the way of your productivity.

]An integrated suite of applications (iLife) that allows you to organise, create and share content immediately. They all talk seamlessly to each other as well as the built-in Address Book, iCal, Mail apps

A safe environment where you're not constantly worrying about viruses/spyware/trojans and other malware (and the hassles of keeping your protection updated

The ability to run Windows, Linux and Mac OS X all on the same machine

So although on the face of it they may seem fairly mild enhancements, the one thing you simply can't explain is the actual user experience. I was discussing this with some colleagues yesterday, and I was saying that I don't know of anybody who actually enjoys using a Windows machine, it seems to be they that they simply endure it, whereas I find Mac users actually look forward to sitting down in front of their machine and getting on with some work. (Gross generalisations based on anecdotal evidence only I know). So how do you put a value on that?

BTW check out Apple's refurbished machines for some cheaper options. They change often so keep checking back.

As Mac users we seem to spend most of our time trying to justify why we choose to use Macs to people who have only ever had Windows based PCs inflicted on them. Before you say anything, I have MCSE MCDBA etc, etc so have had lots of experience on the darkside. As noted below Macs are far better value for money than the price tags indicate.
Look at it another way. Not many people in this world always buy the cheapest. Most times, we prefer to, and expect to, pay a little more for a value which is not always apparent, but we perceive it to be worthwhile. Why do people buy Mercedes over Holden etc? On the face of it they are both cars, they have the same utility - they are a means of getting from A to B. But they are different - engine, gearbox, finish.
When choosing what to buy for a computer, you need to make the same buying decision. If you don't look under the hood, you won't see any difference. If you always choose to buy on price, you'll never see the benefits gained by spending more.

Just one thing bugs me..Graphics cards. If the macs came standard with, for example: a geforce 8800 GT or GTX ( not the GTS that they have now) it would all the sweeter.

Ironically I just posted about that card !!

Great minds ahye. What a shame its a GS.