It's the CPUs that are extremely expensive, even for Apple which is why they include a crappy HD2600 card. The thing is, where those CPU prices will fall in a while, this pro computer's price isn't going to mirror that. Also, the lower clocked Hapertowns go for substantially less, but performance does dip the same. You can configure a workstation beast with a quality MOBO, graphics card(even workstation class), and lower clocked Xeons for a grand less than this Mac although it won't run OSX without hacks apparently. "Natively" isn't the correct term, same hardware.

Whatever floats your boat, though. Highest of high-end will always be ridiculously priced.

Man, it's just a fun debate over cost vs. performance. I can't care less for MS or Apple, but I love discussing the ridiculousness of high priced "pro" machines. Same guts on the inside, but to a lot of people that doesn't matter. And custom doesn't mean like it's work being put in, either. It's the easiest thing in the world to plug components and screw things in.

Nope. You fail. Real people that do serious computer work don't like to throw money around. The macs are just a cool box to wow the clients.

Too true, homeboy! The 90s were great fun.

Alright lads, here is my $1500 configuration:

2x Intel Xeon E5410 Harpertown 2.33GHz LGA 771 80W Quad-Core
8GB DDR2 667 memory
750GB WD HD
ASUS DSBF-DE Dual 771 Server Motherboard
Radeon HD 3870 512MB(cheap card, and for comparison to the crappy 2600XT)

This is all $1500 without a fancy case, but you can get a nice server Lian Li case and optical drives and other goodies for a relatively cheaper price. Sure these Xeons don't compare to the new higher clocked guys in the mac pro, but they can be overclocked and still provide great workstation power for the money.
I mean, I can see the appeal for these mac pros, but man are they expensive. Hobbyists can't afford to spend that much, so people strapped for cash generally put their computers together themselves.

I'm just a fan of cheap power. Prices I got from newegg as I'm lazy.

I don't see the point to this at all! PC drives are available, right? Just get or hook up a PC with those two drives and the hardwaresoftware, and you're set. A system with a SOLID videocardcpumemory and the drives will be much cheaper than this, eh?

Nope, no CableCARD yet! Heck, I don't even have an HDTV :)

if this thing has a fast and big lcd, and better control dpadbuttons then i'd be all for it! probably won't do well with commercial games market, but with an 800x400 res lcd and 8gb storage it should make a great PMP.