Not cheap, but not expensive:
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/W ... co=5C0A987
EDIT:
http://www.tekpanel.com/wide-screen-computer.shtml
Account for the differences in screen size and hard drive size and then we'll know if it really is expensive. If the call is free, I'll phone 'em Monday. Either way, the results should be interesting.
EDIT2:
Preliminary price break-down (ie. if I was to buy the parts new on my own as a "Joe Blow")
Assumptions:
-must be a widescreen LCD because the imac is (even if you choose a non-widescreen one, with the mobo/monitor integration I can imagine it would cost more than the one below)
-1.9 G5 ~ 2.2 P4 cpu (see Anandtech's second mac assumption article as to why)
-X600 is PCI-E (assumption based off the fact that DDR2 used)
-no motherboard added as barebones LCD/mobo's are near non-existent (feel free to point me towards where I can buy one otherwise. I know Homey B has those IBM ones, but they only accept P3 chips. Tekpanel is about the only manufacturing I can think of off the top of my head who offers 'em).
-prices taken from Canada Computers and
www.pricenetwork.ca
-it's for "Joe Blow"--thus, he doesn't know about Linux and he'll want Windows
-Windows XP Pro simply because Tiger doesn't require activation and the price difference is minimal
PC Apple Equivalent:
-17"
widescreen LCD $430
-Intel P4-2.2B s478 (512k) 533Mhz $159
-512 mb DDR2 generic $37
-Seagate Barracuda SATA 160GB $100
-Plextor PX-716AL Slot Load $196
-Logitech QuickCam Messenger $26
-keyboard and mouse $40
-X600 Pro PCI-E $160
-Windows XP Pro $150
Total: $1298
This doesn't include all the bullsh!t PC equivalent software included on the iMac like movie editing, photo editing, etc. I'm sure that would easily be at least $100 for all of those. Not to mention the price of the motherboard isn't even factored in here.
It's not that big of a difference, really. You could say that you could shave some $$$ off that price........and you'd be right. But it's for a completely different market. The one that makes money, so they're very competitively priced.