One of the biggest barriers to refreshing your organization’s desktops is the hardware cost. However, experts say low prices on Windows Vista-based devices make them an attractive buy versus their Apple Mac counterparts.

Though Macs have a quality operating system and hardware, “Windows has such a variety of vendors offering various hardware configurations that you’re bound to find lower pricing with them,” says Al Gillen, research vice president for system software at Framingham, Mass.-based analyst firm IDC. What’s more, since Apple is the sole distributor of the Mac, there is no competition, little choice, and scant wiggle room on price. PC manufacturers, on the other hand, have incentive to put together compelling offers for Windows-based machines.

According to a study in CIO magazine, an Apple MacBook Pro and Dell Latitude D830 configured as closely as possible to one another ended up costing $2,397 and $1,868, respectively. While the difference in price may be bearable when buying a single machine, many budget-strapped IT managers planning a mass desktop rollout will find the higher cost of the MacBook prohibitive.

Ryan McCune, solutions director at IT consultancy Avanade Inc., a Seattle-based joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture, says that Windows-based machines also offer more options for IT managers with a range of users to support. Companies can purchase anything from kiosk-type machines with low-end hardware to high-end PCs with enough memory and CPU power to handle the most resource-intensive applications. Apple tends to focus its smaller product portfolio on a limited segment of the market, McCune says.

Another price issue to consider: There are fewer software applications available for the Mac than for Windows-based machines, and they’re often more costly. “There are just many more applications available for Windows,” McCune says.

Finally, don’t forget to factor in support. Since most businesses use Windows-based PCs, bringing Macs into your environment will add to administrative expenses, Gillen says. For instance, you’ll have to buy separate applications for your Macs and have technicians with Mac skills on hand to support them. “If you’re worried about maintaining costs, adding diversity is going to add costs,” Gillen observes. “Most organizations don’t want to do that.”

Sandra Gittlen is a freelance technology editor in the greater Boston area.

Other articles in this series:
Mac vs. Vista: Which is better for business? Part 1: Manageability
Mac vs. Vista: Which is better for business? Part 2: Reliability
Mac vs. Vista: Which is better for business? Part 3: Security
Mac vs. Vista: Which is better for business? Part 5: Usability, compatibility, and integration