@simon gardener
"lets not forget why pcs are so cheap - they are subsidised by the companies whose trial software is preinstalled on your machine"
Actually Simon, it's because hardware is dirt-cheap. Macs are so expensive because people still buy them despite a horrendous markup. About a year ago I did a comparison of a fresh PC and the equivalent Mac. Including peripherals which I already owned, and price of the OS my PC was still 800 quid cheaper than a Mac.
"sure, macs are more expensive but if you want an ipod this is a cracking deal"
Are you actually that stupid? If you want an ipod, buy an ipod for the couple of hundred quid they're offering. If you want a new Mac, might as well take advantage. Seriously (and this isn't a dig at fanboys just a dig at stupid people), if you think that spending a grand to get something that's a couple of hundred quid is a good deal you do actually need your head looking at.
On the plus side at least this might hammer home just how much of a markup Apple put on their products, or maybe not.