I just bought a MacBook Air for $999, as a refurbished previous-generation offering from the Apple Store Online. And, now, I’ll show why that levels the so-called “Apple Tax.”
With that system, I am selling off three other laptops; my four-year-old PowerBook G4 12-inch, a netbook, and a Celeron (Core 2 Solo) laptop. One MacBook Air handles the tasks of all three (one being my backup Mac, one being my ultraportable, and one being my standby workhorse, respectively). I will probably get between $1,000 and $1,200 for all three systems.
So, Microsoft, where’s the tax that I’m paying? I’m taking three used laptops, and getting an as-new refurbished unit for potentially less money.
Plus, unlike other systems, I get up to four years of warranty (three from AppleCare Protection Plan, and one more from Visa and AmEx’s warranty extensions which kick in after that). Considering Apple’s lifecycle policy, that adds up to about $250 per year for the thinnest notebook ever made. Again, Microsoft, I ask where is the Apple Tax. I would have paid more money for a comparable Windows PC, even factoring in the refurb discount on the competition.
The sum total is that, if you max out an iMac, max out a MacBook Pro, max out any Apple system… sure, you’re going to pay an Apple tax. You’re going to pay Apple’s markup on RAM, Apple’s markup on EFI-enabled graphics cards, and Apple’s markup on zero PCIe slots (save for the… Apple-taxed Mac Pro).
But, a savvy shopper that is patient, can wind up saving money… even before factoring in tech support, software maintenance, anti-virus, malware protection, yadda, and yadda. The Apple tax is only if you’re not a smart buyer, someone that doesn’t take their time to research whatever their buying. You don’t need to be a nerd to be a savvy shopper. And, if you’re not going to be a savvy shopper, chances are the PC Tax will cost you much more in the short, and long runs.
My best wishes to Steve on his speedy recovery. I more than just about anyone else hope that, unlike past statements, he can make good his date to return full-time to Apple in June.