PC vs Apple: The Value Battle

by Alex Kidman | Monday 28 April 2008

Are Apple computers worse value than Windows PCs? Alex Kidman does the sums, and finds the truth about which platform is the better deal.

Undoubtedly, in the PowerPC past, Apple's offerings cost more than the equivalent PC, and this led to endless sniping over the value of Apple's platform, with accusations of Apple's computer line being overpriced. But is this still true today?

There's one factor at play that doesn't get a lot of airplay in discussions around this topic -- the value of the operating system. Given the feature set in OS X, there's a certain argument that OS X is equivalent to Vista Ultimate. If you take into consideration that new Apple machines ship with iLife '08 -- another $99 worth of sticker value at least -- does that give the Mac an instant leg up, given Vista Ultimate's rather extortionate asking price? On the flip side of that argument, can that price disparity make up for the small fortune that Apple still charges for memory modules?

It would be surprisingly easy to find examples to suit either side of the argument -- you could pick a very cheap entry-level PC and put it up against the Mac Pro. We've picked desktop and laptop examples that match up as closely as possible in order to make the comparison as fair we can.

On the desktop side of things, Apple's pitch at consumers revolves around its iMac offerings, which creates something of a challenge -- there aren't that many integrated panel PC offerings on the market. Sony's LJ series is probably the closest match that you'll easily find in Australian stores, and putting a $2,799 LJ model up against a $2,599 iMac reveals some interesting differences:

iMac 24" $2599
24" LCD
2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB memory
320GB hard drive
8x double-layer SuperDrive
ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory

Sony VGCLJ25GB $2799
15.4" LCD
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T8100 2.10GHz
2GB Memory
200GB hard drive
8x DVD Dual Layer Burner
Mobile Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100

So, for $200 more than the iMac, you get nearly 10" less of display space, 120GB less hard drive space, the same DVD burner and far worse graphics capability. Oh, and Vista Home Premium; Ultimate would cost you more again. To be fair, Apple will charge you more than $200 to bring the RAM up to the same specification as Sony's offering. Still, we know which system we'd be buying here.

It's not quite as easy a victory on the notebook side of the fence, however. We've taken an easy comparison here, with Apple's Macbook Air against its most recent competitor in the thin and light space -- Lenovo's ThinkPad x300. You can also read our reviews of the Macbook Air and X300.

Macbook Air 13.3"
$4338
1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
2GB memory
64GB SSD
Intel GMA X3100

Lenovo X300 13.3"
$3999
1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
2GB Memory
64GB SSD
Intel GMA X3100

Both systems share the same capacity SSD, same graphics chipset and the same amount of memory. The X300 shines in having integrated DVD, integrated Gigabit Ethernet and more than one USB port for a start. Meanwhile, the Air benefits from its Multi-Touch interface and a faster processor than the X300. We'd also argue that the use of Vista Business rather than Ultimate would bump the price of both units closer together than the RRP would realistically indicate -- and more so if you take the sticker value of iLife '08 into account. That having been said, it's hard to argue against the bigger feature set and lower outset price of the X300.

What's certainly fair to say is that while Apple positions its machines as premium offerings -- the closest you'll get to a truly budget Mac would be something dodgy from Psystar - within that premium space, if there ever was a value/price difference, it's either gone or astonishingly thin in the modern marketplace.

What do you think? Are Apples still overpriced, better value than ever, or is the author deluded? Let us know your thoughts below.

See more about: pc | mac

Comments: 20

geller 28 April 2008	You know why i tell friends to go Apple? It means I get less of them hassling me on the weekend to come and fiddle with Windows. It's the newb-friendly system. On the desktop Apple are a FAIL for value. But they're the way to go for notebooks. $1499 for the the 13inch Macbook - you can't go wrong. Comment made about the PC Authority article: PC vs Apple: The Value Battle? Are Apple computers worse value than Windows PCs? Alex Kidman does the sums, and finds the truth about which platform is the better deal. What do you think? Join the discussion.
Pacman 28 April 2008	Sorry, but this story is buried for price and comparison inaccuracies. The Sony VGCLJ25GB at $2799 is NOT a good example of desktop pricing on the market. The Sony's are all overpriced and badly spec'd units. Step into any Harvey Norman (biggest computer retailer in Australia) and you will find: 1) that most systems are NOT sold as a bundle and are sold as a desktop only. Your example if fishing for controversy by trying to measure upto apple's bundling. The reason PC units are often bundled is people like to hang onto their old monitors and that good quality monitors are cheap to get these days. 2) The price for top of the line desktop units goes for around $1500 - $2000 and include a range of hardware maunfactuers such as dell, HP, Compaq, Acer and Asus. For that price you'll most likely get 2.5Gz of processing power (or more), at least 500Gb (probably 1TB), TV tuner card, wireless keyboard, mouse, remote, 512GB graphics, etc. A good quality monitor will set you back around $350 - $600 for 22 - 24 inches. That is still miles cheaper than the Mac example you posted. And a much better unit. Plus you can upgrade it in any shape or form you like, unlike Mac attacks. And then you have DIY which cut the price even further. 3) The Lenovo is not a good example of a 13 inch laptop that is priced comparitively on the market. Where do you get your examples from? There are many units at around 12.2" that are priced (particularly HP and toshiba) from $2200 and less. Sorry,you can't help make us believe Mac's are better value. They are not. They are highly specialized for the cafe late' graphics and editing crowd and thats where they will always stay thanks to propaganda mac pieces like this. Conclusion: Author is deluded.
Alex Kidman 28 April 2008	I'm deluded. Cool. Off to chew the furniture then :) I don't entirely disagree with you (how could I argue with one of the icons of my youth? I mean, really...), except for the fact that the iMac is sold as a bundled unit -- as such, it's competing with other bundled units, and as you've identified, there aren't many competing in that space. Comparing a bundled unit (and all the design/build challenges that brings) to components is nearly always going to tilt in favour of the components. I think I noted that above. Although I'm having a tiny bit of trouble with your sums. $2K PC + $600 monitor + $751 (Vista Ultimate RRP) is a touch more than the iMac listed. Nearly a grand more, in fact. As for the Lenovo, find me a super-thin ultraportable in that space that compares (and thus fights for marketshare). Yes, there are other 12-14" units out there, but again they're targeting different markets. The X300 is, essentially the Air with added grunt, as mentioned in the article. And finally, I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, per se. The article is trying to ascertain if the old maxim about Macs being hideously overpriced is true. I don't think (given the examples listed) that they are any more.
Pacman 28 April 2008	Good article, but I juts thought your Mac love was a little off the mark in the PC desktop sphere. Also, Vista Ultimate is bundled on one quite a few of the desktops out there, so it's hardly worth adding as an extra cost. Finally, do any of us really want windows vista, let alone windows vista ultimate? The answer is a resounding No! Most of us are happy to take the said desktops and load XP on them or deal with the standard XP premium on the lower grade destops which does the job fine without aero silliness.
kevin_watters 28 April 2008	You cannot compare 'value' between a PC and a MAC... thats like comparing the value of a KIA Opirus auto vs a Lexus IS F... sure they both have leather seats, 4 wheels, have air conditioning and go fast but anybody who has driven the Lexus will tell you there is NO comparison. Just like I will tell you there is no comparison between PCs and MACs. I have both... I use both... but when I need to work on something and its important, needs to be done quick and CORRECTLY guess which system I use... my MAC. When I want to play a game... my PC. Guess which machine gets reformatted every few months... NOT my MAC. Guess which machine my wife prefers now (after using NOTHING but PCs for years and years)... yep you guessed it... my MAC. THATS where the value of the MAC is. The fact that I paid 2 - 3x MORE for my MAC with EXACTLY the same specs I can buy a PC for... does not matter... they are WORTH every cent when push comes to shove.
bbjai 28 April 2008	I think your example is a bit flawed even though technically its correct. Your comparing the same type of computer with the same type of computer. In fact as you have noted most people would by a box first and then a screen. A good 22-24 inch screen is listed at 300-400. Usually Vista Home Premium is distributed with it. I wouldn't use ultimate and wouldn't consider ultimate the equal of OSX. Half the features in OSX doesn't even appeal to half the market out there who just want a web browser, watch videos and play some games. Vista Home Premium would be more then sufficient for this so adding Ultimate to it is discounting the value side of the consumers needs ultimately. Lastly I think you'll find a Box computer from dell will come with something alot better then a ATI Radeon Pro 2600.......Lets not mention the fact that Mac games are nearly non existent.
Pacman 28 April 2008	bbjai, well said..my point exactly
Alex Kidman 28 April 2008	Nope, somebody else said that. I don't think you can make a fair comparison except to compare same computer types. And I'd agree, Ultimate isn't the equal of OS X. For a start, OS X works. But in a features sense, Home Premium isn't the best Vista can be (which isn't saying much) -- hence why I used Ultimate in my examples. Yep -- the Mac isn't an extensive gaming platform, but there are titles out there. And heck -- one can always use Boot Camp and Windows if the games thing is important to you. Or a games console.
bbjai 29 April 2008	Thats probably true, I've been contemplating a iMac for a LONG time. I just can't weigh up the differences in price for certain things. Granted I probably have an advantage of being able to build my own computer so the price points would be hugely different. But if you went down to any old computer store (I note in the PC Authority A list from vendors the mid range PC) you could get a good deal that would probably be worlds apart from a iMac. Fair enough it probably wouldn't be a 24" screen but the iMac 20" is a HORRIBLE screen as well. What cuts it for me is the graphics card, it ultimately cannot play games with high detail and a playable frame rate. Vista doesn't work your right, but most people go and install XP on it anyway. OSX works for sure but is it something people want to move to? I for one use Microsoft at work and would be extremely annoyed at switching systems every time I went home. Its all a matter of preference I suppose. The iMac is suitable for alot of casual computer users.
steve_666 29 April 2008	great comments. I, for me, reckon a pc is a better deal. For one its cheaper and its easier to upgrade, i dont care about the OS it comes down to the hardware for me. my 2 cents worth
Pacman 6 May 2008	Steve, about 4 billion people agree with you, but the writer still wants to believe in apple sponsored fantasia.
rikta 15 April 2010	i cant help but point and laugh at retards that buy a $3500 mac laptop when all that gives you is a core 2 duo 1.8 ghz cpu and 1 gig of ram and some pathetic grpahics card that stopped recieving driver updates 5 years ago, when i spent 2000 on my i7 laptop! and i mean dont even begin to talk about the seperation between the price of a desktop pc and a mac, the two arent comparable, if it wasnt for brainless twats buying up iPhones and iPods there would be no such thing as mac, they offer nothing. but hey good way to make a regretable purchase!
Slatts 15 April 2010	rikta wrote: i cant help but point and laugh at retards that buy a $3500 mac laptop when all that gives you is a core 2 duo 1.8 ghz cpu and 1 gig of ram and some pathetic grpahics card that stopped recieving driver updates 5 years ago, when i spent 2000 on my i7 laptop! and i mean dont even begin to talk about the seperation between the price of a desktop pc and a mac, the two arent comparable, if it wasnt for brainless twats buying up iPhones and iPods there would be no such thing as mac, they offer nothing. but hey good way to make a regretable purchase! I'm thinking you were beaten with a mack by a fanboy when you were a kid rikta?
blockcentre 23 April 2010	Although it does appear that Apple products are becoming more in line with industry standards with regards to pricing, it's also apparent that the higher spec you go, the wider the gap grows. Just quickly taking an updated comparison, a 15in Macbook Pro with a Core i7 starts at just under $2800. A similar spec'd DELL Studio 15 will cost you around $1700. That's still a significant difference.
Slatts 23 April 2010	blockcentre wrote: Although it does appear that Apple products are becoming more in line with industry standards with regards to pricing, it's also apparent that the higher spec you go, the wider the gap grows. Just quickly taking an updated comparison, a 15in Macbook Pro with a Core i7 starts at just under $2800. A similar spec'd DELL Studio 15 will cost you around $1700. That's still a significant difference. Gedday Block, did you read this?
blockcentre 24 April 2010	Slatts wrote: blockcentre wrote: Although it does appear that Apple products are becoming more in line with industry standards with regards to pricing, it's also apparent that the higher spec you go, the wider the gap grows. Just quickly taking an updated comparison, a 15in Macbook Pro with a Core i7 starts at just under $2800. A similar spec'd DELL Studio 15 will cost you around $1700. That's still a significant difference. Gedday Block, did you read this? Yep Slatts, that's what triggered me to do a quick comparison ;) My wife's Macbook gets quite warm as well and it's a Core 2. I clearly remember thinking that there's no way an i7 would work in one of these - unless they changed the design.
Slatts 24 April 2010	blockcentre wrote: Slatts wrote: blockcentre wrote: Although it does appear that Apple products are becoming more in line with industry standards with regards to pricing, it's also apparent that the higher spec you go, the wider the gap grows. Just quickly taking an updated comparison, a 15in Macbook Pro with a Core i7 starts at just under $2800. A similar spec'd DELL Studio 15 will cost you around $1700. That's still a significant difference. Gedday Block, did you read this? Yep Slatts, that's what triggered me to do a quick comparison ;) My wife's Macbook gets quite warm as well and it's a Core 2. I clearly remember thinking that there's no way an i7 would work in one of these - unless they changed the design. It strikes me as an opportunity for a bright young engineer / entrepreneur to come up with a way to harness that heat: A. keep coffee / croissants warm. (I was going to write pizza but that'd be the PC crowd.) ;) B. power an absorption refrigeration system to keep your caffeine laced fizzy drink of choice cold. C. devise a thermal power source to turn your Mac into a perpetual motion machine.. D. Make a heat pipe system to pipe the excess heat to a pair of thermal socks.. I'm sure that with a little thought other applications will come.:-k Oh, and if anyone gets rich off any of those ideas, I want my royalties...:)
blockcentre 24 April 2010	Top work Slatts. Any of those ideas will work. You just need to have enough cash to slap an Apple logo on it, give it a name such as iCoffeeWarmer pay Steve Jobs to waive it around on stage for about 20 mins. Do that and it'll sell millions.
Slatts 25 April 2010	blockcentre wrote: Top work Slatts. Any of those ideas will work. You just need to have enough cash to slap an Apple logo on it, give it a name such as iCoffeeWarmer pay Steve Jobs to waive it around on stage for about 20 mins. Do that and it'll sell millions. Do you know how to contact him? Through prayer perhaps?[-o< And I'm sorry, naming my coffee warmer doesn't entitle you to a share of my royalties.=;
petergaskin 25 April 2010	I guess the one thing that pcs offer that apple doesnt, is a pc to suit almost any budget. From netbooks - under $400, to mid range net books around $1000 and finally, there are a wide range of interesting pcs - bundled, around the 1500 mark. That si the pc advantage!