Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: Macs are not as outrageously expensive as other PC gear out there, it just seems that way. That's according to those zany analysts at Piper Jaffray, who said that the price of Macs nowadays are comparable to the price of PC-based laptops and desktops.

Gene Munster, who's made a name for himself recently by studying Apple and making some accurate forecasts, says that it's all in the consumers' perception that Apple's are more expensive computers. He said: "We believe both consumers and investors tend to believe that purchasing a Mac will cost 20 percent to 30 percent more than a PC," he said in a research note.

In case you want to look at the actual break-down and the cost comparisons, be sure to check out Cnet, which seems to counter the opinion on several levels. You can make the final determination for yourself. Of course, there isn't a PC out there that looks as sexy as some of Apple's latest products.