Microsoft Exec Discusses the 'Apple Tax'

Ever heard of the Apple Tax? Neither have we, though one Microsoft executive is adamant that to buy an Apple Macintosh computer is to sacrifice hard-earned dollars when customizing your shiny new machine.

In a recent interview, vice president of Windows Consumer Product Marketing Brad Brooks discussed the additional costs Apple buyers face when trying to pencil in Windows Vista or XP compatibility. Brooks argues that those costs associated with customizing the operating system, applications, and even laptop or desktop colors can make Mac machines much higher than their anticipated cost.

"It's really a definition now between choosing something that is limited, and somebody chooses for you, basically the 'i' way, or actually taking it to a much broader scope, which is 'your' way, and defining it through Windows, and the experience that comes with the tens of thousands of partners that build applications, services, and content for the Windows platform every day," says Brooks. In other words, you can certainly get Windows on a Mac, but it's gonna cost you. (Source: cnet.com)

Brooks' comments come as Apple, according to many rumors, gets ready to unveil a new line of more affordable laptops. Many of these machines may dip well below $1000, pleasant news given recent worries that we're about to descend into a major recession, even depression.

It doesn't appear Brooks really has discovered a special Apple tax, but is certain that it's just more expensive to buy Apple -- if you read the fine print. "There's a choice tax that we talked about, which is, hey, you want to buy a machine that's other than black, white, or silver, and if you want to get it in multiple different configurations or price points, you're going to be paying a tax if you go the Apple way," he said.

Brooks and Microsoft will have their own 15 minutes of fame the same week Apple is expected to announce those cost-effective laptops. The Redmond-based company, according to reports, has confirmed that the next version of Windows will be officially named "Windows 7". With a projected release date sometime during "early 2010", it means Vista's window of opportunity (no pun intended) is fast closing. (Source: nwsource.com)