A lot of the negative comments wrt cost are versions of this: what a ripoff, you can get better components for way less money in some other PC and/or if you build your own.<p>That's nice but it's not Apple's market. Apple's market is not other PCs, and it's not build your own.<p>This criticism of Apple has been around ever since Apple has been around (1970s). While the criticism has basically stayed the same since then, Apple has not stayed the same, they have grown. Their products have improved. Their market share has grown and it continues to grow.<p>Some people pay more money for a Benz, and other people say Hey that's a ripoff, I can buy a Toyota that gets me to work and back, just like your expensive Benz, for half the price! What a ripoff!<p>Apple is not in the business of making inexpensive PCs (and accepting all of the tradeoffs therein). The trends show that more and more people are willing to spend their money on Apple products.<p>They are clearly doing something right.<p>If you are enraged by their success, perhaps you are not their target market. And that is ok.