The cost of being a customer

[wastern]

I just pulled out my old Thinkpad (A21m) that I got upon graduating from high school to test out the new Slackware. Upon booting it up I started thinking about the road I took when I left the Thinkpad for the G4 iMac so many years ago. The Thinkpad still worked, I was just kind of bored with Windows and Linux just wasn't ready for prime time (no wireless support without a ton of knowhow and work). The Thinkpad still works now for most of what I use it for, the web, music, etc. It can't really handle the high res videos of today though and I like to edit the occasional movie, but its rare. Everything else I could take it or leave it, I don't really use even 1/4 of the power in this MBP I am typing on now.

That got me thinking. What if I never bought a mac, what if I had been content with my Thinkpad and road out its life. I'd be in the market for a new machine now obviously, the Thinkpad is an 800mhz P3. So anyway, I started to add it up.....

iMac - 1700
MBP + extras - 2700
mac mini (used) - 400
iPods over the years - 670
New OS versions - 190

for a grand total of $5,660.......most of which happened in or just after college, the poorest time in a kids life. I don't really know how I managed that.

So was it worth it? Now, don't get me wrong. I love Apple. I think they make fantastic products, their hardware design is unmatched and OS X can't even be touched. But the cost of being a customer is outrageous.

Their prices are dropping and when you spec out the hardware they are very competitive, in many cases cheaper then Dell and others who use cost as their competitive advantage. Yet with Apple there is always the need to have the biggest baddest mac on the block. You want all your apps to load in 1 bounce, thus drives the beast.

I don't think I'll be updating in the future how I have in the past. While at the time it doesn't seem bad. $1K here, $500 there. But when you take a step back it all adds up rather quickly.

I'm glad I can say I switched to Apple before it became hip or trendy. I'm glad I broke out of the OS ignorance and have seen all of what every OS has to offer. I like that no matter what OS someone has that I can lend a hand. I like that I can work 100 times faster in OS X then any other OS I've tried.


The question is, do I like it $5,660 worth? I'm not so sure.

[Pamich]

Looks more like you bought stuff you didn't really need.

[Casework]

I think the Apple of today is really a whole new company. Maybe it's just that I'm older, maybe because I'm more into design and editing, I don't know, but what I do know is that even a year ago I would have never considered a Mac. I didn't even like the idea of getting an iPod. I was basically your typical PC guy. Now, I have a MacBook Pro, and after using it for a good 24 hours, I never wanted to use a PC again. In fact, I haven't turned on my PC since then.

For what I need personally, a machine that can do some heavy editing(photo, video, audio) and something that is portable for college, the MBP is by far the winner. Even the thought of paying for Leopard when it is released doesn't bother me. Why? Because I feel like the quality of Apple products is at an all-time high.

For some basic numbers, when I was considering a Mac, I really tried to convince myself otherwise. Aside from the security and great user experience of OS X, the price just really sealed the deal.

(all with same or as close as possible configurations)
MacBook Pro - $2799
Dell - $2800+
IBM Lenovo - $4300+
Falcon Northwest - $5000+

And the new Mac Pro prices are even more ridiculous(especially considering you could accompany the computer with an Apple Cinema Display and it would still be a couple hundred cheaper than the Dell).

In the end, you will spend more money as a Mac user... but I personally don't see it as wasted money. It's not like buying XP because you HAVE to. It's upgrading to Leopard because you WANT to. My mom still uses a Gateway she's had for over 5 years, and it does everything she wants fine. But everytime she looks at my MacBook Pro, she sees some new feature she had never even imagined. I think it's that type of experience that makes the Mac so worth the end cost.

Edit: I will say though, I agree with Pamich. I purchased my MacBook Pro with the idea it's going to last me at least the next 4 years. And while I want to get my hands on every shiny new Apple product, there is a line you have to draw. PC manufacturers update their lines all the time, and with the much larger field to choose from, you think you'd want to update your PC more than your Mac. I think what your problem was(if any), is that you just felt like you had to have something that you didn't.

[wastern]

I agree with you on buying because you want it rather then need it. When the gold master of Tiger was leaked to torrent sites before launch I already had my pre-order in. I got it before launch, but I kept my order and paid for it. Why? Because it was good and worth the money and I wanted them to keep coming out with more good things.

My problem is I don't draw that line. I won't let myself suffer with a dog for a while in order for the bigger better payoff. Good things come to those who wait, but I want the new stuff NOW. haha

I agree that when matched spec for spec the Mac is a better deal. However, while I love overkill and will always push for the overkill, I have a feeling I wouldn't have gone quite as high end on a PC if I had gone down that road. However I wouldn't be nearly as happy with it.

The one time cost is less, but its the constant new technology that keeps your wallet open. I'm a huge geek when it comes to innovation though, I think that is why I like Apple so much. The double edged sword is a killer

[tokenuser]

THe price myth is one that has floated around for a long time, but has all but disappeared with the new Intel based platforms.

BUT $2799 for a high end Macbook is still big bucks, and I would argue that the comparably configed Dell will still come in a little cheaper (rather than looking at the most expensive Dell) ... but they are still pretty close to each other if you do a spec for spec comparison.

The problem is, if you buy an Apple MSRP is what you are going to pay. Sure, you might swing an academic price, but thats about it.

Only an idiot pays full price for Dell. The savvy shopper waits for the 40% off coupon code, or bonus 19" LCD coupon. Apple don't do those deals.

Having said that, I still have Mac envy, and my next (personal) machine will be either a Macbook or a TabletPC.

[spikedtropicaldrink]

hehe I know how that is. I got my iBook G4 about a year and a half a go for school and because I wanted a more reliable platform than windows had to to offer. Now I find myself dreaming of all the new Intel chips and the new iMacs and mac books.

[nextgenxbox]

When do you think we'll see a quad core Macbook Pro...? That's when I'll buy one. :)

[wastern]

When do you think we'll see a quad core Macbook Pro...? That's when I'll buy one. :)


The rumors are out now that the current shipments of MacBook Pros are slowing or stopped. People are thinking a Core 2 Duo is coming.

As always though, take that with a grain of salt. That also won't be quad core I'm guessing. That is a ways off.