[Centurion2000]

bump for later.

[Wooly]

To prove my point that Apple is overpriced, on the Apple website I configured an Mac Pro this way.
One 2.93GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, 8 Gigs DDR3 1066 ECC Memory, 2 - 1 Terrabyte SATA 3.0 Hard Drives, ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB, Two 18x SuperDrives (DVD Burners), Apple LED Cinema Display (24” flat panel), Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse, and Apple Wireless Keyboard (English) and User's Guide. You will notice that there is no software or operating system. Total cost is $4898.00.
Now from Newegg and XPC Gear

LIAN LI PC-A70B Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail, ASUS Rampage II Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail,OCZ Special Ops 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3SOE10664GK - Retail, COOLER MASTER UCP RS700-AAAAA3 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Power Supply - Retail,2 - Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM, ASUS EAH4870X2/HTDI/2G/A Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail,2 - LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 - OEM,Hanns·G HG-281DPB Black 27.5” 3ms Widescreen HDMI LCD Monitor - Retail, Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 - Retail, Intel Core i7 940 Nehalem Quad Core 2.93GHz 4.8GT/s 8MB L3 Cache LGA1366 CPU Processor. Total cost of all hardware $2732.87.
So with virtually equal hardware performance you will pay a little over $2100.00 more for the Mac. and the only thing that you will get for that $2100.00 is the logo (remember there is no operating system in the price).
Other than the Apple instruction set programming, all of these parts are on the same level of performance and quality.
If it is worth $2100.00 to be a bore, then you buy the Mac. But I prefer the savings.
Also by learning to build your own computer you will find that for the most part retail computers are poor preforming junk, since they are into maximizing profits while keeping the price down.