Why are Macintosh computers expensive?

I guess only Steve Job is qualified to answer this one. But let me hazard some intelligent guesses.1) Proprietary technology. There is no Apple-compatible machine from say, Taiwanese manufacturers which explained the lower prices of PCs.2) Smaller market arising from smaller demand which equates lesser clout in purchasing parts.3) Integrated software. Apple develops most of the software required by most people and then bundle them with the Mac. This will costs money, which you normally have to buy separately for a PC (case in point, iPhoto). Of course there are freewares for PC as well.4) Premium pricing to give the 'image' of a better quality and cooler product.

Stare into a iMac G5.THE RESOLUTION RULES.THE CD DRIVE UP THE SIDE RULES.THE REMOTE CONTROL THING RULES.THE COMPUTER IN THE SCREEN RULES.That's why.

Lack of competence...

Better components.Cheap PCs are usually noisy, because the components within them emits more heat, thus needing a bigger cooling fan.

Because they don't have any competition. Mac won't allow other computer manufactures to load OS X on their hardware. Hence, they don't have any hardware competition.Now they do sell components seperately that DO compete with the rest of the market like monitors etc. However, they will be built to leverage the OS right out of the box, so they are more tuned to the machine. This keeps Mac clients comming back.