3 ms·

Doesn’t every manufacturer of anything have to have a markup?

• inimino 8y ago
  Yes, but there are economies of scale that Dell or Apple enjoy which will never apply to a seller targeting a niche market. Not only do they get lower costs on parts, but they can afford lower margins per unit since they have much higher volume relative to the fixed costs of running the business.
  • Finnucane 8y ago
    So the niche market shouldn’t be served?
    • the_pwner224 8y ago
      What the thread parent (bgorman) saying is that boutique desktop systems (as with any niche product) have to add significant markup. But, for computers, the target market of these manufacturers can also often build a computer themselves and avoid the huge markup. If you sell ultra high quality waterproof headsets to audiophiles for $2500, including a $1000 markup, your customers have only the choices of A) not buying or B) paying the markup. With desktops, they get the 3rd choice of building it themselves for $1600/1700.
      • bwat49 8y ago
        What's missing in this analogy though is that computers need to run an Operating system. When building your own system (and running Windows), you can be pretty sure that windows will work without issues. With linux though, it's more of a gamble, which is why a vendor that tests/pre-configures/supports linux can be appealing
• ken 8y ago
  True, but here, you're paying for not just the hardware and the people who select and design and assemble it, but the development of a Linux distribution -- which nobody seems to want (see above), and which we're told "well, you can just ignore it and use Ubuntu instead". I lived through Progeny Linux. Never again. Ubuntu is the one Debian fork that I've seen survive, and it began with a huge financial outlay from an individual. It's just like the old joke: How do you make a million dollars? Start with a billion dollars...