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NewsFactor: Hidden Costs of Mac Ownership

updated 09:15 am EST, Fri December 19, 2003

Hidden Costs of Macs

NewsFactor's talk about Apple's annual OS licensing policy, the need for Microsoft Office, lack of professional support, availability of Mac-compatible products, and other considerations when looking at the cost of owning a Mac vs. a PC: "Apple's tiny market share is not a reflection on the quality of its OS, , experts agree. But its niche market share -- currently about three percent -- means that Mac users exist in a small minority group. This itself causes extra burdens."

by MacNN Staff

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12/19, 09:23am | report spam | close Reply |
Whatever.

Next weeks article, the hidden costs of owning a Mercedes...

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12/19, 09:26am | report spam | close Reply |
Office costs $$$? Duh

Yes, you have to pay for Microsoft Office if you want it on a Mac. News flash, idiot, it costs money on a PC too. Are you stupid???

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12/19, 09:30am | report spam | close Reply |
Not everyone needs

MS Office. I don't run it - I use Appleworks 5 (via Classic), OpenOffice, or Text Edit. I don't have Panther yet, but from what I heard it does very well with MS Word docs.

There ARE alternatives to Office.

As for the annual "licensing" of the Mac OS - you're not required to upgrade to continue using your Mac. I run Jaguar just fine, and Panther's been out for awhile.

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12/19, 09:30am | report spam | close Reply |
Office cost

Yeah, but office costs less on windows than the mac, due to the macs low market share (orthat would be what they want you to think). Same goes for so many other apps (quicken, turbo tax, taxcut, etc).

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12/19, 09:32am | report spam | close Reply |
err

I seam to remember that you pay the Microsoft tax if you buy a PC with Windows pre-installed any way. Can't you get this back if you only run Linux?

Nice to know everyone uses Office!

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12/19, 09:32am | report spam | close Reply |
Point by point...

This articule is ridiculous. If there are hidden costs to owning a Macintosh, the author simply hasn't uncovered them. Every single point is heavily flawed. It's just another attempt to get ad impressions from irate Mac users.

1.) You have to buy MS Office to be compatible.

- Windows users also pay for Office.
- AppleWorks has fully-functional file translators good for most peoples' needs.

2.) Windows only offers?

- What the h*** is a Windows-only netowrk hub?
- There were free MP3 players for the Mac alongside MusicMatch.

3.) Browser Jungle

- Safari is free. Tons of browsers are free. Where's the cost?

4.) Paying for help

- Macs require less support
- Mac users form strong communities
- MacFixit.com
- The support Apple offers is more than comparable with PC companies.

5.) Time for another $129

- OS Upgrades aren't required to keep working. Apple charges for new features.
- Don't be fooled by naming schemes, these annual updates are really more than .1 releases.

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12/19, 09:33am | report spam | close Reply |
ummm...

*insert clever rebuttal here*

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12/19, 09:33am | report spam | close Reply |
wow

I try to keep every thing in perspective .. yes I'm a mac guy .. no they are not for EVERYONE .. and yes there are times a PC unfortunatly is the tool for the job.

BUT come on ..

These arguements are weak!
You've gotta pay for MS Office on the PC also!
Who's ever heard of a PC only Network Hub ??
And why would inovations in a new OS every 1.5 years be held up as a negitive? If you don't want the new features don't upgrade.

Granted there are some apps that aren't available for the Mac (Money being the one I really wish would go Mac because Quicken stinks) , but it seems like this guys got an agenda.

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12/19, 09:35am | report spam | close Reply |
Oh, dont forget...

...that the upgrade of Mac OS X for educational customers is only $69 + tax!

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12/19, 09:36am | report spam | close Reply |
Oh please....

Newsfactor can just go play with the little dogs while reliable news sources do accurate reporting of NEWS and not opinion.

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12/19, 09:37am | report spam | close Reply |
annual licensing

Apple's annual OS licensing policy

Its not an annual licensing policy, its an annual upgrade policy. Annual licensing implies a subscription based model, like the one MS has conceptualized for all users, and what they use on companies and corporations. This basically forces the licensees to renew, otherwise thay can't use their software anymore. I bought 10.1 when it came out, and still use it to this day. How is that being forced to upgrade?

Forced upgrades occur when apple or other software vendors require a specific OS version to run their wares. This also happens on windows (and, actually, happens in reverse too, where some software only runs on older versions).

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12/19, 09:38am | report spam | close Reply |
The guys got it backwards

He seems to think Apple made Safari because MS said they were not going to put out any more versions of IE, when in fact it was the other way around.

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12/19, 09:39am | report spam | close Reply |
Hidden Costs of FUD?

Actually BUYING software is a hidden cost?
Actually buying System Upgrades are hidden costs?

Lame article. He might have tried interviewing more than one Mac user. From what crack do people who write articles like this crawl from? This is like last week's idiot condemning Mac OS X because ONE security hole was reported widely and quickly plugged by Apple, which he failed to mention.

He also failed to mention the Macintosh community. PC-sters, don't quite understand this element of Mac life. We HELP each other, without the meter running. It's a good karma thing.

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12/19, 09:41am | report spam | close Reply |
windows only software

I don't have any problem at all running Virtual PC for those 3% of tasks that require a PC (Lotus Notes authoring, some WiFi config tools, etc). OK, it's slower than a PC, but so worth it. Is there anything comparable in the PC world that allows a user to run some of the FANTASTIC mac only software out there? No?

I didn't think so.

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12/19, 09:41am | report spam | close Reply |
Look ..

Look I'm writing on a website ... I'm a journalist

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12/19, 09:45am | report spam | close Reply |
Windows Un-hidden costs

As a Mac consultant for 17 years I have had to do lots of Windows customers because my Mac base runs too well. It may cost $129. ($99. if you have ANY brains) to upgrade the System with maybe a two hour investment in help. Try to upgrade any of the Windows packages, or even install common software and you are in for literally hours of restarting and waiting. I have never felt comfortable charging for this but that's why the PC consulting market is a boon. Free hours and hours of income to get very little done.

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12/19, 09:50am | report spam | close Reply |
What morons

More idiocy from NewsFactor. Hidden costs for owning a Mac? Apple doesn't force people to upgrade there OS like MS does. Not only that but the cost of Windows compared to the Mac OS even iat 129 per pop is less expensive than Windows. They people there are obviously morons.

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12/19, 09:55am | report spam | close Reply |
$129.00 BS

Hmmmmm.... Mac Users pay $129.00 for a FULL version of the OS with no 40 Character Licence codes that require internet registration, blood, and DNA sample.
The author of that article apparently hasn't gone to Office Depot or any other retailer where a full version of the M$ XP is $400.00? Even an Upgrade is $199.00? M$ office isn't free on the PC either...
What a steaming pile of "journalism".
As for "hiiden costs" Macs don't require the $100.00 Antivirus software that requires weekly updates. THe Macs don't have to download 80 security updates a year and so on. Look at the productivety levels on both systems and factor time spent on dealing with PC issues and you've lost countly hours in productive revenue.
I love these trolls because they can't substantiate thier claims with empiracle evidence. I run a consulting firm here in N.C. and have customers on both platforms. My PC only customers spend roughly 75% more on "service" than my Mac customers. My billing receipts are empiracle fact!

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12/19, 10:09am | report spam | close Reply |
Music Match?

This journalist mentions "Music Match- the popular jukebox software for PC" WHATEVER!!! We have had iTunes for like three years now and it has always annihilated any MP3 jukebox program for the PC until iTunes for Windows came out.

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12/19, 10:12am | report spam | close Reply |
Newsflash: Get OSX free!

With every new Mac. Just like on the peecee, where everybody I know ends up buying a new peecee because their windoze is falling apart and they have no idea how to fix it.
Man this article makes no sense. Someone didn't get laid methinks.

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12/19, 10:13am | report spam | close Reply |
NewsFactor

Examine the source... from NewsFactors website, they are part of...

"The network currently includes the following publications: NewsFactor.comTM, CRM DailyTM, Wireless NewsFactorTM, DataStorageToday.comTM, TechExtreme.comTM, Enterprise Linux ITTM, Enterprise Windows ITTM, NewsFactor Sci-TechTM, and NewsFactor's CIO Today MagazineTM. NewsFactor Network also includes the FreeNewsFeed.comTM service and these daily e-mail newsletters: Today's Top Tech NewsTM, the CRM Daily AlertTM, and the Wireless Industry AlertTM."

Anyone actually heard of these publications????? I think I'm pretty up-to-date on most things, but I haven't heard of any of these (?) I mean really, when Time, Fortune, Forbes, and FastCompany all praise your products, who the heck is 'NewsFactor'?

Small fish in a very large pond.

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12/19, 10:16am | report spam | close Reply |
$129

While some of his arguments are pretty weak (Office costs money on the PC too, MusicMatch is NOT that great), it really does irk me that Apple wants $129 every time they tweak the OS. Sure, it's not "required" at first, but eventually all the software you want will only run on the latest .1 revision.

Maybe it wouldn't seem like such a rip-off if they called them "OS XI," "OS XII," etc.

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12/19, 10:19am | report spam | close Reply |
One reason I'll never bu

a PC is that it costs too much to maintain. I'm happy to upgrade Mac OS X once a year to keep current and not have to worry about whether my upgrades will be compatible when I actually need them. With a PC, viruses, worms on the Microsoft side, and configuration details on the Linux side, I'd rather stick to the simplicity of the Mac and still get things done. So what if the initial hardware cost is more. It is the difference between buying a Yugo and buying a Saturn.

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12/19, 10:25am | report spam | close Reply |
Talk back

The article is clearly full of inaccuracies and half truths. It might be a good idea to go and make some logical, informed, (polite!) counter points to the article in the feedback section.

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12/19, 10:25am | report spam | close Reply |
Pay for Updates?

You definately have an agenda!

Get real: a PC only Hub????
I guess I missed the memo about the FREE Windows Upgrades!
You don't have to have MS Office.
If you don't want the update/upgrade then don't buy it.
You will miss all the new features though!
AND if we want Windows and all the software written for Windows we buy Virtual PC and run them all!!
We run the MacOS, Linux, Windows (all flavors), Unix, as well as PlayStation as icing on the cake.
I think you need to do something other than write tech.

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12/19, 10:33am | report spam | close Reply |
MS Office

I don't need MS Office. I've had a Mac for three and a half years and Appleworks 6 meets my needs. It saves and opens windows word and excel files. As someone else pointed out, PC users have to buy Office too. Alot of PC's come with MS Works, not Office.

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12/19, 10:40am | report spam | close Reply |
we should all conform

obviously, if we all abandoned our Macs and switched to PCs, the world would be a better place. We doing nothing but creating trouble, and giving jobs to writers like these.

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12/19, 10:48am | report spam | close Reply |
costs for pc

it would cost me money to get photo software on the pc, and it won't be as good as iphoto, which is free. it would cost me a lot of money to get so-so dvd authoring software on the pc, and it won't be as good as idvd. it would cost me a bit of money to get a pdf authoring app that i get for free with mac os x. it would cost me good money to get decent appointment and schedule planning software and it might not be as good as ical. it would cost me money to get a microphone on a pc which comes standard on a mac laptop, imac or emac. video conferencing software... it's free with ichat, i just need to get a camera. disc burning software for burning images? i have that built in. i don't need to buy primo dvd or nero on the pc.

and when i do upgrade, i get a lot out of my $129.

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12/19, 10:54am | report spam | close Reply |
cool

thanks for saving me from making a mistake, i almost bought a G5.

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12/19, 11:06am | report spam | close Reply |
hah

man the slander is coming on strong these days... I think people are really worried that Mac isn't only competing it's a genuine threat to status quo

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12/19, 11:09am | report spam | close Reply |
Get lost

Such BS, hidden cost my a**.
I get all the SW I need to create and accomplish all that is needed in todays market.
Plus I don't need some applications coz OSX takes care of it, and as far as I'm concerned I don't see hidden costs any more than one using wintel.

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12/19, 11:09am | report spam | close Reply |
So

Based by these feedbacks, the Mac has the same hidden costs as the PC opposed to having less..

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12/19, 11:28am | report spam | close Reply |
Open Office on its way�

I haven't seen that mentioned yet. I installed X11 with Panther and downloaded Open Office. It is an X windows program that looks just like Office in Windows 9x. Everything works and you can open and save WinXP 2000 format. Its a kludge as is (fits right in to the "Office" environment) but if it gets more support and becomes more popular maybe it will get its aqua interface all that much sooner, they're working on it. Download it today, help your friends do it if they can't.
Viva Open Source! "F" Microsoft
I almost forgot, MacWorld, hmmm, maybe Appleworks for real this time?

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12/19, 11:37am | report spam | close Reply |
So� Duh

How the frig are any of there costs "hidden". Only an absolute ignoramus buying a computer off the shelf at BestBuy would think that EVERYTHING is in there and they won't have to buy anything else.
Yes, I know that there are a lot of those and yes, maybe they are the ones reading NewsFactor as I have never heard of it in many years in the tech biz, its probably a one pager that comes with your cable bill every month.

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12/19, 11:39am | report spam | close Reply |
New Factor

Weren't they the ones that almost bought out Macnn.com a year or two ago? Anyone remember that? Isn't that when Misha left and MacMinute.com was formed?

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12/19, 11:53am | report spam | close Reply |
Article is trash...

1) Minority status

- Author shows clearly that he should not be writing for a technical journal with the comment "Virtually every Mac user can recall offers that are Windows only. For example, the local office supply store may carry network hubs that are Windows only".

There is no such thing as a Windows only network hub. Any machine or with an ethernet jack can plug into a network hub, switch, etc. and connect to the network. That's why there are networking standards. Heaven forbid - the box doesn't say it supports Solaris or NetBSD, whatever will I do. Better to be quiet and be thought a fool that to speak and remove all doubt.

- ""Apple's got some basic software included on most Macs for word processing and e-mail, but if you really need compatibility with Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Office, you'll need to spend the money for Microsoft Office," Macworld editor Jason Snell told NewsFactor."

Or you can simply install OpenOffice which is more than most users need to start off with. Since the OS comes with X11, you don't even have to f*** around with XServer configuration to use it. Just because you're afraid to use something other than office doesn't mean that other solutions don't exist.

2) Browser Jungle

"But if Microsoft takes steps to make IE's development harder to keep up with for other browser developers, that would create an additional burden for Mac users."

Yes, with the flood of updates we've seen in browser technology since Microsoft successfully booted netscape from the field, I'm sure that suddenly they will introduce something into IE that web authors will actually use which will cause Linux, Mac, Unix, and set top developers to have to retool their wares.

3) Paying for Help

"The typical Mac user knows many Windows users but only a handful of Mac users. So finding tech advice or help is that much harder."

The key being that we so rarely have to look for technical advice that we don't need to have large numbers of people to give us half-a** advice. If you're depending on your friends to fix your machine, you're already screwed. But just to more completely address the point, I don't recall my calls to Dell being free - and I do recall that there are message boards specifically for Mac users where they can meet those 'few friends' out there who can help. I mean honestly, if this were a failing of minority status - Linux would still be used by a handful of people.

4) Time For Another $129

"Apple users who want to stay current with the latest Mac operating system release have needed to pay $129 on a regular basis. When Apple released version 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, each one of the releases cost $129."

And when Microsoft released Windows 98, Windows 98, Windows ME, etc - Windows users had to pay money as well. What's th

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12/19, 12:00pm | report spam | close Reply |
Billions in Unproductive.

Anyone remember the report on the cost of unproductivity because of computer systems failure per year? If I remember correctly, it was more than Gates net worth, plus we all know that 99.1% of it is because of Windows. .8% Unix , .1 Mac ( guess ).

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12/19, 12:16pm | report spam | close Reply |
another untrue statement

"Apple users who want to stay current with the latest Mac operating system release have needed to pay $129 on a regular basis. When Apple released version 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, each one of the releases cost $129."

10.1 was NOT a paid upgrade. If you were not near an Apple store or an Apple authorized dealer you had to pay $20 (or was it $10?) for the shipping and handling of the CD. Otherwise you could just pick up a FREE copy. I picked mine up from Microcenter.

Man, I hate it when "reporters" report totally false statements and get a way with it.

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12/19, 12:25pm | report spam | close Reply |
There are Hidden Costs

I haven't read the article. I use macs all the time so I'm no pc apologist. This week I had to buy a PC though just to run quickbooks. Simply because Intuits support of the mac platform is inadequate. It is not possible to use it effectively if your accountant uses quickbooks on the pc. There are subtle hidden costs to using the mac, but they ARE WORTH it.

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12/19, 12:38pm | report spam | close Reply |
QuickBooks Guy...

I agree that Intuit has pathetic Macintosh support. However, instead of buying a PC, you could of considered buying MYOB. They offer a free copy of the product for your accountant whether he is running on a Mac or a Windows machine. And the files, unlike the Intuit applications, have no problems crossing platforms.

As a business owner myself, I do realize that moving to another accounting package is no trivial task. However, with all the problems I have learned about with Intuit, I would say that staying with them is not trivial task either.

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12/19, 12:50pm | report spam | close Reply |
office for $10

I do fine without office (eventhough I like entourage).
My university sells it for $10 - yeah like prohibitivly expensive

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12/19, 01:15pm | report spam | close Reply |
M$ Updates

are more expensive than Mac (all student pricing at UIUC. Something tells me that I am preaching to the choir here...

10.2 -> 10.3 $69 (totally new OS, would install on a clean HD)
XP home -> XP Pro $80 ($295 if you don't have XP home)
Office:Mac -> $136
OfficeXP Pro -> $158

so the PC side has these "hidden costs" as well, and they are more!

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12/19, 01:19pm | report spam | close Reply |
Higher initial cost

Having just compared in detail all PC laptops to Mac laptops, the myth of the higher initial cost of a Mac was quickly busted. Mac powerbook and iBooks had more built in features at less cost, and in many cases, there weren't even comparable PC models. You had to sacrifice on some features. And the sub $1000 PC myth, at least on Dell's site, as soon as you click customize, before you even change anything, the price soars well above $1000. Someone should really do a survey of current hardware initial costs and put this myth to bed.

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12/19, 01:25pm | report spam | close Reply |
dell's website

I've noticed that on Dell's website. It's almost like you can play, "how much does the price soar???"

Just trying clicking on one of the $699 desktops. Don't customize a thing, and all of a sudden your shopping basket becomes $1000 plus!!! You have to go back on remove several "customized" things in order to get the system back down to the original price (if you can).

It's actually really sad. I can't believe someone hasn't sued them yet.

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12/19, 01:38pm | report spam | close Reply |
dumbasssssss!

Damn, those 100s of PC only hubs on the shelf are SOOO MUCH cheaper than the 1 lowly mac compatible hub. OH WAIT, I FORGOT, THEY'RE ALL MAC COMPATIBLE!

And i thought MacNN was owned by News Factor -- am I wrong??

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12/19, 01:49pm | report spam | close Reply |
More yellow journalism

This guy obviously knows nothing about which he purports to speak - has no Mac experience whatsoever. In addition to the excellent rebuttal points made above, I take particular issue with his attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill with regard to Mac troubleshooting.

Mac support "hard to find?" That doesn't even deserve a response it is so ridiculoous.

"The typical Mac user knows many Windows users but only a handful of Mac users. So finding tech advice or help is that much harder."

The many Windows users that I know come to ME for general help because as a Mac user I am used to trobuleshooting my own computers. Otherwise, they seem to have a Windows guru they have to seek out who generally ends up reformatting their drives and reinstalling their entire systems. "It was great!" they exclaim. It only took the guy like six hours! You should have seen him work! It was a thing of beauty! Stuff I wouldn't understand in a million years!"

Finding tech help has rarely been diffiuclt; finding and holding on to that one Windoze guru seems a lot more problematic to me.

There are more Windows technicians around because: a) there are more Windows machinesw around and b) moreimportantly, Windows machines have more problems.

Apple Technician?? I think the guy is referring to the equivalent of the Windows guru to which i refer. I can't say that I have ever had a need to find or hire an "Apple Technician."

Finally, I don't know, but is the guy saying that Microsoft does not charge for technical support, ever?

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12/19, 02:04pm | report spam | close Reply |
MacNN/Newsfactor

It sure is.... but why not write an article that will illicit heated response from Mac enthusiasts to get more traffic to the site? The more eyeballs that see the ads on the site, the more money they make. This is America. Makes $ense to me! I believe a similar practice on usenet is called "trolling."

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12/19, 02:45pm | report spam | close Reply |
Quickbooks!

Quickbooks is completely cross platform!! I use it on a Mac and send my backup file to my PC using Accountant just fine. She can open it and modify it.

You have to add .qbb to the end of the file name. One quick call to Intuit from my accountant solved that issue.

BTW I was using Quickbooks 5 and now 6. It's great being a beta tester.

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12/19, 03:03pm | report spam | close Reply |
Only 3%??

Only 3%, I thought we'd gained more market share since the introduction of OS X.

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12/19, 03:09pm | report spam | close Reply |
Not to mention

that many PC users are so fricking clueless, they get themselves into messes that I've never seen a Mac user experience.

I have a friend who has a Gateway PC. He's never seen an e-mail attachment he didn't want to open, no matter what it was. He can order Viagra, get his p**** enlarged, and get a university diploma simultaneously.

So now his PC is ununsable - it was taking him four or five times to boot into Windoze, and now he can't get that far - the BIOS is asking for a password. I KNOW he doesn't even know what a bloody BIOS is, so he surely doesn't know how to set the password on one.

I've offered to fix his system for free, but he's more interested in bitching about it than fixing it. His latest solution: buy a new PC, because his relatively new 2+ GHz computer is broken.

Now this guy is even more clueless (and stubborn) than the average "PC weenie." But if s******* around with BIOS settings, the Windows registry, and constant virus-ridden e-mails isn't a hidden cost, nothing is!

I love my Macs because I don't have to deal with that garbage. I've never gone to a BIOS screen on my iMac, Windows executable e-mail attachments are impotent in OS X, and I don't consider trashing my Mac when things get a little confusing.

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12/19, 03:17pm | report spam | close Reply |
agenda: vendetta

Yep, certainly a troll. They have to keep those ad banners going. The author of the article has his own agenda, which is to laud the pc over the mac - a feat which, as we have lately seen, requires scads of misrepresentation. The most unfortunate thing is that NewsFactor will never print a retraction or correction, citing editorial freedom, and so a whole bunch of people will believe it and feel that their pc struggles and expenses are just a fact of life with all computer systems. I'm glad to hear they have a feedback section so at least the curious will learn the truth.

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12/19, 04:07pm | report spam | close Reply |
Hmmm....

1 thing I haven't seen any one mention, is that a lot of Mac users always claim to do a clean install every time a new OS comes out. With any Mac I've ever had, I've never done that, and they have always worked great. Lets say for argument though, that the majority of people did, because they were incapable of keeping their system stable otherwise. Now imagine how good a Windows machine would run is you did a clean install everytime a major update came out (lets say maybe every service pack, of which there has been 1 for XP, and another coming "soon").

In that case I think the whole computer becoming useless so PC users just upgrade negates itself. To me, it seems that since on both my Mac and PC I use software update, and on the PC take the simple approach of reading what's going to be installed with software, neither of them ever gets to a messed up state.

There are also at least a few examples of people who cannot use a Mac more than a few months without totally trashing it, but can use a PC for years without causing it any harm. My sister is this way. I'm amazed at how many people like to just drag programs to the desktop (which is bad in OS 9, but works perfectally in windows) thinking it will make a shortcut/alias.

I do agree though, the article was quite uninformed; but it was funny to read. When I worked for Cirucit City, I was amazed at how many people would come and ask me if we carried any network switches or routers that worked with Macs.

Many people on both platforms simply keep the OS their computer came with, applying any free updates. And while this may cause you to miss out on a few things on Macs, I'd hardly say it's that much of an issue. Keep the same OS for a few years, and when you want a new computer because it's newer (not because it's "broken") then buy a new one, get the OS for free.

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12/19, 04:19pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Hmmm

1 thing I haven't seen any one mention, is that a lot of Mac users always claim to do a clean install every time a new OS comes out. With any Mac I've ever had, I've never done that, and they have always worked great. Lets say for argument though, that the majority of people did, because they were incapable of keeping their system stable otherwise. Now imagine how good a Windows machine would run is you did a clean install everytime a major update came out (lets say maybe every service pack, of which there has been 1 for XP, and another coming "soon").

Well, first off, I don't think there's a large population that do clean installs. More do a archive and install. But most just upgrade. Second, this is a different matter in windows, because doing a clean or archive install on a Mac is so much easier. On my desktop mac, I keep all my apps and user files (incl. my user directory) on separate partitions from OS X (something I have to do on a Beige G3 anyway). To do a clean install, its a simple matter of (a) wipe partition, (b) reinstall OS X, (c) reinstall updates, (d) set up symbolic link to my user's folder. After that, there's a couple of utilities I had to reinstall to get to work again (because they install things in the Library folder, like Stuffit or APE). And a few apps do the same, although none I use. But that's it. Takes at MOST 2 hours. On a PC, a clean install will require the re-installation of almost every piece of software you own (esp if its MS software). Its a day project, at least. And that's assuming you're knowledgable to know how to back up your Docuements & Settings folder to get your personal registry, settings, email, etc back.

Doing a clean install of windows regularly does wonders. Its just you really need to find the time to do it.

There are also at least a few examples of people who cannot use a Mac more than a few months without totally trashing it, but can use a PC for years without causing it any harm. My sister is this way. I'm amazed at how many people like to just drag programs to the desktop (which is bad in OS 9, but works perfectally in windows) thinking it will make a shortcut/alias.

Actually, you got that the other way around. On a PC, moving an app to your desktop will generally break it and keep it from working. Most apps on Macs (OS 9 or X) can be moved without issue. In fact, its even worse on PCs, because after you install anything, you better not move or rename the directory its in. That just leads to so many errors (I work with several people who can't understand why their stuff stopped working until I realize they've decided to reorganize their hard drive).

h***, most Mac software isn't even installed software, its drag and drop (or just run it from whereever it is, if you just want to try it out). Its extremely rare to find a windows program that doesn't demand to be installed.

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12/19, 04:31pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Hmmm

There are also at least a few examples of people who cannot use a Mac more than a few months without totally trashing it, but can use a PC for years without causing it any harm. My sister is this way. I'm amazed at how many people like to just drag programs to the desktop (which is bad in OS 9, but works perfectally in windows) thinking it will make a shortcut/alias.

Hmmmm. Just so you know. In Windows XP, grabbing an EXE and dragging it to the desktop moves it, it doesn't create a shortcut.

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12/19, 06:51pm | report spam | close Reply |
OS Updates

Um, this guy forgot to mention the Apple-Up-To-Date pricing for those of us lucky or unlucky enough to get Mac OS months before a new one arrives.

that would then be an amazingly large charge of... get this.... 19.95!!!

Whooppee!!!

Oh, and we can always get Panther for nothing if we really wanted it ;)

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12/20, 01:16am | report spam | close Reply |
struggling with & ...

... committing to OS-X has probably been one of the worst business decisions I have made in years - nothing has worked well or transferred easily & it has all come at a premium price...

I finally said enough with this & bought a PC - I am slowly moving everything into as fully cross platform as I can so that I will NEVER be RELIANT on a single vendor again...

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12/20, 06:19am | report spam | close Reply |
Wow

Nothing quite like a group of Mac users jerking each toehr off.

As for the "I have a friend who has a PC" guy. Don't blame the PC, your friend is the idiot here, has nothing to do with Microsoft, Intel, etc.

Also, your friend can buy a brand new PC and upgrade to the latest and greatest because the PC world has made it cheap. Wouldn't it be great if we can all do the same with Apple hardware too i.e. my dual 1.42 is too slow, time for a dual 2! Apple is not infallible, people.

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12/20, 02:49pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Wow

"Nothing quite like a group of Mac users jerking each toehr off."

Yeah, what else is new, huh? :)

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12/20, 11:43pm | report spam | close Reply |
How much is

XP Home?
XP Professional?

I've used PC's for over 14 years, and then switched.

I went through two PC's and numerous costly updates for Windows and it made me so ill to have to patch everything, and have so many incompatibility issues I just had to switch.

My TIME is worth more than anything this dumbfuck could say to attempt to change my mind.

PC/Windows just breakdown, crash, etc.
Macs work, and work, and work, and work.

I've turned my computer off about a dozen times in over a year.
Can you put a PC to sleep and then wake it, on and off?
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO.

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12/21, 03:12am | report spam | close Reply |
I actually agree

I actually think this was a fair article. I don't feel that the author was Mac bashing, but was pointing out some real issues to consider about the mac. I am a little ashamed of the Mac Community for being so defensive of this article. Nowhere did the author say the Mac OS was a bad OS, rather the author simply laid out some VERY LEGITIMATE hidden costs / costs of ownership. Nothing the Author said has not been said by mac users in the forums. Finally, I think people here seemed to have missed the point of the Article. The author was simply pointing out costs of ownership of a Mac, not comparing the Mac to a PC. I think it a bad thing that anytime anyone even suggest that there are costs or negative aspects of a Mac (or even worse Apple), people here get up in arms over it. I'll be the first to admit that I can think of several improvements for the mac (and so can other mac users, if you don't believe me, look at any mac user rumor site...while a lot of crazy and untrue things surface on these, most of these are improvements that people hope will be offered). Until my computer is a reliable as the one on Star Trek (which I never saw needing to be rebooted (admitedly I am not a trekkie)) and offer the features available to George Jetson, I will always be able to critique the Mac. That is not to say I won't be able to offer a few (or lot) more criticisms of a PC. Nonethless, this does not change the fact that the Mac does have it's own flaws, and deserves to be properly critu=iqued. Just as it does not change the fact that IF (and that is a 90point IF) M$ eventually builds an OS (or if the Open Source community does so) that is better than the Mac OS, I'd gladly buy it. Win XP is a far cry from OS X. But that does not mean that OS X is not perfect (if it were, why am I shelling out $129 every year). So based on the fact that it isn't perfect, we should not get so defensive when someone points that out to us. If they want to say it is just as flawed as window, that's another story, and I might ask for a few facts to back that claim, but if they simply want to tell me the flaws of my OS, I'll listen, and I might add a few as well.

The author states that Mac may cost a little more than a PC. He's right. I won't debate that. For what I paid for my Mac, I could have bought a comparably equipped PC for less. I'm constantly amazed that I can go to Circuit City and buy a 2Ghz PC w/OFFICE and Win XP pre installed for about $500.

I'd never buy one of these machines, I'm too much of a mac lover to do so. But I do know that the cheapest NEW Mac I can buy RETAIL bundled with office will cost me twice as much as this entry level PC. That is just a fact of owning a mac. Just like owning a mercedes will cost you twice a much as owning a Kia. Will the Mercedes run better than a Kia, probably. Will the Mac run better than the PC, probably. Will I have a higher resell on the Mercedes than I will a Kia. Most likely. Ditto f

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12/21, 03:26am | report spam | close Reply |
I actually agree ctd

Just like owning a mercedes will cost you twice a much as owning a Kia. Will the Mercedes run better than a Kia, probably. Will the Mac run better than the PC, probably. Will I have a higher resell on the Mercedes than I will a Kia. Most likely. Ditto for the Mac. Will both cars get me from home to the office. Yes. Will both computers allow me to complete my work. Yes. Will I enjoy my commute more in a Mercedes. Probably. Will I enjoy doing my work better on a Mac. Probably. Does this mean that a Mercedes is the best car ever and has no flaws. No. Ditto for the Mac. Are there hidden costs of owing a Mercedes. Yes, one being that it will cost an arm and leg to fix and probably maintain. My insurance premium will be more. People will think I am a rich arrogant person. These are (for some) simply the costs of owing a Mercedes. Does this mean that having a Kia has no costs of ownership. Absolutely not. But if I am writing an article about the cost of ownership of a Mercedes, why would I bring the cost of a Kia in to this discussion?
So are there costs of ownership to a Mac, yes. Mac users often have to live a second class citizens. I have to wait longer than my PC friends for software to make its way to the Mac (if it ever does). I pay more in cash for my machine that they do theirs. People in my profession (IT) laugh at me for using a Mac. These are all costs of ownership of a Mac. PC's have their own as well, no one denys that, but this article is written to infom people of some of the hidden costs of owning a Mac. So why is everyone here getting defensive and pointing out the costs of ownership of a PC. No matter what you point to in a PC, it doesn't change the fact that everything the author mentioned is TRUE in terms of costs of ownership we mac users face. If I were writing this I would also add the fact that computer geeks will make fun of you to this list (of course they will be doing this while trying to wipe the latest virus off their wintel machine...but it is still a cost to us Mac Owners...we are perceived as having toys and not "real computers").

In terms of Safari and IE, I also agree with the author. I am fortunate to bank with a bank that only requires 128 bit encryption on a browser, but lets face it, we've all been to or know mac users who have been to sites only to be kicked out b/c they aren't running IE 6 for Windows. This is a COST OF OWNERSHIP (not a payment cost, but cost of ownership, which is a specific business term). If I can't get to my bank's website using my Mac, well that prevents me from doing online banking, etc. etc. Again, the author did not state that Safari was bad. Rather the author pointed out to a cost of ownership issue. In addition I agree with the authors point that by not having IE on the mac, Apple will have to follow M$ lead on the browser issue, b/c too many websites are built with only one consideration, and one consideration only...how does it look in IE.

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12/21, 03:27am | report spam | close Reply |
I agree part 3

And I also have to agree that my software choices as a mac user are limited relative to a PC, and that is annoying. I have to wait an extra 3 months before I can play the hottest games. I often have to choose between two or three software packages where as wintel people can choose between 50 to complete a particular task.

Also, I agree that Apple wants $129 a little too often for my liking. And I am not the only one...simply read the forums every time that Apple releases a new OS update that costs $$$. (NOTE: The author does not state that you need to upgrade, but that to have the latest, plan on paying $129). Again, while the point of the article was not to compare Macs to PCs, the people claiming that you don't have to upgrade are making arguments that do not pertain to this article. The Author states that if you want to be running the latest OS, you need to pay $129 to obtain a legal copy. He does not say that PCs don't have similar hiddesn costs between running win 98/2000/XP etc. Although, I will state that more often than not, software on the Mac is more OS sensitive than on the PC. That is, in my experience, I find more software on the mac where the OS requirements are 10.2 than on windows machines where the OS requirement is XP. So in theory if I had stopped upgrading at 10.1 (released in 2001), I would be even more restricted in my software options as a Mac User, than I would on a PC if I had stopped upgrading my OS at Win 2K. Again, for the fanatics out there, I am not saying PC's are better or that Windows is a better OS, and if you really read in to this comment you would see that it implied that MS hasn't really changed much in its OS since win 98 if most new apps can run equally on Win 98 and Win XP. But Apple does make significant changes in the OS, changes that some software manufactures take advantage of when developing software. BUT none of this changes the fact that if I want the latest OS from Apple, I should budget an extra $129 in to my annual Mac Budget. And that is all the author is saying.

Does this mean I am going to give up my Mac? No. As the author pointed out, Mac Users have found a way to deal with these cost of ownership. The author does not state that PC's don't have their own Costs of Ownership, does not state that the mac is an inferior platform, etc. etc. The point of this article was not to compare macs to pcs, it was to simply state that there are hidden costs of owning a mac. I did not find anything about this article disgraceful.

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NewsFactor: Hidden Costs of Mac Ownership

updated 09:15 am EST, Fri December 19, 2003

Hidden Costs of Macs

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