To me it's this simple: when I was a PC user, I was constantly
dealing with my computer to get my tasks done. Now that I've been using a mac for three years, I enjoy accomplishing my computer-related tasks.
If this were the only difference (and it surely isn't), this alone would be worth any price difference to me. If you use a computer for the sake of using a computer, then I can't speak for you as a buyer; but if you use your computer as a tool to accomplish other tasks on a daily basis, then I would point you to a mac nine times out of ten.
Yes, I'm about to bring in my Macbook to swap out the CD drive. It's the first major problem I've had in three years of heavy and semiprofessional use (i.e., using my computer as a tool for revenue) and I'm almost 100% fine with it because I know Apple won't give me and trouble in the process. When my HP bit the dust after a couple years, I spent weeks trying to figure out what was wrong with it and at the end of the day I would have been better off calling my grandmother than some bullsh*t excuse for tech support.
Fanboy? Absolutely not... I have evaluated Apple to be the best company for my computing and mobile needs, but if they drop the ball I'll be gone by the next time I purchase a device. I sincerely doubt that will happen.
Ultimately, I am willing to spend the necessary money on a Mac because of the the sense of security, integration (with other Apple products), and streamlined user experience that accompany it.