[HAL9000]

Let’s see...I’ve got a 3.2 gigahertz Intel processor, 2 gigs RAM, LITE-ON DVDRW SHW-160P6S [CD-ROM drive] TSSTcorp CD-R/RW TS-H292C [CD-ROM drive], 160 gigabytes of HD, Creative Sound Blaster 5.1, HP vs 19” monitor with XP Pro with less than $400.00 invested. Apple can’t beat that.

You omitted the most important specification - the operating system. That factor is far more important than the hardware nowadays.

If the operating system is some low-quality crap like Desktop Linux or Microsoft Windows, then Apple is a much better value.

[MortMan]

I believe XP Pro qualifies ad an operating system, FRiend. Your opening shot makes the rest of your post worthless - because you contradicted the facts.