Depends on what you're comparing, really. If you're comparing a Polycarbonate Macbook to a Plastic HP at Best Buy, yes. The MB is more expensive, and has less specs. I'll pay $999 for the MB vs. say $399 or so for the HP. However, that $399 HP is a 15" screen, bad graphics, a slimmed down OS [Win 7 Basic, or Home], and that's it. Keep both for a year. What's worth more?
Now...if you compare an entry level 13" MBP with an HP Elite or similar, with the same options, and chassis, you're at a very similar price point. The problem is that the basic consumer doesn't see this, or care. Especially when you throw in a certain age group, or populous. A kid, or family with little cash will always defer to the lower end stuff, with the idea it's good enough for what we're doing. Point is, over the course of time they'll spend the same. My son has a 2007 MB at home. It's as good as the day it was bought, and it was a refurb. A friend of mine bought both his kids a DELL laptop for X-Mas in 2009. Neither stood up, and he has to get them new ones. Cost for purchasing all of them [old and new] over the last few years is more than what I paid for one. AND I can resell the 2007 MB, and apply it toward a new one.
My point? Yes, they can be more expensive. But they do last, and hold their value. It's the same idea as buying one Toyota, or Lexus and keeping it 5 - 8 years. Or, buy 2 Fords over the same timeframe. They'll end up both costing the same over that span...
