Interested in MacBook, but other notebooks so much cheaper?

I'm interested in getting a macbook, because of the great operating system and simplicity. But I question spending $1,600 on one when I look in a Staples pamphlet and they are selling HP Pavillion with TL-60 AMD Turion 64 X2 processor, 3Gb RAM, 250Gb hard drive for only $800. Or a Compaq Presario T5450 processor with 2 Gb RAM, 250Gb hard drive with DVD burner for $750. What made anyone get a MacBook and not some other, less expensive laptop?