You can get a Mac mini for $599, base model.
As far as customer support, I wouldn't know because I haven't had one SECOND of problems with my machine. When I got high-speed installed at the house, the mediacom fella set up the cable modem, handed me the network cable, and I plugged it in. I opened my browser, went to the preferences pane, and clicked the "automatically detect ethernet settings" button. I have blazing through the internet ever since. I used to dog Macintosh out to anyone who would listen, just because it was different. That was before they narrowed the field on PC. The stuff that comes bundled in the operating system is pure brilliance.
Also, nowadays when you order one, you have the option of getting the harddrive partitioned and having Windows XP installed along side the Mac OS. This, to me, is like putting ketchup all over your filet mignon, but whatever.
If someone has a problem with a newly purchased Mac, I would come over and help you fix it. It seriously breaks my heart to think of people red-in-the-face mad at their PC's for acting the way they do. A friend of mine bought a fancy new recording mixer/computer interface recently. He tried for a week to get it to communicate with his PC. No dice. Furious. It took me about two minutes to make that thing sit up and behave through my mac mini.
Hmmm, $2500 laptop couldn't do what my $499 mini could in five minutes. That mixer is collecting dust at his house, four months later.
Sorry to turn this into a PC bashing thread, but I have strong feelings on this. Microsoft got lazy and arrogant because of a 90% market share, and they stopped caring about things. This made computer people mad, thusly, spyware and viruses.
...oh dbuck! I wondered the same thing. But, somehow I ended up at the Apple Store last night and listened to the speel with Mr. K. I started glazing over at which point Mr. Kitty decided that's what we needed. I think the deal is you can buy a Windows XP program for the computer. We are taking in our old computer and having things transferred today. Thank goodness for my laptop...I may get lost in Appleland! 
I know exactly what you mean about GLAZING OVER, Mr. dbuck says he can see it in my eyes, that a veil comes down and I'm lost in Neverland. If you put Windows XP in an Apple aren't you putting in what you're trying to get away from? 
Let me know!
I'll give it a try. Could be like the blind leading the blind.