A PC is cheaper than a Mac. But is it? I've recently bought a new MacBook Pro, and it's also my first Mac. Have a look online though. The specs vs the price. There are many cheap PC's available of a low spec that aren't really fit for use they run so slow. Plenty of RAM, but people seem to use RAM to gage how fast a PC is. Side by side, a laptop with a processor that matched the MacBook Pro's base config 13" model, not really cheaper. All I could find as a rival was the Dell XPS, with much lower battery life, plastic construction, weighed more and doesn't look anywhere near as nice. Find me a new laptop with the spec that matches a Mac, and then look at the price. Not to mention the additional RAM the XPS had will have been torn to shreds by Vista. I have a desktop PC, not even a year old, with 4 gigs of RAM, an Intel core 2 quad processor running at 2.66 GHz and a 500 GB HDD. Running Vista, even when new it's slower than my Mac, which has half as many processing cores and half the RAM.
Dell XPS M1330 - 2.0GHz Processor, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 13" glossy Screen, Vista Home Premium, 9 Cell Battery (still only 3-4 hours life, according to reviews), Integrated Graphics, Wireless N Network card. Total, off the shelf price inc VAT and Delivery, £998.99. ($1637.24)
MacBook Pro 13" - 2.26GHz Processor, 2GB Ram, 160GB HDD, 13" glossy Screen, OSX Leopard, 7 Hour Battery, Integrated Graphics and Wireless N Network card. Inc VAT and delivery, £899.00. ($1473.77)
Mac has slightly higher spec, much better looks and the best keyboard and touch pad I've ever used, is lighter if I'm not mistaken and has a much better OS.
Side by side shops - I agree. Go with the cheaper bargain next door. To the Microsoft shop that is. Get a Mac.