Al Vallario said:
I wouldn't call that "eye-wateringly expensive"
In any case if you look at the iMac which is Apple's desktop computer there is nothing comparable in PC world really.
I don't know of any PC's with a similar spec where you can get all the components and monitor into a box that is 5cm thick. What if you need the space? Towers can take up quite a bit of room. Not to mention that my iMac is almost totally silent and a lot cooler meaning lower energy costs.
Asus DRW-1608P3S 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Beige) - Retail(£21.14)
Belinea 102035W 20.1" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black/Silver
(£246.74)
Intel Core 2 DUO E6400 "LGA775 Allendale" 2.13GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
(£152.74)
Corsair 1GB DDR2 XMS2-6400C4 TwinX (2x512MB)
(£108.09)
Abit IL9 Pro (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
(£63.44)
Sapphire X1600 Pro 256MB DDR2 AVIVO TV-Out/DVI (PCI-Express) -
(£61.09)
Hitachi Deskstar T7K500 NCQ 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM
(£52.86)
Akasa Eclipse 62 Aluminium Case - No PSU
(£103.38)
Akasa AK-P040FG8-BKUK 400W Green Power 80+
(£55.21)
Creative Live! Cam Optia (£10 Cashback)
(£36.41)
Logitech Cordless Desktop S 510 - Black/Silver
(£35.24)
Creative SBS260 2.0 Speakers - OEM
(£9.34)
Logitech USB Desktop Microphone
(£16.39)
Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre 2005 Edition - OEM - 1Pk (M93-00200)
(£77.54)
Belkin 100m Bluetooth USB Adapter (F8T012UK)
(£15.26)
Belkin F5D7000UK 802.11g Wireless PCI Adapter
(£19.92)
Total inc. shipping = £1,104
Apple iMac 20" inc. shipping = £991.70 (not Apple online store, it's down) + about £80 for the wireless keyboard and mouse and better graphics i added
= £1,070
Ignoring the fact that I got higher education discount, all the software that comes with it, the fact I don't have to make it, the fact I get support from Apple, the fact it's quieter, cooler, looks a lot better, takes up less space, has a better operating system (imo), i got an iPod for £100 at the same time and a free printer, etc.
Disadvantages obviously being it's more difficult to upgrade, if it breaks I have to send the whole thing off, etc.
Therefore, I don't see how DD et al think they are eye-wateringly expensive at all

. They may be expensive, more so than the cheapest PC you could build to compete but they are not poor value for money by any stretch of the imagination.
Note: all components were taken quickly from overclockers store and won't be perfectly matched because i did it so quick.