[astrodust]

People consistently underestimate how much value an Apple notebook has. The reason they cost >$1000 is because of what's inside.

Dell doesn't have the resources to make a MacBook Air type computer in volume. Apple's bought the gear, invested heavily in the suppliers to get them up to speed, and starves competitors of the equipment and supplies needed to produce similar computers.

Secondly, Apple focuses on a handful of models and makes a lot of them. Dell tends to produce dozens if not hundreds of models and can't get the volume on any single one up to the level required to really slash costs on exotic manufacturing processes.

HP has tried on a few occasions to produce something close, but they never stick with it long enough to really gain the benefits of scale.