WisdomGroup

Total Cost of Ownership

March 26, 2009 – By Raymond T. Hightower | Comments Off

Yes, it is possible to buy a Windows-based laptop with a 17-inch screen for less than one thousand dollars. But purchase price is only part of the equation. Buyers must consider the total cost of ownership.

Value vs. Price
We’ve discussed the Mac vs. PC question before in this blog. Today we’ve learned that Microsoft plans to release a series of ads attacking Apple on the basis of price. Here is a preview:

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:0bb6a07c-c829-4562-8375-49e6693810c7&showPlaylist=true&from=shared" target="_new" title="Laptop Hunters $1000 – Lauren Gets an HP Pavilion">Video: Laptop Hunters $1000 – Lauren Gets an HP Pavilion</a>

When to Buy a PC
If the software you need to run will only run on a Windows-based PC, then buy a PC. It still makes sense to avoid Vista.

But consider a Mac. Virtualization software Macs to run Windows software very effectively. Mac users report fewer problems, crashes, and compatibility issues. As a Mac user who still supports PCs for some WisdomGroup clients, I experience the difference every day.

Competition Breeds Excellence
I look forward to this next round of competition between Apple and Microsoft. A little price competition will yield positive results for those of us who buy Apple products. In the end, consumers will win.