Macs cheaper to run than Windows in enterprise

New research confirms Macs have 33 per cent fewer problems than Windows PCs in a business environment – and that it’s easier to resolve Mac problems than those with Windows.

Nucleus Research has been conducting an in-depth study on Mac versus PC in the enterprise. Ian Campbell, CEO of the company, writes: "We’ve been investigating the ROI from Macs versus PCs in the business environment. I was reviewing the data from a case study one of our analysts is completing and the results are interesting."

He continues: "This particular company has approximately 1700 employees with a mixed environment of PC users and Mac users. Here’s the interesting data point: On a per user basis, for every 3 trouble tickets the help desk opens for PC users they only open 2 for Mac users. In addition, the Mac trouble tickets are closed 30% quicker. To net it out, in this company the Macs have 1/3 fewer problems and the problems are solved a lot quicker."

While the CEO freely admits the data only comes from one company, he calls it a "fair comparison of sophisticated users in a roughly balanced Mac versus PC environment."

The researchers are investigating numerous similar deployments, and will publish additional findings as and when case study work is complete, Campbell said.

The cost of investment is higher for Windows, too, as Computerworld suggested last year when it found that the true cost to put together a BTO Dell laptop to be as well featured as a MacBook Pro cost $650 more from Dell than the equivalent Apple laptop.