Communigate Pro AE-List@media-motion.tv Message 65773

> 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

I don’t think this math holds up based on my experience with selling used Macs and high end used DIY built boxes used for ISR. Mac asking prices for used are higher but actual sold prices are not that high. And I routinely get 7+ years out of DIY PC boxes which is exactly what I got out of my Mac Mini. These components inside are not wildly different here in MTF and Apple thermals are more problematic on more recent machines.

Yes, a crappy PC box or notebook that was crappy to begin with is going to be worth zilch in 3 years. But I sold 2012 and 2013 render boxes that cost around $2K to build for about $600 to $700. I got a $450 for my late 2012 Mac Mini that was $900 (with keyboard and mouse) + 16GB of RAM and $1TB SSD (2013 prices on those parts), just shy of $1500.

My 2018 MacBook Pro seems to be holding about same depreciation as Dell XPS machines so I don’t see the numbers to justify it from a TCO.

Best,

stephen van vuuren

336.202.4777

http://www.insaturnsrings.com/

http://www.sv2dcp.com/

http://www.sv2studios.com/

A film is – or should be – more like music than like fiction. It should be a progression of moods and feelings. The theme, what’s behind the emotion, the meaning, all that comes later.

–Stanley Kubrick

From: After Effects Mail List <AE-List@media-motion.tv>
Sent: Monday, December 9, 2019 7:52 PM
To: After Effects Mail List <AE-List@media-motion.tv>
Subject: Re: [AE] We can order a new MacPro tomorrow.

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

On Dec 9, 2019, at 4:38 PM, Gary Reisman <AE-List@media-motion.tv> wrote:

Some people to have no problems buying new $40k+ European cars that drop $10k in value in a few years, just to drive to and from work most of the time a few hours out of the week, when they could easily spend half on a decent domestic or Japanese import - some of which perform nearly the same.