I've been using Macs and hanging around various Apple forums and mailing lists since 2001. One of the most common themes? Expensive RAM
Now what's funny is that everyone always says Apple is more expensive for a comprable machine, etc etc etc. Well - no, not really. I was comparing the MacBook Pro to both the Lenovo W520 and the HP EliteBook 8560W. Guess how much RAM prices are?
Lenovo - 4GB to 8GB upgrade - $160
HP - 4GB to 8GB upgrade - $175
Furthermore HP will sell you a single 8GB DIMM in that system... for ~$1,800! 16GB in 4 DIMMs will cost you ~$500 from HP. Both are, of course, significant markups. Those are rough prices I was quoted, I'm not sure what "list" for the average Joe business is.
I also compared the final cost of both systems, both the HP and the Lenovo ended up being
significantly more expensive than a MacBook Pro. I believe the Lenovo ended up around $3,200 once I added the 3 year warranty similar to AppleCare and the 3 year battery warranty (ripoff, AppleCare covers that..). The HP ran somewhere in the range of $2900, which is on par with the MBP after business discount. My co-worker was in the market for a machine and, similar boat, getting her a base 15in MBP actually gave her a machine with a better config that comprables, for less money.
However on both of those I'd also have to have paid a yearly Windows and Office CAL to Microsoft as we're under an EA. Right there I'm saving several hundred dollars per year by using a Mac, over the lifespan of my Pro (assuming my 4-6 year goal) it will be almost several thousand.
My point is that it's not all cut and dry. Apple's not "gouging" anyone, in fact their prices are pretty darn competitive now.