Newsletters Welcome, Guest Log In | Register

Microsoft News and Notes

Observations about Microsoft, the world’s largest software vendor

About this Blogger RSS

Subscribe

Sign up now and get the best business technology insights direct to your inbox.

  • Daily Edge
  • CTO Edge Update
  • Business Tools & Templates
  • Aligning IT & Business Goals
  • Maximizing IT Investments

0

Windows PCs Are How Much? I'll Take Two

Posted by Kachina Shaw Aug 7, 2008 4:33:28 PM

eWEEK's Joe Wilcox this week took a detailed look at desktop and notebook pricing trends, and was a bit surprised by a couple of things. In fact, he wrote up two articles, one for Microsoft Watch and one for Apple Watch, to try to get at the numbers from all angles.

 

In Microsoft Watch, after having his head turned by two pretty HP notebooks priced at $699, Wilcox found that NPD market analysis says that's right on the ball. The average retail selling price for Windows notebooks is $700. And that's $177 less than two years before, though the rate has slowed significantly this year. The average price for Windows desktops has stayed right around $550 or so for the same time period, but NPD's Stephen Baker told Wilcox that he should pay attention to movement toward 64-bit systems -- and HP is the leader there. That may not be saying much, considering that competitors Dell and Gateway are doing next to nothing with 64-bit -- plus the fact that most consumers have no idea what it is or why they would care about it. In comparison, NDP finds that the average retail selling price for both Apple desktops and Apple laptops is over $1500, and hasn't moved significantly over the last two years. For those who are uncomfortable with comparing average prices, without matching memory, features, etc. Wilcox does compare, for example, the mid-range MacBook ($1,299) and HP DV2946NR notebook running Windows Vista Business ($699.99 at Target).

 

In Apple Watch, Wilcox finds that, though he understands Apple's targeting of premium price points, he's less comfortable with the fact that Apple prices haven't budged, as PC prices have, and neither have Apple configurations, for the most part. That hardware premium becomes even more expensive, in comparison, as a result.

 

PC (and maybe Windows notebook) prices have bottomed out and manufacturers know they have to beef up their machines to keep margins from falling. Apple, Wilcox says, will have to do the same, or lower prices. Not doing either means loss of market share.

Add a comment Leave a comment on this blog post.

There are no comments on this post

Software Forum: Information On Demand Virtual Experience

This interactive virtual forum presents leading IT experts providing the insights you need to turn your information into a strategic driver for innovation, business optimization and competitive differentiation.

Performance Under Pressure: The State of Enterprise Web Application Quality and Availability

This research study finds that Web application issues are an all-too-common problem and examines these Web-based enterprise application issues from two perspectives: that of an online customer and that of a site manager.

ITIL V3 Foundation - Complete Certification Kit

Enhance your IT career by getting your ITIL Foundation Certificate. It's fast and easy with this complete resource. The 186-page eBook and companion online training course is guaranteed to help you pass the ITIL exam.

Learn more >

Windows 7 Upgrade Project Kit

Moving to Windows 7? The Windows 7 Upgrade Project Kit is the ideal support tool for managing all phases of an organizational upgrade to Windows 7. The tools and templates in this kit will help you develop a strategy and map out the implementation tactics which link your Windows 7 deployment to your company's bottom line.

Learn more >