dubdisciple
I think Rain has a point about the value, but there are other factors that push Alex's initial version of the truth a little more his way. I rarely bother selling PC's because there tends to be an overlap in usable components. Recycling components like video cards and such can bring about huge savings. Unless you are a high end gamer or an advanced 3D artist, odds are good that a quality video card from 2010 is still useful. i know that scenario is not perfect and does not cover laptops, but i also know high end gaming pc laptops on par price wise with Macs have higher resale value than your typical Dell or HP.
I was thinking about that earlier tonight... The point is valid, and as a matter of fact, this is also where one of the biggest crossroads is found.
Personally, though I've built and I did troubleshoot my own PCs for years, the last thing I want is to do is get under the hood. That component you recycle from 2010 may save you money. It may also cause you headaches. At any point, anything you recycle may or may not be a cause of trouble.
The very least you'll have to do is get into that technical frame of mind and investigate how the various components you want to use work together. As a matter of fact, putting a computer together implies a certain amount of research and staying up to date.
I did that, and it was no big deal. Some dig it, and I get it. But after living w/o having to ever worry about such things, I sure wouldn't want to go back. I don't stay up to date, I don't care about technicalities.
Every minute I spend NOT thinking about my computer and its components is a gift.
When it was time to upgrade a few months back, I visited Apple's web site, found a Mac that matched my needs and budget, went to the MacStore the following day, picked that computer and brought it home..
I was up and running minutes later.
With a bit of research and will, someone could have put together a much better PC, but the fact is that, in spite of all the theoretical superiority, my Mac does all that I need.