[dennisw]

Also the Dell Inspiron M101z uses a AMD Athlon™ II K125 (1.7GHz/1MB cache) cpu, while the Air has 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache and an optional 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache; does NOT include SSD as an option; has 2GB RAM DDR3 SoDIMM at 800MHz with no option to upgrade to the faster Air 1066MHz SDRAM and; uses the AMD RS880M chipset with SB820 south bridge as opposed to the Air's NVIDIA GeForce 320M.

The closest Dell offering is the Latitude 13 at $1009.

Incorrect reasoning. You forgot the people who are content with the specs you mention on the Dell 11.6" machine. They can buy a nicely priced Dell instead of going in for typical Apple overkill. Do you know what the word overkill means? Because no pro-Apple poster knows what it means. I mention it but never get a direct answer. Just semi-fallacaious comparisons like yours

This Dell suits average persons computing purposes
Apple Air has less weight because it's a glorified iPad that has more memory, a wall adapter and a cover to shut. Impressive specs and portability but overkill for most buyers who want an 11 incher.
You can buy the Dell 11.6" machine for $489 refurbished making it ~$60% cheaper than the Mac Air @ $1199

Translation: Apple caters to the hoity-toity elites. Dell is for the commoners like me. Same as Robin Hood. Same as Ayn Rand. Same as Thomas Jefferson.

[PIF]

Oh! Sorry I stepped on your toes.

I was only making the best comparison, not knowing you are only looking for the cheapest PC box one can find. Good luck with Dell Customer Service BTW.

[Mr. Blonde]

You have said ridiculous things on Apple threads, but that Ayn Rand is for the common man takes the cake at least so far. I await you topping yourself in the future. Pretty high bar though.

[ReignOfError]

You forgot the people who are content with the specs you mention on the Dell 11.6" machine.

You forgot the meaning of the word "equivalent." Apple does not compete in the low-margin commodity bottom end of the market. No one is disputing that point. The cheapest Windows box is and will always be cheaper than the bottom-end Mac. BMW will never release a vehicle to compete with the cheapest Ford. It's not the business they're in.

Translation: Apple caters to the hoity-toity elites. Dell is for the commoners like me. Same as Robin Hood. Same as Ayn Rand. Same as Thomas Jefferson.

Yeah, Ayn Rand and Thomas Jefferson were known for their thriftiness. And Robin Hood would have been perfectly happy with a cheap sword that's sufficient for what most people want to do.