[Filo]

Yes, you could buy a PC for $500 but it did not have Xeon processors, Buffered Error Correcting DRAM, dual 1.33GHz frontside buses, a 1000 watt power supply to drive eight 30 inch monitors and space for two terabytes of hard drive space inside the case. The $500 PC is no way comparable... and is considerably slower than the Mac Pro.

That's where you're running into trouble. The $500 PC isn't a valid comparison, but neither is matching the features that don't have any real-world applicability and only add cost (dual FSB, ECC RAM, etc.)

As was posted above, you can get a very comparable PC system for substantially less than the Mac and it'll come with a display and maybe even speakers and other accessories. Every month or so Dell will even throw in a free printer or camera.

And even the $500 machine won't be "considerably" slower. It will be slower, but not for most of your day-to-day stuff (email, web surfing, spreadsheets, etc.)

Sure the $3K Mac will grind faster on Photoshop, but rare is the user who really needs that. . . but my wife does. :(

[Swordmaker]

Re: ...but my wife does.

So why aren't you buying her the equivalent Dell workstation at $3900 since obviously the $3000 Mac must be 50% more expensive as you claimed.

This is a real world situation, Filo... and the Mac is less expensive.