Macworld UK noted this morning that a new Gartner study backs up what Mac users have known for years: it’s cheaper to operate a Mac than it is a Windows-based PC. According to the Macworld UK article, the study was conducted at Melbourne University’s Faculty of the Arts. That facility uses some 4,676 Macs and 5,338 PCs, and:
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.
You can read the full article at Macworld UK’s Web site. Macworld UK’s article says that there is a 36% difference maintenance costs between the two platforms, though our math says it is actually a 29% difference.
The Mac Observer Spin:
This is VERY good information to come to the surface right now. Every study we have ever encountered dealing with total cost of ownership has always said that Macs were cheaper to maintain than PCs, but the last such study we remember is many years out of date. With companies becoming less than thrilled about Microsoft’s licensing terms, along with Apple’s ever-increasing clout because of Mac OS X, this study released at this time *will* turn some heads.
It can also be used by Macheads in the every day world debating with Wintel lemmings who try and pull out the "Macs are too expensive" card. The difference in support costs is significant, and very quickly eliminates any perceived price difference within a year or two, even at the low end.