[Hodar]

Just as Windows computers are about half the price of Mac computers, the Windows pads will probably be considerably cheaper than the iPads. If the Windows pads cost as much as iPads, they won’t sell.

Not quite true anymore. If you compare like for like - the Apple computers are very competitive with anyone. Compare a specific Mac Book Air, then compare an industrial case (not a cheap plastic case) with identical specs from Dell, HP, Leveno or anyone else - you will find that Apple is usually cheaper.

Compare the 9.7 inch tablets made for Android and price-compare them against the iPads - again, like-for-like. You will find that the other tablets are about the same price (or more expensive) than the iPad. In the case of Blackberry, they had to knock their price from $699 down to $149 to sell their inventory - they were MORE expensive than the similiar equipped iPad.

The age of the "Mac Tax" is gone.

[dennisw]

Not quite true anymore. If you compare like for like - the Apple computers are very competitive with anyone. Compare a specific Mac Book Air, then compare an industrial case (not a cheap plastic case) with identical specs from Dell, HP, Leveno or anyone else - you will find that Apple is usually cheaper.

Only problem is only 10% of laptop buyers need the very high specs you like.
90% of laptop buyers will be happy with a 15" $350--$400 HP laptop that has 4gb memory.....They don't need to spend $1700 on Apples least expensive 15" laptop

$399 at Best Buy this week HP Pavilion g7-1338dx laptop 

1. 4-way processing, 
2. 17.3" screen, 
3. 4GB DDR3,
4. 500GB hard drive 
5. and Windows® 7 Home Premium.
6. Laptop screens are measured diagonally. Limited quantities. No rainchecks.
7. Browse the Web with this HP Pavilion g7-1338dx laptop that features a wireless LAN for an easy Internet connection. 
8. The built-in webcam and microphone make it easy to video chat with friends. 
   Information provided by Intel.