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Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service

technichi.com

31–40 of 84 posts

Re: Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service

#31
post #25

This seems like a difficult business to execute on. 1) You need capital to buy the machines to give out and slowly collect $60 on. Once the capital runs out, more is needed, but without getting capital quick enough, new customers have to be turned down, growth slows, and capital becomes even more difficult to acquire. 2) Since the tech and product can be easily purchased by anyone, there is room for other businesses…

In your opinion what is the difference between leasing a computer and leasing a car?

Off the cuff, cars cost 10x as much and aren't obsoleted by better cars that drive 3x as fast after two years...

Re: Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service

#33
post #9

Apple itself has a Macbook "subscription service", actually. It's called a "Fair Market Value lease" and works basically like a car lease. http://store.apple.com/us_smb_78313/browse/finance/lease

The devil will be in the details. The Apple lease program to me isn't interesting because a) the minimum lease term is 24 months and b) the minimum order is $3,000.

If I have an option to subscribe on 6-12 month terms and upgrade my machine on each release cycle, that'd be really interesting.

Re: Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service

#37
post #25

This seems like a difficult business to execute on. 1) You need capital to buy the machines to give out and slowly collect $60 on. Once the capital runs out, more is needed, but without getting capital quick enough, new customers have to be turned down, growth slows, and capital becomes even more difficult to acquire. 2) Since the tech and product can be easily purchased by anyone, there is room for other businesses…

In your opinion what is the difference between leasing a computer and leasing a car?

One of the big drivers for car leasing is tax policy. From my cursory understanding, you can generate bigger short-term, tax-deductible business expenses with a lease than a purchase.

Since computers presumably depreciate faster than cars, the benefit is probably smaller for computers.

Re: Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service

#38
post #31
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In your opinion what is the difference between leasing a computer and leasing a car?

Off the cuff, cars cost 10x as much and aren't obsoleted by better cars that drive 3x as fast after two years...

Nor do laptops anymore.

Re: Technichi: Macbook Subscription Service

#40
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Off the cuff, cars cost 10x as much and aren't obsoleted by better cars that drive 3x as fast after two years...

Nor do laptops anymore.

A $300 Dell Venue 8 Pro Intel Atom tablet is faster than a Macbook Pro of 4 years ago.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7263/intel-teases-baytrail-per...

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