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Cost is mentioned. An iPad is $500-800. A cloud server is $20/month. A maxxed-out 11" MacBook Air is just under $1800. If you throw it away after 2 years (inste
by kleiba 14y ago
Cost is mentioned. An iPad is $500-800. A cloud server is $20/month. A maxxed-out 11" MacBook Air is just under $1800. If you throw it away after 2 years (instead of selling it), that's $75/month. In the same time, you'd spend $40-55/month for the iPad/cloud combo.
Not sure I can follow your calculation. If the iPad is (at most) $800 and the MacBook Air is ~$1800, you'll save roughly $1000 if you go with the iPad. If a cloud server is $20/month than it takes you about 4 years to spend these $1000. Thus if you compare the values within a time span of 2 years, shouldn't the iPad+server combo safe you roughly $500?!
I'm sure I'm missing something.
- chacha102 14y agoYes. That's what he said. $75(/month) - $55(/month) = $20 * 24 (months) = $480 saved over 2 years. And it is his argument is that over a 2 year span, that is negligible savings in the tech industry. Especially considering most people spend $2400 in that same span on their iPhone. ($200+$90*24=$2360)
- aes256 14y agoThen after 2 years, sell the $1,800 MacBook Air for ~$1,000, the iPad (now presumably 2-3 generations out of date) for ~$300, and the Mac becomes better value. You've taken a $800 depreciation hit on the Mac, and although the depreciation on the iPad was only ~$400, you've also spent $480 on your VPS...
- aes256 14y agoOnce you factor hardware depreciation in (who would toss a laptop after 2 years when you could sell it for 60% residual and put the money towards a new one?) there's inevitably going to come a point where the Mac has a lower TCO. Lower upfront costs do not necessarily translate into savings further down the line, especially when your choice of hardware ties you into a $20/month ongoing expense.