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Macs better value than PCs - official
By Macworld staff

New research explodes the myth that Macs are more expensive than PCs to buy and run.

Noted research analyst Gartner found Macs are up to 36 per cent more cost- effective than competing PC products.

The study was conducted at Melbourne University's Faculty of the Arts, which uses 4,676 Macs and 5,338 Wintel machines. It compared direct costs such as hardware and software for desktops and mobile computers, servers and peripherals, upgrades, service and support and depreciation. It also examined the indirect costs of supporting end-users, training time and non-productive downtime.

Gartner found that Macs cost $1,114 to support per year, while PC-based systems cost $1,438. Macs also needed less technical support and hardware and software costs were lower, the report explains.

Gartner was hired to do a private study. The study leaked. Gartner now refuses to comment on its findings either way. M$ FUD and intimidation again.

Gartner has done many similar studies over the years going all the way back to the late 80s, and I believe has without exception come to the conclusion that the total long-term cost of PC ownership exceeds that of Macs.

That said, as a 19-year Mac user (before they even had hard drives) and longtime occasional PC user, it is my belief that novice to mid-range users are better off with Macs, primarily because these users learn faster and need less hand-holding. Power users may, OTOH, in many cases be better off with PCs IF (big if) they are good troubleshooters. If they aren't, they'll lose tons of time and money trying to get support, which on the Windows side is almost universally p*ss-poor and expensive. On the Mac side, if you have AppleCare you get unlimited support like I've never seen anyone else deliver it.

Gartner was hired to do a private study. The study leaked. Gartner now refuses to comment on its findings either way. M$ FUD and intimidation again.

I don't suppose it would do any good to ask for actual proof for such an accusation, would it?