We know that Macs last longer in use. How much longer?

What did I just say?

A new analysis of computers used in the enterprise finds that Macs and iPhones last much longer and have far fewer problems.

Macs in enterprise settings typically last for five years, besting the three-year lifespan for Windows PCs, according to a company that makes software to help businesses manage their computers.

But the really shocking revelation from the report is that more than half of Windows PCs used in big business get replaced within a year.

While factors like software compatibility, IT familiarity and customization options also play a role, upfront hardware cost remains the biggest driver for most organizations.

By comparison, Macs are often seen as premium products, which can make them harder to justify at scale (although the recently released $599 MacBook Neo is changing that equation).

Companies making these sorts of computer buying decisions should pay attention to a new report from Omnissa.

“Compared to Windows, 6.5x more Macs are seen in service into year 6, and 3.3x more Macs are seen in service into year 3+,” noted Omnissa’s report.

“Only 17% of macOS devices were replaced within one year, compared to 54% of Windows devices, reducing disruption tied to frequent hardware replacement,” said the analysis.

Macs are far less likely to crash. The benefits of using Apple computers don’t stop at longevity, though. Employees using Macs also run into far fewer bugs.

“The telemetry reveals that Windows devices exhibit 3.1x more total forced shutdowns (including system crashes and unexpected restarts) than macOS devices,” said Omnissa. “Windows devices experience 2.2x more app crashes and a staggering 7.5x more app hangs (unresponsive software states) than Macs.”

“A forced shutdown is much more than an IT support ticket — it’s a disruption to an employee’s work that translates directly into lost work hours,” said Omnissa.

Apple’s lifespan advantage extends to iPhones as well. When compared to Android handsets, “the data suggests that iOS devices display longer service life, with twice as many devices in service into year 6,” said Omnissa.

“iOS is updated 8.1 times faster than Android,” said Omnissa. “macOS is updated 1.5 times faster than Windows.”

The long-term cost benefits of using macOS or iOS in the enterprise are starting to overcome companies’ habit of making buying decisions based on short-term savings.

Source: Cult of Mac

NB: “Penny wise but pound foolish…

…This report feels like deja-vu. I remember reading similar research in 2004. The total cost of ownership of Apple products has been lower for decades but all the feedback is that there's more to the choice than TCO. Software compatibility and other non-economic factors. It's tiresome. The biggest point about the Mac Neo is that it throws almost all arguments out the window. It will still take a long time for the adoption curve.