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Madrag · Jan 13, 2005, 10:47 AM

is it only in Portugal (where I live) or the PowerMacs DP have had a uge price drop???

(I've seen it also in a german site)

any one else can confirm this?
or is it just my eyes that are disfunctional (I write this while getting ready to buy my G5 2.0 DP, the wait is over!)

Big Mac · Jan 13, 2005, 10:54 AM

Congratulations on your upcoming purchase - the DP 2.0 is terrific! Now how much of a price drop have you seen?

Madrag · Jan 13, 2005, 10:55 AM

actually, now that I see it, all the products have had a nice price drop! (the DP have had the greatest!)

Madrag · Jan 13, 2005, 11:04 AM

the drop has been almost 500 EUR! (from 2.660 to 2180!)

but I expect a greater drop, from the store that usually has the best prices (and service!) here, they haven't updated the prices yet...

That's why I posted this topic

UnixMac · Jan 13, 2005, 11:28 AM

Nothing dropping here in the US. I still can't believe that the machine I bought back in July costs exactly the same today (less the $200 monitor discount).. and no speed bump to boot! I never get this lucky.. usually two weeks after I buy they put out a machine 2x as fast and 1/2 the price!

Big Mac · Jan 13, 2005, 11:32 AM

Interesting. Sounds like there may be a US price drop soon then. Hey UnixMac, I imagine that you've gotten luckier with your Mac purchases because you're more informed about the product cycle than you used to be. Of course, the fact that the 970 has apparently hit a roadblock (the difficulty of even getting to 2.5GHz) has helped those of us who chose to purchase G5s.

HHogan · Jan 13, 2005, 11:46 AM

It's a currency adjustment, Apple did it for all the stores world-wide since the US dollar sucks so much.

UnixMac · Jan 13, 2005, 11:50 AM

Originally posted by Big Mac:
Interesting. Sounds like there may be a US price drop soon then. Hey UnixMac, I imagine that you've gotten luckier with your Mac purchases because you're more informed about the product cycle than you used to be. Of course, the fact that the 970 has apparently hit a roadblock (the difficulty of even getting to 2.5GHz) has helped those of us who chose to purchase G5s.

You know.. you're part right, however at least with regards to my laptop... I simply bought it when I needed it (which was two months ago) and I was sure the G5 laptop was going to be announced this week. That took me by surprise. However the Dual G5 @ 2.5Ghz is as fast as it was going to get for a long while when I ordered it back in July... that was a given.

as for price drop... the time as come and gone for that...

Big Mac · Jan 13, 2005, 11:59 AM

Originally posted by HHogan:
It's a currency adjustment, Apple did it for all the stores world-wide since the US dollar sucks so much.

People complained about the strength of the dollar in the late '90s through 2001, and now that the dollar is weaker, with the Euro about as strong as it has ever been against it, people complain even more. Can't we make up our minds?

HHogan · Jan 13, 2005, 12:12 PM

I'm not complaining, the CDN$ keeps going up and up making everything cheaper for me.

UnixMac · Jan 13, 2005, 12:22 PM

Originally posted by HHogan:
I'm not complaining, the CDN$ keeps going up and up making everything cheaper for me.

which really sheds light on how cheap some stuff is in Canada. I was just in Montreal and spend two days at a nice Hilton, ate well and such and spent about $300 CD... in the US the same thing would have been closer to $400 USD... factoring in the exchange rate, that's still a great deal in Canada.

A weak dollar may be hurting consumers here, but it sure s helping exporters.

Appleman · Jan 13, 2005, 12:30 PM

Since when are these prices dropped? I have the idea that the prices are the same befoer/after MWSF in The Netherlands at least.
By the way, if you compare prices between several European countries, there IS a difference. It used to be all the same.

UnixMac · Jan 13, 2005, 12:47 PM

Originally posted by Appleman:
...if you compare prices between several European countries, there IS a difference. It used to be all the same.

so much for the EU...

Appleman · Jan 13, 2005, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
so much for the EU...

according to your latitude/longitude you are not in the EU...

Madrag · Jan 13, 2005, 01:09 PM

the prices have dropped since yesterday...
and as I said, I've seen the drop also in a german company (http://www.musicstorekoeln.de/englisch/), their drop was about 300 EUR

as for the dollar, I wish I could use my Euros to buy in the US, just convert the price of a DP 2.0 from US to EUR...

and here in Portugal we earn almost half than what the people in the US earn!

(I know, I'm complaining too much, but who cares, I'll get a G5 soon!)

Appleman · Jan 13, 2005, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by Madrag:

and here in Portugal we earn almost half than what the people in the US earn!

if you watch Friends or Cosby show: yes, then it seems they earn more in the States....

sheer · Jan 13, 2005, 01:25 PM

Originally posted by HHogan:
It's a currency adjustment, Apple did it for all the stores world-wide since the US dollar sucks so much.

Long overdue IMO, and not by enough either. A dual 2.5 is still >$750 (www.xe.com) cheaper in the US than the UK. Which is strange since the new products (iPod shuffle and miniMac) are much closer to a straight exchange rate conversion. Ah well, such is our lot...

HHogan · Jan 13, 2005, 01:46 PM

Yep, the DP 2.5 was dropped $400 cdn (along with the display cuts a couple of weeks ago), but its still a tad off of what it should be.

Edu discount takes care of it though.

Appleman · Jan 13, 2005, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by HHogan:
Edu discount takes care of it though.

hm, price of a prodct is x.
Difference between this product USA versus Europe is y.
So price in Europe for product is x + y.

Now you say: "Doesn't matter because education prices will take care of it."

Well, I prefer to pay a discount price for x amount, and not for (x+y) amount.

villalobos · Jan 13, 2005, 03:46 PM

Originally posted by Appleman:
Since when are these prices dropped? I have the idea that the prices are the same befoer/after MWSF in The Netherlands at least.
By the way, if you compare prices between several European countries, there IS a difference. It used to be all the same.

Drops were on January 4th IIRC.

HHogan · Jan 13, 2005, 04:20 PM

What I mean is before it would have been cheaper for me to drive down to Buffalo, pay the taxes in the US. Then drive it back, claim it, pay the 15% in Ontario, and I'd still save money.

Now its at least close enough that such a trip wouldn't make sense because I'd get the education discount here, pushing it to the levels it should be.

UnixMac · Jan 13, 2005, 05:26 PM

Originally posted by Appleman:
according to your latitude/longitude you are not in the EU...

You are correct, however I do follow financial news and world affairs much more so than the average American.

Appleman · Jan 13, 2005, 09:46 PM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
You are correct, however I do follow financial news and world affairs much more so than the average American.

"The average Americab does NOT exist.

Neither does exist "the average European".

Neither does exist "the average Japanese"

Neither does exist "the average 'whatever' "

Will you ever get it???????

UnixMac · Jan 13, 2005, 10:18 PM

Originally posted by Appleman:
"The average Americab does NOT exist.

Neither does exist "the average European".

Neither does exist "the average Japanese"

Neither does exist "the average 'whatever' "

Will you ever get it???????

Easy there Hoss......... didn't mean to ruffle your feathers so badly. Your talking to me like I am a habitual offender of some sacred doctrine.

However I have to disagree with you, there are many ways to measure averages, and one of them is done thru polling and demographics. As it relates to understanding of world affairs; the "average" American (when surveyed by polling groups) doesn't know which main countries form the EU, and which one's are using Euro vs native currency. Sorry if that upsets you, but it's true. If you don't agree, then please PM me, so we don't occupy this thread with an argument about sociology.

TiDual · Jan 14, 2005, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by sheer:
Long overdue IMO, and not by enough either. A dual 2.5 is still >$750 (www.xe.com) cheaper in the US than the UK. Which is strange since the new products (iPod shuffle and miniMac) are much closer to a straight exchange rate conversion. Ah well, such is our lot...

Well, do remember, Apple store prices in Europe incl. VAT (between 15-18% depending on your country), while Apple store US prices do not. So you can whinge that VAT is too high in Europe, but that's not Apple's fault. Now, this doesn't account for *all* the disparity between US/Europe pricing, but a lot of it. Also, my impression is that the UK gets about the worst deal of all European countries ... perhaps because it's not in the Euro, but more likely just, er, "because".

UnixMac · Jan 14, 2005, 08:21 AM

Originally posted by TiDual:
Well, do remember, Apple store prices in Europe incl. VAT (between 15-18% depending on your country), while Apple store US prices do not. So you can whinge that VAT is too high in Europe, but that's not Apple's fault. Now, this doesn't account for *all* the disparity between US/Europe pricing, but a lot of it. Also, my impression is that the UK gets about the worst deal of all European countries ... perhaps because it's not in the Euro, but more likely just, er, "because".

It is odd that you can buy a BMW, or Aston Martin for the about the same price in the US as in their countries of origin, however many US products cost a lot more in Europe than they do in their country of origin. Are their any tariffs slapped on computers? OR let me put it this way... can you order a Mac form the US and just pay your countries VAT and be legal? If so, why don't you? If not, there there must be other trade barriers.

Appleman · Jan 14, 2005, 08:36 AM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
It is odd that you can buy a BMW, or Aston Martin for the about the same price in the US as in their countries of origin, however many US products cost a lot more in Europe than they do in their country of origin. Are their any tariffs slapped on computers? OR let me put it this way... can you order a Mac form the US and just pay your countries VAT and be legal? If so, why don't you? If not, there there must be other trade barriers.

The way it works in the European Union: you do not have to pay import taxes for computer products since these are considered not to last that long, i.e. in one year a pc is old, slow, etc.
So you only pay tax, which is here in the Netherlands 19%.

This is for personal use, of course, not for companies.

Now it depends where you buy a Mac (or what so ever) in the USA: it varies per state if they give you back the eventually payed tax when leaving the country. From my experience they don't do that in California, but it seems there are states that do pay back.
With the current airfares, it depends on the model, but it can be interesting to fly Amsterdam - New York and buy a PowerMac G5 DP2.5.

UnixMac · Jan 14, 2005, 10:24 AM

Originally posted by Appleman:
The way it works in the European Union: you do not have to pay import taxes for computer products since these are considered not to last that long, i.e. in one year a pc is old, slow, etc.
So you only pay tax, which is here in the Netherlands 19%.

This is for personal use, of course, not for companies.

Now it depends where you buy a Mac (or what so ever) in the USA: it varies per state if they give you back the eventually payed tax when leaving the country. From my experience they don't do that in California, but it seems there are states that do pay back.
With the current airfares, it depends on the model, but it can be interesting to fly Amsterdam - New York and buy a PowerMac G5 DP2.5.

That's just my point, if one can save money and get a cheap airline ticket (not uncommon these days) and pick up a Dual 2.5 and a bunch of other stuff (monitor, accessories) ship them UPS to Europe, and just pay the VAT, not only can you save money, but you can get a small vacation out of it.

I just bought a Volvo XC90 T6 and saved $4000 buy going to Sweden and picking it up (Volvo also paid for the airlines and 1 night hotel mind you) Then I paid a 7% sales tax for the State of Arizona (which I would have had to pay either way).. so the net is a $4000 savings or close to 8% of the total price. And the visit to Sweden was a bonus.

Appleman · Jan 14, 2005, 11:34 AM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
I just bought a Volvo XC90 T6

I see we have more in common than I thought

UnixMac · Jan 14, 2005, 11:47 AM

Originally posted by Appleman:
I see we have more in common than I thought

You mean good taste?

MORT A POTTY · Jan 14, 2005, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
You mean good taste?

well we all have that to some degree... we are Mac users after all

Appleman · Jan 15, 2005, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
You mean good taste?

Haven't seen your partner yet

UnixMac · Jan 15, 2005, 01:38 PM

Originally posted by Appleman:
Haven't seen your partner yet

She's hot! too hot for me frankly. But I'm not going to tell her..

here look for yourself.. most of them are my kids, but she's the tall blonde.

http://homepage.mac.com/sjsamaha/PhotoAlbum10.html

.... the mods are going to shut this thread down soon, I feel it.

Appleman · Jan 15, 2005, 01:49 PM

Originally posted by UnixMac:
.... the mods are going to shut this thread down soon, I feel it.

The off-topic trend is growing indeed!

UnixMac · Jan 15, 2005, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by Appleman:
The off-topic trend is growing indeed!

Nothing to talk about.. no new hardware, and this forum as been quite slow lately which kinda sucks, but it also is good in that the G5's have been relatively trouble free... At least mine has for the most part.

Anyway.

fishguy · Jan 20, 2005, 08:14 AM

Hold on, how did you get your volvo to Arizona? What did shipping cost? Any costs to upgrade the volvo to meet US standards? Did you factor all that in? If so tell me how to get that deal?!

UnixMac · Jan 20, 2005, 10:22 AM

Originally posted by fishguy:
Hold on, how did you get your volvo to Arizona? What did shipping cost? Any costs to upgrade the volvo to meet US standards? Did you factor all that in? If so tell me how to get that deal?!

Walk into any Volvo dealer in the state you live in, and say you want to do OSD or (Over Seas Delivery) and bag! you're on your way to sweden (Belgium, Germany, or other factory location).

Learn more here: Swedespeed

The car is built to US Spec custom for you... with the options and upgrades you specify.

The only minus is that you have to pay upfront and wait 2-3 months for it to be ready. But you can also lease it if that doesn't work for you.

MB, BMW, Audi among other European makers do the same thing.

Appleman · Jan 20, 2005, 10:30 AM

OK, back to the topic:

Afte calling all the dealers I know of in The Netherlands, I understood that the Dual 2.5 cannot be deliverd quicker than 2-3 weeks. Not one dealer has it in stock, and Apple seems to be unable to tell them when it can be expected.
Apple Store Netherlands has the same, 2 weeks minimum. That is if you take the standard configuration.
As soon as you leave the modem out (just one minor change), it will take considerable longer to deliver (3-4 weeks).
So I decided to buy the Dual 2.0 standard and buy my RAM, harddisks and video card along the coming weeks to upgrade the babe.

As it will be delivered tomorrow, I am a bit exited

Appleman · Jan 21, 2005, 02:28 PM

I've got it! Dual 2.0 G5. Wow, what a difference after using a iMac G3 400 Mhz for way too long! Just great!

MORT A POTTY · Jan 21, 2005, 02:40 PM

congrats.

may I suggest the ATI Radeon X800 XT

Appleman · 03:03 PM

Originally posted by MORT A POTTY:
congrats.

may I suggest the ATI Radeon X800 XT

Will have a look into this when it is on sale here in Europe!