In comparison, a $2000 MacBook Pro has the same default-specs as a $1,000-$1,500 Laptop-PC.
To be fair though, the MAC hardware is very nice and well designed. It feels pretty darn sturdy. It's not typically built cheaply.
For comparison sake, a 15" MacBook Pro running a 2.53Ghz core 2 duo cpu, with 4GB's of DDR3 ram, a 250gb Hard Drive, webcam, illuminated keyboard, DVD burner, running a GeForce 9400M graphics card, supporting 1440x900 resolution, with a 7 hour battery is $1699.
A Dell Latitude E6500 laptop, with the WXGA+ screen which does 1440 x 900, plus an Nvidia NVS 160M video card, with 4GB of DDR2 RAM, with a built-in webcam, a 250GB hard drive, a DVD burner, with BlueTooth, illuminated keyboard and a 9 cell battery is $1450.
So, only about $250 difference.
Granted, you can buy cheaper made laptops and lower quality parts and drive your price down....but when you do such a thing you aren't really comparing evenly. Sure, a Ford Focus can get you 100 miles down the road on a full tank of gas...but then so can a Corvette or a Cadillac....doesn't make them the same thing.