What’s all the fuss about?
Apple have been making computers and other gadgets for a long time now – longer than PCs have been about – but their personal computers have never eclipsed the might of Microsoft. So why not? Why do some people become Mac zealots? Let’s look at the evidence.
Here’s a breakdown of Mac vs Windows. While I don’t agree with all of it, it has some good points to make.
The biggest problem with this comparison is, it is not weighted. That is to say it does not consider the degree to which the pluses and minuses affect the outcome. If it was weighted, the cost of Macintosh would be a major issue.
Until a few years ago the internal components of a Mac were very different to a PC. They used different processors and therefore their systems were unique. Apple then changed to what is known as the x86 architecture and started using Intel chips. This meant their computers were, as far as hardware is concerned, almost exactly the same as a PC.
So why are they so expensive? Some of the reason may be related to the volume of production being lower than their competitors, but that is a very small part of the story. In truth, this is one of the most hotly contested issues on the internet, but here is my take on things.
Apple wants them to be expensive. Sure, they are well made, nicely designed and OSX is nice to use. But at twice the price of a similar specification PC, there is something else going on here. Marketers call it product perception and it relates to branding and a product’s place in the market. Apple wants to be Aston Martin, Yves Saint Laurent, Rolex – you get the idea. Owning an Apple computer makes a statement, “I only use the best”. In fact Apple have managed to create a niche in multimedia and design which fits very well with their premium product image.
I’m not saying Macs are no good. They are lovely. Yes, that is the word – lovely. They are, however, just as determined as the competition to take your money and tie you in to their own world of wonders. If you want one and can afford it, buy one. You won’t regret it. But if value for money is high on your list, look elsewhere.
