Can I Buy A Macintosh Without taking out a 2nd Mortgage?

I want to try a Apple Computer and see what the fuss is all about. It can't be any worse than the pc's I'm used to. Vista? Oh, the Horror! Have you tried to start "Task Manager?" to shut down somethng that's not responding? It doesn't work! What do you think? Can I Buy a decent Mac at a realistic price without selling my house?