To Generik et. al.
Obviously you've paid too much attention to the PC world and not enough to Apple's marketing/PR machine.
Apple, since the reorganization of the product lines with the initial release of the iMac, have maintained basically the exact same pricing structure. Apple does not, in general, lower their prices. They will change features and the stuff inside but not pricing. An starting level iBook/MacBook for the past 3+ years has been around $1000. The starting level 15" PowerBook/MacBook Pro about $2000. That is the way it is. Apple will eventually come out with updated MacBook Pro and MacBook and the prices for the new ones will be about the same as I stated.
Now, all computers are nothing more than a tool to help you do something. If the current offerings by Apple or others are not worth the money for you to make the purchase, then don't. Buy something else.
Apple knows how to make money and run their business far better than you do, (and far better than many other companies.)