No, I have compared Apple's computers to Dell, HP, and Compaq mid-range to high end, premium computers, configured to match the hardware used by Apple, not to the commodity computers. I don't bother looking at their low end, bargain basement computers. When you compare like for like hardware, the Apple is always competitive in price and often less expensive than the offerings from those companies. In the Workstation class machines—those with Xeon® grade processors—the default configuration Apple Mac Pro is hundreds of dollars less expensive than equivalent Dell and HP machines.
You leave out a major issue with apple and the enterprise - that little issue of them not having a true server class operating system or any server class hardware.
Sorry, you really don't know what you are talking about. YOU are making claims that are simply not true. First of all, Apple Mac OSX is a fully certified, POSIX compliant UNIX™ with all of the server class software that implies... as well as offering xServe and OSX Server which is fully functional Server Operating System. UNIX powers some of the most largest and most secure networks in the world, and currently there are only four certified UNIXs to do that and Apple is one of them.
As to finding Macs in the offices of large enterprises, more and more of them are being installed. They are even being used in major database and server capacities. This xServe array is installed at eBureau, one of the largest credit card clearing companies in America:
Among businesses that are using Macs in the enterprise are:
- Xerox - Service Department and Field Repair agents.
- CISCO - xServes and xSans for its e-mail archival system.
- Oracle - Resilient Low-Cost Storage Initiative to promote the use of affordable hardware for data storage and recovery.
- MGM Grand Hotels and Mandalay Resorts - client and resident communications.
- US Army - www.usarmy.mil website and Frontline troop MAAJIC intelligence system driven by xServes and Macs.
- Matunaska Alaska Telephone - largest phone company in Alaska, billing and account management.
- Staples - inventory Database management with xServes.
- Macy's - inventory and ordering, shipping management for 141 department stores.
- J.C. Penney - central office.
- TAYCO - one of the US's leading Office Furniture manufacturer's entire operation.
- Indian Health Services - nation wide database and local health services
- Auto Warehouse Company - US's largest full-service auto processing company's entire operation at 23 locations except accounting and SQL database (which are now being converted to MySQL).