Reality Check:
Understanding the Real Costs of
Deploying Macs and PCs

The perception that Macs are more expensive to acquire and deploy than PCs has long persisted in many IT departments. This topic has been frequently explored in an attempt to dispel this notion and uncover the true costs of operating Macs relative to PCs in the enterprise. Given how unique one organization can be from the next, providing a definitive answer to this question can be challenging.

To learn more about this perennial question, JAMF Software asked research firm Clearworks to conduct an objective study exploring the factors that influence costs of computers in enterprise organizations. They concluded that there is not a simple answer that can be applied to every organization. Instead, Clearworks captured different experiences that varied based on the specific software and hardware requirements of an organization, as well as its approach to implementation and management. Also apparent is that the perceived cost gap between PCs and Macs has narrowed, and many of the old notions should be reconsidered.

Clearworks conducted surveys and one on one interviews asking a series of questions of the enterprise community in order to validate, in a study conducted by a neutral party, the anecdotal evidence suggesting that perceived cost differences have been narrowed or eliminated. Clearworks focused their research on exploring the following themes:

• What should be considered when comparing the costs of PCs and Macs?
• Is one platform more expensive than the other?
• Are there any real differences in the way companies support each platform?
• What are companies doing to increase the efficiency of operating Macs within their environment?

The results of this study will show you what a set of diverse organizations have found operating a mixed PC and Mac environment, and may make you stop and think about the cost experience within your own environment.

We're pleased to share this information openly and freely with the community. Please feel free to download the document, discuss the findings and let us know (via the form to the right or your JAMF representative) what you think.

About Clearworks

Clearworks, based in San Francisco, CA, offers a range of services to help companies build, launch and support new products.

Clearworks philosophy is and has always been to keep the voice of the customer at the forefront of everything we do for our clients and as a result market research is an integral part of our service offerings. By engaging and listening to customers, Clearworks is able to help our clients deliver the most compelling, differentiated products and services to the market.

More information:
www.clearworks.net