I'm not an apple hater but think of it this way...spec out a mbp at 2400 and compare it to a thinkpad with the same specs. Is the case and "industrial design" worth 1200 bucks?
Thinkpad: (lenovo.com -> laptop -> 15" -> nvidia -> 256mb vram -> customize -> 2.4ghz -> 2x1GB -> 250gb -> wifi n -> bt -> continue -> webcam -> continue -> $1684.16 (on sale, down from $1952.95).
They're not the same computer, so you can't get exactly the same specs. The Mac has a lower screen resolution, shorter battery life, and no option to get a fingerprint scanner. The Thinkpad is heavier and thicker, doesn't have a slot-loading drive, digital audio I/O, Firewire, a built-in camera, a lighted keyboard, or a breakaway power cord. On specs alone, I wouldn't say either is better: I could imagine any one of these factors could be a dealbreaker, depending on your use of a laptop.
So the market says, no, good design isn't worth 1200 bucks. It's worth a little over $300, and that's when the competition has a "sale".
