PC vs amiga pricing in the 80s and 90's. Were PC owners getting screwed?

[Speelgoedmannetje]

No... they weren't getting robbed they were just folk that were too dumb to realise the Amiga was the better machine and deserved to be ripped off...

I don't think Joe Average bought a PC anyway in the 80s, rather just your 8bit Commodore, ZX Spectrum or MSX. IBM came from the business/server market and had the business know-how and software. Ergo, the business was screwed big time in the 80s yes.
Likewise the Mac, but then on the graphic department.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

I always tell people nowadays it's not worth it to build their own computer from bits, as a new PC won't cost them much/any more..

It depends. If you pick your parts over the internet well you can still save AT LEAST $200 (with Windows, add ~$100 without).
And I've noticed that a manufacturer like HP STILL preinstall those hellish 'goodies' which thoroughly cripple the pc.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

LOL This isn't true at all, I can build a PC for $500 NZD. If I wanted the same spec in a pre-built computer it would cost me double that and in some cases 3 times that.

The other side of it is these pre-built machines from Dell, HP etc etc usually have old tech but they're demanding top dollar for it.

I don't know the prices of Dell and HP machines, but the price of 'nameless' pre-built machines aren't that unreasonable. Still overpriced and underpowered though.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

Betamax was more expensive then VHS, VHS won the battle because of;

longer recording time.
cheaper recorders.
more movies available.
sony trying (forcing) to set a standard with beta.

VHS won because of porn.
Video 2000 btw was better than both VHS as well as Betamax anyway...

[Speelgoedmannetje]

I could not find as much info as I would have liked, but here's a sample of PC owners getting screwed (UK)...initially.But you see prices fall massively, while time almost stands still for ST and Amiga users. Then the consoles begin to creep in as well. Nothing from the AGA period i'm afraid. I'm pretty sure some el cheapo amstrad machines could better the PC prices quoted here.

MAY '89-APRIL '90

520 STFM, mouse, game                      £300
520 STFM  mouse, game, col mon          £600
520 STFM  mouse, 21 games, organiser                            $400
A500, mouse                                                               £340
A500 mouse, DPAint2, Word proc, F18, Batman, N.Z story   £370
A2000 40MB HDD    £1300
A3000  030/16 +FPU, 40MB HDD   £2300
A3000 030/25 +FPU, 40MB HDD    £3200
Archimedes  3000  8mhz, 32 bit, 1MB    £650
PC40 286at,SD, 40MB HDD, VGA, col mon   £1500
PC50 386sx, SD, 40MB HDD, VGA,col mon   £2000
PC60 386dx, sd, 80MB HDD, VGA, col mon   £3700

Amstrad 6128 £330
megadrive +pad +1 game £190
PC engine £165
Atari Lynx £160


DEC '91-feb '92

512STE mouse,final fight, sim city, 9 lives, robot monsters, 10 games, productivity pack  £300
1040STE  mouse, 10 games, productivity pack  £400
A500+ 1MB  lemmings, simpsons, capt planet, DPAint3  £370
286sx 16mhz, 2MB ram, 40MB HDD, 1MB VGA,  soundblaster £1233
386sx 25mhz,  2mb ram, 40MB HDD, 1MB VGA  soundblaster £1360
486  33mhz, 8MB RAM, 40MB HDD, 1MB VGA, soundblaster  £2115

megadrive +pad £130
PCengine £140
Atari lynx II £85

First mention of the SNES launch to come.

Compared to the prices of the AtariST and Amiga to the Amstrad, to me it's clear the Amstrad people were ripped off as wel.
-edit- unless.. of course it came with a monitor...