Average Price of Personal Computers
Despite technological improvements and increased memory, computer prices have plunged since 2000 with desktop units and low-end laptops leading the way. But while the price of hardware keeps dropping, niche computers anchor both ends of the price spectrum.
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Prices and Trends
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According to tech website Gizmodo, desktop computers cost an average of $550 in 2008, with laptops averaging $700. This compares with 1998, when the average personal computer cost $1,300. In 2008, MacIntosh computers cost an average of $1,500.
Desktop Models
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Throughout the first decade of the 21st Century, desktop units saw larger hard drives, more memory, and better LCD monitors, but a smaller market share. During that period laptop sales caught up with those of desktops, and tech pundits suggested the desktop computer may eventually become extinct.
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Netbooks
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Meanwhile, small netbooks found their own market among those who want portability without the price. At roughly half the cost of a laptop, netbooks are good for surfing the Internet from any hot spot and for some light-duty offline work. The smaller keyboard and display, along with the lighter capabilities, make them difficult to use for long stretches or for memory-intensive work.
MacIntosh
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As the 21st Century dawned, Apple was fighting for its life. But a decade later the company--driven by its flagship MacIntosh computer--recaptured its own niche in the computer world. By 2008 Mac personal computers were selling for more than double the price of Windows-based PCs, according to Gizmodo. Apple can credit its success to its virus-resistant operating system, its research and development, and also for its perceived "coolness factor."
Handhelds and Phones
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Meanwhile, handhelds and smartphones have developed into full-fledged mini-computers, creating the possibility that one can function online without using a desktop or laptop at all. If nothing else, the handheld phenomenon may have lessened demand for laptops and desktops.
The Top and the Bottom
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It is no longer a one-size-fits-all world for personal computers; in fact the market has splintered. Low-end computers, particularly the cheaper netbooks and laptops, are finding an audience. So too are high-end computers set up for gaming, video production and sound. MacIntosh holds its own audience, and cheaper white-box computers--basic models with the free Linux operating system installed--are finding their own buyers.
Factors Driving Price
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Computer ownership and use since 2000 has increased to the point where having a computer is almost a given. In 1997, the United States Census Bureau reported that more than one in three households had a computer. By 2009 the Bureau stopped asking about computer ownership, but reported more than 68 percent of households had home Internet access. The state of the economy is also a factor; in lean times prices will go down more.
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References
- Photo Credit The person, money, a computer image by Hunta from Fotolia.com
