TCO has been touted by MAC for many years. Alas, it is easy to slant numbers to promote an argument for either platform. Whenever a truely independent researcher looks at the numbers, it seems that the validity of the TCO argument evaporates into a dead heat. http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/22738.html What is often overlooked is that "average" numbers don't tell the whole story. My studio isn't populated with examples of "average" workstations. I carefully research the hardware & software choices I make. I pay a (usually) small premium upfront for the parts that are considered reliable. The result of being an educated consumer is that I greatly reduce the odds of having to fill anything in on that "support personel" line. I have stayed with PC this last round of upgrades because this equation has allowed me to buy a more powerful machine (over the then current top of the line MAC)... for less money.... which has remained reliable.... and (most importantly!) was significantly more up-gradable than the Apple offering. This last point has weighed quite strongly in my choices over the last decade. Buying a PC is no different than buying a car. If you simply go with the pop offering, you get middle of the road performance and you better buy into that extended warranty. Frank > Often Macs have a higher initial purchase price, though this has >become less of an issue over the last several years, especially on the high >end. In fact many times these days Mac portables and PowerMacs actually >have a lower cost than equivalent PCs. (Equivalent being the key word here. >A PowerMac G5 can not be compared to a bargain consumer PC) However, all >the studies I've seen (and no, they weren't all paid for by Apple) show >that Macs are significantly less expensive when you look at the total cost >of ownership over the life of the computer, and that ultimately Macs give >you a higher return on investment. Jeremy Stoller >Senior Graphic Artist >California Science Center >(213) 744-2532 >[log in to unmask] >www.CaliforniaScienceCenter.org ---------- >From: SciArt-L Discussion List-for Natural Science Illustration- on behalf >of William Smith >Reply To: [log in to unmask] >Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 4:46 PM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Mac or PC? What about costs? In Australia any >peripheral or accessory seems to cost >more for a mac as well as initial outlay and upgrade costs? > >-----Original Message----- >> From: SciArt-L Discussion List-for Natural Science Illustration- >> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Britt Griswold >> Sent: Monday, 17 May 2004 11:51 PM >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: Mac or PC? >> >> >>>Yes, I would like to work on location in a studio of >>> so that are all mac? >>>But, as jeremy said, I dont want to buy photoshop for >>>both the systems though and I never got to grips with >>> Macs seem to be good for graphical >>>software, but its my perception that the PC is a >>>better all round computer. >>> Looks like its leaning towards me keeping the mac >>>now (which is dissapointing, I was looking forward to >>>going on a spending spree in PC world!) >>> >> >> PC can be bad or good. Macs can be bad or good. It all depends on >> what you want to do, who you will use for tech support (if anyone). >> You will find 3 programs that will do a job badly for every one you >> will find on a mac. IE there are a lot of programs available for the >> PC that have nothing to do with the Graphics industry. You will find >> most mainstream software available on both platforms. You will find >> more viruses on a PC. You will find more specialized scientific >> software on a Unix or Lunix box. A Mac will run this as well. If all >> depends on what you are comfortable with. These days you will find >> many shops using both. The Mac is doing very well in certain market >> segments, but you can always find someone using a PC anywhere. >> >> Britt >> -- >> _______________________________________ >> Britt Griswold/WMAP Project >> Infonetic/Maslow Media Group >> NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center >> Code 685 Bldg. 21 Rm 063 >> Greenbelt, MD 20771-0001 >> (301) 286-3381 >> (301) 286-1617 FAX >> (301) 286-7230 FAX >> [log in to unmask] >> http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov > > ___________________________ >Disclaimer If you have received this message in error, you are asked to >inform the sender as quickly as possible and delete this message and any >copies of this message from your computer system network. Unless >otherwise stated, this e-mail, including attachments represents the views >of the sender and not the views of the Environmental Protection Agency. >Any use of this e-mail could harm your computer system. >___________________________ >