[bloaf]

If they wanted a more apples to apples comparison in the hardware department, they probably should have added $600 to the monitor price[1] and paid for it by using the same CPU as the iMac (i.e. a 6700k)

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Monitor-UP2715K-27-Inch-LED-Lit/d...

Honestly, though, I don't think the point was to do an apples-to-apples hardware comparison. This was on a cost basis only.

[HillaryBriss]

The article also leaves out the cost of their IT guy's time to assemble the custom PC components. How much does an hour of Joseph WU's time cost? How many hours did it take for him to order, receive, unpack, and then assemble the components?

[p1esk]

My guess would be most of Wu's time was spent researching which components to order, probably several hours. On the other hand, if he's a full time employee, then it does not cost anything extra to have him do his job.

[manicdee]

If he is a full time employee then the time he spent researching and assembling this computer was time he didn't spend doing the job he was paid for.

[oarsinsync]

Unless 'researching, building and supporting the IT environment' is his job, as their IT guy

[Zombieball]

I guess the issue is the driving factor of the iMac cost is the monitor resolution. It would've made more sense (if they didn't need the resolution) to pick a different iMac and spec out a PC at a similar price point.