Your Next Hardware Refresh Just Got More Urgent

If you've been putting off a laptop or desktop refresh, now is a good time to move it up the priority list. What used to be a "we'll deal with it when the hardware dies" decision is starting to look more like a planning problem.

What's Happening With Hardware Availability

The global memory market is under real pressure. Data centres building out AI infrastructure now consume roughly 70% of all DRAM and NAND flash memory produced worldwide. That's the same memory that goes into the business laptops and desktops your team uses every day.

The result: PC prices are up 15 to 20% from two years ago, and supply chain analysts expect elevated prices and longer lead times to continue through at least 2027. Some configurations that used to ship in a week are now taking three to six weeks, or longer.

This doesn't mean hardware is impossible to get. It means that businesses that plan ahead will have options. Businesses that wait until something fails will be working around shortages under pressure, which is never a good position for making decisions.

The practical advice: if you have devices reaching the end of their useful life in the next 12 to 18 months, now is the time to start thinking about replacements, not in 6 months when you're scrambling.

When You Do Refresh, Here's Something Worth Knowing

A hardware refresh is also an opportunity to revisit whether the platform you're on is the right one. And this is where many businesses are surprised by the numbers.

The most common assumption is that Macs are expensive. A MacBook Air M5 starts at CAD $1,499. A comparable business-class Windows laptop, like the ThinkPad T14, runs around CAD $2,500. So the Mac is already cheaper upfront. But the more interesting comparison is the cost of each device over four years of use.

When you factor in employee downtime, security incidents, and resale value at the end of life, the numbers look like this:

	Mac	PC
Hardware purchase	$1,499	$2,500
Employee downtime (4 yrs)	$1,120	$3,360
Security incidents (est.)	$67	$167
Resale value at end of life	-$450	-$500
Net 4-year TCO	$2,236	$5,527

That's more than double the cost per device, over the same period. These figures come from Forrester's Total Economic Impact of Mac in Enterprise study and IBM's Mac@IBM programme, which covers over 277,000 devices.

Where the Gap Comes From

Downtime. Mac users average about four hours of downtime per year, compared to twelve hours for PC users. At a blended rate of $70 per hour, that's $280 per employee annually, versus $840 annually. Over four years, the difference adds up to $2,240 per person.

Security. Macs experience around 56% fewer security incidents than comparable PCs. macOS has hardware-level encryption built in, and the platform is a much less common target for the malware that circulates in business environments.

Lifespan. Macs typically run well for six to seven years. PCs usually need replacing after four to five years. That's one to two extra years before you're back at the hardware table.

Resale value. When it is time to replace, Macs retain 30 to 40% of their original value. PCs retain 20 to 30%. It's not a dramatic difference, but it contributes to the overall picture.

Mac Isn't the Right Answer for Everyone

We're not suggesting a wholesale platform switch. There are legitimate reasons to stay on PC.

If members of your team rely on Windows-only software, such as certain CAD applications, industry-specific tools, or proprietary systems that haven't been ported to macOS, those users should stay where they are. Forcing a platform change that breaks someone's workflow isn't a win.

The smarter approach is to evaluate by role. Most business users who do email, document work, video calls, and web-based work are strong candidates for Mac. Users with Windows dependencies stay on PC. We can run a mixed environment with no additional complexity.

What a Transition Actually Looks Like

Setting up Macs in a business environment is more straightforward than it used to be. We configure Apple Business Manager with Mobile Device Management (MDM), which allows for zero-touch provisioning: devices arrive ready to use, enrolled in your organization, with the right applications and security policies already applied.

Even after a one-time setup cost, based on reduced downtime alone, it typically breaks even within the first year. The infrastructure scales to any number of devices at no additional setup cost.

A Good Time to Have This Conversation

The hardware market is tightening, and prices are heading in one direction for now. If you have devices coming up for renewal in the next six to twelve months, it's worth talking through your options sooner rather than later. We're happy to review your current inventory, flag what's due for refresh, and give you an honest recommendation on the platform and timing.