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You normally write a great column. This one, however, has a bunch of problems.
Macs are boutiqueware at this point. They simply don't hit the price points that low-end PCs hit, because they're not low-end hardware. For many people, this is an extravagance that is simply unnecessary. Apple doesn't offer any real low-end options, despite what people say about the Mac mini.
Resale value is also misleading. If you have $300 to spend on a computer, it doesn't really matter that Apple's $1000 computers will retain much more of their purchase value. Implying that this somehow helps people who don't have the means to afford a Mac in the first place is kind of like chiding the poor for renting and not owning their homes, because, duh, it's cheaper!
Also there's a whole thing about ease of upgrades, which could be factored into the cost however you want to. Mac minis age poorly in my experience specifically because of these limitations. Upgrades are expensive and options are limited.
Apple makes great computers. My lab is filled with them, and I love using them. That said, my home desktop and laptop are both PCs, and will remain so for quite some time. I don't have the money for a Mac -- I know exactly how much they cost.
