From the EXCELLENT Macgasm.net Blog
Author Credit: Gerard Lagana
In this on-going debate of whether a Windows computer is cheaper than a Mac computer, you need to take two things into account. First, the upfront cost of each of the computers. Second, the total cost of ownership, or TCO for short. For the sake of this article I’m going to compare a Dell and an iMac. First I’ll price them out as stock without warranties; then, I’ll configure the Dell to match the hardware and software specs of the iMac. Finally, I’ll look at the total cost of ownership for both.
Dell Inspiron 560s and the 21″ iMac
I configured a Dell Inspiron 560s with a 21.5” LCD Display, an integrated webcam and microphone. I also added anti-virus software; which is something that is needed to protect a Windows computer from Viruses. I tried to match the hardware and Software as close as possible to the iMac that I will be talking about in just a bit. The total price of the Dell Inspiron 560s was $1,136.50. This price was after discounts that were applied. The original total price if Dell did not include discounts would have been – $1,420.75. This is a $284.25 difference. The thing with Dell’s discounts are that they change weekly. So, if you don’t act quickly on the configured computer, you could be paying that extra $284.25.
Next, I configured an iMac 21.5” 3.06GHz computer. The only thing I added to the iMac configuration was iWork to match the Office Productivity software from the Dell Inspiron 560s. The new iMacs come standard with a wireless Bluetooth keyboard and Magic Mouse. In contrast to the Dell Inspiron 560s, it only comes with a wired USB keyboard and mouse. The total price of the 21.5” iMac configured was $1385.68.
As you can see the Dell Inspiron 560s costs more than the equivalently configured 21.5” iMac without the discount on the Dell computer. The Dell is actually $35.07 more than the iMac. However, the iMac is $249.18 more than the Dell with the discounts applied. Basically, if you can get the Dell with the discount, it will be less than the iMac. However, if you don’t get the discount, it will end up being more than the iMac.
Total Cost Of Ownership (TCO)
I would now like to talk about Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). If this phrase is a new concept to you, here’s a quick and dirty example. Total Cost of Ownership is what the total cost of the computer would cost you during the time you own the computer. Maintenance and repairs are included in this. One of the biggest costs for Windows owners is Virus and malware annual software subscriptions. Generally, you can use free malware removal tools, as well as anti-virus applications. But for anti-virus software you’re probably going to want something with a subscription. With that said, you’re probably going to pay annually about $60.00 to $70.00 to protect your Windows computer from being attacked.
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