I spent about 1500 on a beast last summer. I7-2600K @ 4.4GHz, 8g 1600 RAM, 2x GTX 570, 128gB SSD, 1 tB Storage drive, Blue-Ray, USB 3.0. Boots up in 19 seconds from complete power off. Photoshop opens nearly instantaneously. I've never really timed a raw conversion, but I'm at work so I'll have to time it once I get home.

I am extremely happy with my setup. Obviously not portable like a macbook pro, but I didn't spend 3500 on one that still doesnt have the hardware mine has either.

Plus I'm a gamer, so Mac was a no go for me anyway.