That's not true, actually. I got my HP laptop for considerably less than an equal-spec dell would have cost.
Yeah HP laptops are generally well-priced. The ones I have seen anyway. They're also available at costco.
I find that it is Sony's vaio that tend to be overpriced, and it would seem that their laptops are hit and miss. But they tend to aim for higher quality, so you'd be paying too much.