Mac vs PC (split from Netbook thread)

[Mike]

This is a flawed comparison - I don't know where you are getting these numbers from. There are Macbook Pros all over ebay for ~$700 -> $800 buy it now, making your cost of ownership around $1000 (I am assuming $1700 is what they cost new, could have been less?)

ya, my numbers do seem to be off. i searched again and 700-900 looks more like it. so cost of ownership is suddenly a good bit less on the pc side. i can admit loss when comparing total cost of ownership over the lifetime of a pc, but my original point stands, a mac has a greater lifetime, which alters things a bit. basically, you don't want to be using a pc laptop that is many years old... the build quality simply isn't there to make them last. with a mac it is... you WILL get more years out of a mac.

The D620 was an older model and doesn't have the Core2Duo processor in it - a more accurate comparison is the D630

no, because the macbook pro in question is also just a core duo.

Where can you get Mac's significantly under MSRP?

where did i say "significantly?"

Once again, I will reiterate that car and computer depreciation is not the same thing. Secondly, nicer is obviously relative - for example, I would rather own a 2003 Impala over a 2003 Camry (maybe not over an Accord if both were the same price.)

it absolutely is the same thing. it's a great indicator of the quality of an item after several years of ownership.

Lastly, if you want to keep on this American vs Foreign car depreciation thing, you have to take into account all the special rebates, financing offers, etc when buying new that the American companies usually give on cars such as the Impala. Those usually tilt the long term ownership costs back towards neutral when comparing them to the foreign makes (unless you are an idiot and pay full price, then you will get reamed on trade in.)

i took those into account.