iPad Launch

[GeoffC]

Sorry if this is a duplicate ... BBC web link .... iPad Global Launch ....

Too expensive for me !

[cheerio6414]

Guess I completely forgot about this, where has time went

[kennyc]

Yes. Too expensive for it's capabilities. IMO as well. Looking forward to the competitors though. It's expected that Google is going to announce an Android powered tablet this month.

[m-reader]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yes. Too expensive for it's capabilities. IMO as well. Looking forward to the competitors though. It's expected that Google is going to announce an Android powered tablet this month.

There's the WePad WeTab - coming out soon, so it's a bit more than just a rumour. It seems pretty ok on most features (other than the 6 hrs battery life). I don't know how it stacks up against iPad, but it is an alternative.

[rhari79]

Found these price list in Japan's softbank site:
http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/ipad/price_plan/chart/

Seem to be about 100$ more expensive under current exchange rates.

The most important parts are pictures....makes translation impossible.

[Over]

No launch in my country.
And the prices are outrageous.
But by making people wait, they just make them more eager to have it and spend all that money.

[GeoffC]

eager - ..... no.

[Crowl]

Originally Posted by rhari79

Found these price list in Japan's softbank site:
http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/ipad/price_plan/chart/

Seem to be about 100$ more expensive under current exchange rates.

The most important parts are pictures....makes translation impossible.

What kind of VAT or sales taxes are charged in Japan, the european prices aren't that far off the american prices once you take into account the fact that they include vat and the american ones don't include any sales tax that might apply.

[rhari79]

Originally Posted by Crowl

What kind of VAT or sales taxes are charged in Japan, the european prices aren't that far off the american prices once you take into account the fact that they include vat and the american ones don't include any sales tax that might apply.

I think the sales tax is 5%. I could be wrong though.
But the prices indicated are all inclusive.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Crowl

What kind of VAT or sales taxes are charged in Japan, the european prices aren't that far off the american prices once you take into account the fact that they include vat and the american ones don't include any sales tax that might apply.

That's true. Given the practice of many companies of setting European prices way higher than US prices, the price of the iPad has been set pretty fairly.

[Crowl]

The level of fairness has improved by £ and € being at their lowest level against $ in the last 12 months, the pricing would seem a lot worse if that hadn't just happened.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Crowl

The level of fairness has improved by £ and € being at their lowest level against $ in the last 12 months, the pricing would seem a lot worse if that hadn't just happened.

I'm afraid your logic escapes me. If the Pound is low against the US$, surely that would be a tendency for the Pound price to be set higher, wouldn't it? Apple need to make more Pounds to get back the same number of Dollars.

[Crowl]

My point is that they will have set their european prices at a level they are happy with and know that their profits will vary along with the exchange rate, at this point it is lower than usual so their profits are lower, but they don't get as many complaints about ripping off european consumers like they do when they do a 1:1 conversion when the actual exchange rate is 1.5:1 which seems like a useful thing at launch when they are getting more press attention.

[HarryT]

OK, I see what you mean. I'm not sure that I agree, but I understand your argument .

[petermillard]

EU iPad prices are broadly in line with other Apple products, when you factor in the VAT. Prices quoted in the US don't include VAT/sales tax, in the EU they do. In the US a 32Gb iPad is half the price of an entry-level MacBook Pro - $499 vs $999. Here in the UK, and including VAT, prices for those products are £499 and £999.

Take off the VAT and converting £UK for $US, UK prices for the 16 & 64Gb iPads are a little under 8% higher than those in the US, the 32Gb 4% higher. Steve Jobs has said that the 'cost of doing business' in the EU results in costs about 7% higher than those in the US, and these prices bear that out - whether you believe him or not.

Whether that 4-8% increase counts as 'outrageous' is, of course, entirely up to you - especially when some of the 'increase' in prices is simply to hit a convenient sticker-price e.g. the direct $US to £UK + VAT conversion for a 16Gb iPad is $416; yes, it would have been nice if this had translated to a £399 price-point, but it really shouldn't comes as any surprise that it translates to £429.

HTH, Pete