[rbanffy]

If you buy a computer, it becomes a company asset and, from an accounting PoV, the money was not "spent". If you lease it (and give it back at the end of the lease) you only had expenses (and, from accounting's PoV, money spent).

Various factors may make one option preferable to the other. Taxes, executive bonuses etc.

If part of the yearly bonus is tied to investing less in infrastructure, an exec may opt for leasing hardware. OTOH, if the bonus is tied to lowering expenses, the exec may consider buying it.