See I’d be more concerned with a Grandparent on a fixed income or a struggling young couple to be spending $2000 they don’t have for a computer they can get for $400-$500 tops. If we are talking desktops we will lower that down to $300-$400.
The whole difference to me comes down to several issues. One is the very long life of the hardware and software, and that’s typically been the case with Macs for a very long time (over a couple of decades or more, that’s been the case).
Then you’ve got the problem with viruses being absent from those Macs. It’s so absent that even though I’ve got antivirus software, I’ve wondered repeatedly to myself why I ever bother. I haven’t gotten *one single peep* out of that software — ever — on the Mac OS X system.
And in my entire experience of using Macs (goes back to the beginning of them), I have had only *one* virus total (on an earlier system, I think System 6, if I remember correctly).
That’s a *definite advantage* for anyone, and especially a senior, who is not necessarily going to be as sharp on the issue of viruses as other kids in college and/or professionals might be.
Then there’s the lack of being concerned about maintenance. They really don’t have to worry about that either. AND, with the Apple stores, you can actually go in there and discuss and talk about any problem you have with your system or a piece of software that Apple has put on your system (all the functioning and useful programs that they supply) for *absolutely free*. You don’t have to pay for courses or any high-priced consultants. It’s so darned easy.
The advantages just go on and on. For what I see, it’s “hands-down” — no question about it — I would only recommend a Mac to my Grandma or Grandpa (if they were still alive). But, I have taught Grandmas and Grandpas and they are absolutely overjoyed at the intuitive nature of the user interface. They amaze themselves at what they can do on the Macs.
So, no..., I think they save a tremendous amount of time and money by getting Macintosh.