The important thing to consider, cost-wise, is the TCO - Total Cost of Ownership. Apple computers may have a higher initial cost than a “white box” machine, but especially if they were top spec to begin with, their resale value usually makes up and more for the cost differential. For example, I expect to get 60% of retail for a 2yo machine still under AppleCare. But even if I keep it - I’m in the process of retiring a 2012 MBP that’s still quite usable, mainly because the projects I’m doing now require the 64GB of RAM and top GPU in my new 16” MBP. That’s a 7yo machine, still turning out shots. I don’t think it owes me anything.

I’m looking on eBay at prices for used Dell and HP laptops. Pretty sad, though I guess one could make the point that one gets to keep the price difference right away rather than getting it back on resale.

Tim Sassoon

SFD

Venice, CA