[Eug Wanker]

The Canadian dollar is now just shy of that psychological 90¢ US barrier, at 89.9¢ US, a 28 year high. I suspect it will hit 90¢ US this week, possibly even today. Just how low can the US dollar drop? It's doing poorly against several world currencies.

CAD: $0.899
GBP: $1.829
Euro: $1.262
Yen: $0.00885

Of course, the Chinese Yuan is still locked at $0.125. I suspect it would rise significantly if China unpegged it.

[Tuoder]

It can go lower. Between inflation and crappy interest rates, it isn't worth saving anything anymore. It is a bad spot to be in, for me anyways.

[Dark Helmet]

Sweet!

[voodoo]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Sweet!

Dude!

[Leopard Employee]

I love it, burning up the credit card on US sites full of goodies

Bring on $2 to the GB£

Sudenly that MBP 15" is a little bit closer

[Dork.]

I hope it goes lower. I can squeeze a little bit more return out of the international funds in my 401k then.

Yup, that's right, hating America is helping me to retire early!

[Judge_Fire]

It can definitely go lower, especially now that Asia has started looking at a broader portfolio of foreign bonds. Hopefully Bernanke snaps out of his 'foreign savings-glut' theory and starts taking the current situation more seriously. Otherwise, Americans are in for a ride of a lifetime - so many things are bordering on critical.

For small, export-based nations like Finland, a strong dollar aka. cheap imports for US consumers is important. Then again both Europe and Asia are bigger markets, so the loss of American buyers can be tolerable in the mid-to-long term, especially when the Indian and Chinese middleclass booms.

J

[production_coordinator]

While a "weak" dollar sounds bad... it does has some advantages

1) People are much more likely to travel to the US
2) US built products become much more attractive to foreign countries

[production_coordinator]

Originally Posted by Judge_Fire

So many things are bordering on critical.

Care to elaborate?

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Peteso

I love it, burning up the credit card on US sites full of goodies

Bring on $2 to the GB£

Sudenly that MBP 15" is a little bit closer

That's what I was thinking, considering that the current low end Mac laptop (iBook 12") is US$999 (CAD$1111) in the US but it's CAD$1249 (US$1122) in Canada.

One can only hope they keep the low end MacBook at US$999, and match the Canadian pricing at somewhere around CAD$1099 to CAD$1149.

I'm worried though that because of the sinking US buck, either Apple will raise US pricing, or else they will keep US pricing steady and make the rest of us eat it (more than we normally do). (Can you tell I'm in the market for a new 13" MacBook/MBP? ) I've already seen US prices for camera at B&H Photo start to go up (because the stuff is coming in from Japan). Yeah, Apple is a US company, but most of their hardware products are made in Asia these days.

The good news though is that China has the dollar pegged to the US dollar so at least the manufacturing costs (excluding parts costs) may not increase that much. Also, eBhey purchases are going to be cheaper, since so many auctions are held in US bux.

As for travel to the US... Yeah maybe, but then again, I'm more inclined to travel overseas to Europe or Asia. I've been to the US too many times. Canada's dollar has kept pace with Asian currencies and the Euro of late, and it's much better now than it was a couple of years ago. Back then 1 Euro was 1.6 CAD$, whereas now it's 1.4 CAD$. OTOH, the US buck continues to fall against the Euro.

[Leopard Employee]

The other thing that some economists sugest is that america is able to control there currencey more than you think. The value of the dolar drops so countries who borrow from the US have to borrow at a higher rate to sustain themselves the US then increrases the value of the currancey and calls in the debts

$2 borrowed now has to be paid back in 5 years and has the equivalent value of $4

It would be an impressive trick but personnal I think its out of control

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Peteso

The other thing that some economists sugest is that america is able to control there currencey more than you think. The value of the dolar drops so countries who borrow from the US have to borrow at a higher rate to sustain themselves the US then increrases the value of the currancey and calls in the debts

$2 borrowed now has to be paid back in 5 years and has the equivalent value of $4

It would be an impressive trick but personnal I think its out of control

I dunno. That sounds like wishful thinking to a large extent to me. In fact, a lot of Asian countries buy the US buck just to keep it valuable. If the US could unilaterally control the value of its dollar, than these Asian countries would have to help. Lately it seems they're more willing to sell though...

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

While a "weak" dollar sounds bad... it does has some advantages

1) People are much more likely to travel to the US
2) US built products become much more attractive to foreign countries

Nice way to find the good side

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Nice way to find the good side

The Canadian manufacturers are complaining that the Canadian dollar is so comparatively high right now. They're having a tough time selling to the US.

[Tuoder]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

The Canadian manufacturers are complaining that the Canadian dollar is so comparatively high right now. They're having a tough time selling to the US.

I have heard statistics about how much of Canadian trade is done with the US, and it makes me wonder if there is a push to diversify a bit. Is there?

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

The Canadian dollar is now just shy of that psychological 90¢ US barrier, at 89.9¢ US, a 28 year high. I suspect it will hit 90¢ US this week, possibly even today. Just how low can the US dollar drop? It's doing poorly against several world currencies.

CAD: $0.899
GBP: $1.829
Euro: $1.262
Yen: $0.00885

Of course, the Chinese Yuan is still locked at $0.125. I suspect it would rise significantly if China unpegged it.

The Canadian dollar hit 90¢ US today. The numbers are now:

CAD: $0.903
GBP: $1.837
Euro: $1.264
Yen: $0.00883

I'll be happy once the Canadian dollar hits 90.9¢ US. That means a US$999 MacBook will be CAD$1099. And if it's not, it will be justifiable to complain.

[Kestral]

Way back during the dotcom boom/bust days, I cashed out an almost six figure US$ portfolio when $1 USD = $1.60 CDN. Feeling very good about that move right now.

[Dark Helmet]

How low can you go... How low can you go...

[PB2K]

Until now, I always booked my holidays in developing countries because travelling is so cheap and I don't have much to spend.

This is the first year that I will travel to the USA, because suddenly it's cheap there too.

Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, United States of America...Thank you

[Eug Wanker]

Speaking of Zimbabwe... Zimbabwe's inflation rate to top 1000%

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

How low can you go... How low can you go...

That's some great limbo!

I always hated the girls at the skating rink who could do the splits on speed skates and get down to about a foot and a half.

[Kestral]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

That's some great limbo!

I always hated the girls at the skating rink who could do the splits on speed skates and get down to about a foot and a half.

Is it wrong to want to know what that looks like naked?

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

That's some great limbo!

I always hated the girls at the skating rink who could do the splits on speed skates and get down to about a foot and a half.

Is that really something you want to admit to other men?

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Is that really something you want to admit to other men?

I'd love to see you post just once without throwing homosexuality into the mix.

They always won the contest, along with the prize.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

I'd love to see you post just once without throwing homosexuality into the mix.

They always won the contest, along with the prize.

What in the world did my post have to do with homosexuality? Are you trying to tell us something else?

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

The Canadian dollar hit 90¢ US today. The numbers are now:

CAD: $0.903
GBP: $1.837
Euro: $1.264
Yen: $0.00883

I'll be happy once the Canadian dollar hits 90.9¢ US. That means a US$999 MacBook will be CAD$1099. And if it's not, it will be justifiable to complain.

90.7¢ US now. That US$999 MacBook is now CAD$1101.

[production_coordinator]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Nice way to find the good side

Ummm... I'm serious. My father's company is having their best year EVER selling industrial equipment to countries like England, Canada, Bolivia and China. In fact, they are adding on to their plant.

They are downsizing their Canadian manufacturing plant because it's nearly as cheap to build in the US.

Regarding tourism, I was just in Wales, and my pocketbook took a serious hit! But just watch, the tourism industry in the US is going to explode in 2006.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

But just watch, the tourism industry in the US is going to explode in 2006.

I'm not convinced that's the case. Tourism will improve in the US, but I doubt it will explode.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

But just watch, the tourism industry in the US is going to explode in 2006.

Um ya, right. People didn't like to travel to the US before 9/11 and now with all the extra security concerns, added racism and procedures it is even more unpleasant.

[Monique]

The United States will always be a prime destination for Canadians. It has beautiful beaches, fun cities like Las Vegas, incredible National Parks, like Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, it is cheap and we love to shop there, people are nice and great customer services.

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by Monique

The United States will always be a prime destination for Canadians. It has beautiful beaches, fun cities like Las Vegas, incredible National Parks, like Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, it is cheap and we love to shop there, people are nice and great customer services.

And I myself have visited Canada. Liked it, too. I'll be coming back.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Monique

The United States will always be a prime destination for Canadians.

I agree. I also agree that visits by Canadians to the US will increase.

However, I just don't think that US tourism will "explode" like some have suggested. It will get an incremental increase. As you said, the US is already a popular vacation destination for Canadians (and people from all over the world).

The increased security at US borders certainly won't help the tourism cause either.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Um ya, right. People didn't like to travel to the US before 9/11 and now with all the extra security concerns, added racism and procedures it is even more unpleasant.

I'll remember that when I see that 1 out of 5 license plates on cars are from Canada while I am driving on Michigan highways. And in our shopping mall parking lots. And in parking lots of hotels.

I always give them an "eh" as a sign of friendship.

Maybe you don't like to go to the US, but your countrymen certainly like to vacation here and spend their loonies in our stores.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Railroader

I'll remember that when I see that 1 out of 5 license plates on cars are from Canada while I am driving on Michigan highways. And in our shopping mall parking lots. And in parking lots of hotels.

I always give them an "eh" as a sign of friendship.

Maybe you don't like to go to the US, but your countrymen certainly like to vacation here and spend their loonies in our stores.

Which reminds me... It's time for the US to get some usable dollar (and 2-dollar) coins. I hate paying for a juice at a corner store in say San Francisco with a 10 and getting 9 one-dollar bills in return.

It's not as if US$1 is worth enough these days to justify its own bill.

[Leopard Employee]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

90.7¢ US now. That US$999 MacBook is now CAD$1101.

Crude oil dropped by $2 / Barrell we may have seen the peak for the moment. The price drop is baised in the US Govt saying they had more reserves than they thought.

Fuel pulled directly from GW Bush's ass, wonders will never cease.

[Spliff]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

I'll be happy once the Canadian dollar hits 90.9¢ US. That means a US$999 MacBook will be CAD$1099. And if it's not, it will be justifiable to complain.

But how much are the border duties/customs on a laptop? I thought that the duties usually eliminate the advantage of a favourable exchange rate.

[Leopard Employee]

Pick it up yourself and remove from box before crossing thats what I did when I was in Cananda. except it was an IBM, I hadn't seen the light

MBP you would want to check for proccessor whine before you get to far from the shop anyway

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Spliff

But how much are the border duties/customs on a laptop? I thought that the duties usually eliminate the advantage of a favourable exchange rate.

As mentioned just take it out of the box and put it in a laptop case. Mail yourself the box and receipt.

[Monique]

That is very honest coming from a guy that think is better than the rest of us.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Monique

That is very honest coming from a guy that think is better than the rest of us.

That is very typical of you to come after me after your latest "you're a jerk" PM you sent me.

Show me the last time I said I was better than anyone here. I can show several cases where you imply you are better than anyone in Canada.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

As mentioned just take it out of the box and put it in a laptop case. Mail yourself the box and receipt.

Customs can open your shipping box if they want. What are you going to tell them when they find an empty laptop box?

Originally Posted by Spliff

But how much are the border duties/customs on a laptop? I thought that the duties usually eliminate the advantage of a favourable exchange rate.

Border duties are zero on Macs coming into Canada. What you do have to pay though is tax. GST and PST, but you'd have to pay that anyway in Canada too. Warranties on Macs aren't an issue either.

Anyways, I do think Apple will match the pricing closer this time around. It's just that recently the CAD dollar has climbed substantially vs. the US dollar, so the numbers are really out of whack. One of the reasons it's so far out of whack is the fact that the iBook is now 40 weeks old... and Apple rarely updates its pricing mid-cycle.

I suspect that if Apple releases a US$1099 13" MacBook to replace the US$999 12" iBook, they'll keep the Canadian pricing close to the same at CAD$1249 (US$1127) or at most CAD$1299 (US$1172). If they release the 13" MacBook at the same US$999, then I suspect the Canadian pricing will drop to CAD$1149 (US$1036) or at most CAD$1199 (US$1082). That gives Apple a little bit of a cushion should the US dollar rise again, but keeps the numbers relatively similar.

BTW, the 17" MacBook Pro is US$2799 in the US, and CAD$3299 in Canada. CAD$3299 is US$2976. That's still a 6% difference, but 6% is reasonable. The iBook is priced differently by 13%, which is too high, considering there is a free trade agreement between the two countries for this type of stuff.

Using the 17" PowerBook as a gauge, the higher C$ guesstimates for the 13" MacBooks seem about right:

US$999 MacBook - CAD$1199 (US$1082, +8.3%)
US$1099 MacBook - CAD$1299 (US$1172, +6.6%)
US$1499 MacBook Pro - CAD$1749 (US$1580, +5.4%)

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

Customs can open your shipping box if they want. What are you going to tell them when they find an empty laptop box?

Flatten the box. Who cares what they say, you can say you want it to build furniture.
Or hell, throw the box out.

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

Customs can open your shipping box if they want. What are you going to tell them when they find an empty laptop box?

"AHHH!!! MY LAPTOP!"

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

"AHHH!!! MY LAPTOP!"

Even better, you can then make an insurance claim and get two laptops for the price of one

[Monique]

Dark yes you are a jerk, and dishonest. You are giving stupid advices; the person who follows it could be arrested for fraud and pay hefty fines. But, what do you care?

I sent you a PM because it had nothing to do with this thread but if you insist I can insult you in this thread. Like you do for me, give it up, grow up, and be more honest. Maybe someone should look at your comings when you go to the States; it seems that you bring lot of stuff you are not supposed to, and that you defrauded insurance companies. When you tell people to steal it is probably that you have done it before.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Monique

Dark yes you are a jerk, and dishonest. You are giving stupid advices; the person who follows it could be arrested for fraud and pay hefty fines. But, what do you care?

I sent you a PM because it had nothing to do with this thread but if you insist I can insult you in this thread. Like you do for me, give it up, grow up, and be more honest. Maybe someone should look at your comings when you go to the States; it seems that you bring lot of stuff you are not supposed to, and that you defrauded insurance companies. When you tell people to steal it is probably that you have done it before.

You're such a miserable, humors, nutcase.

Don't PM me anymore, I am asking for the 100th time. Get a job and get a life.

[Monique]

Dark, after you, do not make any comments on me or my posts and I will leave you alone. Again you are so dense, it has nothing to do with this thread but instead of being an adult and discussing it privatly you do it publically. I dislike people like you so much; But, I am stock in this country.

I will treat you like a 5 years old talk about the thread, not about the dispute between us; I am doing it here to show how childish you are about this.

It is true I am going down to your very low level; but I am angry today, so hopefully you will also relax, get a job (which seems to be an impossibility) and get a life which is not part of mine. Just ignore my post, I usually do except in this case you were advising someone to commit a crime and I want to point to point this out to everyone.

[Leopard Employee]

Originally Posted by Monique

Dark, after you, do not make any comments on me or my posts and I will leave you alone. Again you are so dense, it has nothing to do with this thread but instead of being an adult and discussing it privatly you do it publically. I dislike people like you so much; But, I am stock in this country.

I will treat you like a 5 years old talk about the thread, not about the dispute between us; I am doing it here to show how childish you are about this.

It is true I am going down to your very low level; but I am angry today, so hopefully you will also relax, get a job (which seems to be an impossibility) and get a life which is not part of mine. Just ignore my post, I usually do except in this case you were advising someone to commit a crime and I want to point to point this out to everyone.

Have to say it was me who originaly advised everyone to commit a crime, you should also notice from my original post that I have commited the same crime myself. I have to say that if you arn't prepared to defraud the canadian govt of $100 thats your choice but I prefer to life a little more dangerously.

Not ganging up here just think it is a bit unfair on Darkhelmet, to bare your wrath for my suggestion.

Also not wishing to get involved with whatever else you guys have going on.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by Monique

That is very honest coming from a guy that think is better than the rest of us.

is that not the same problem you have too?

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Monique

Dark, after you, do not make any comments on me or my posts and I will leave you alone. Again you are so dense, it has nothing to do with this thread but instead of being an adult and discussing it privatly you do it publically. I dislike people like you so much; But, I am stock in this country.

I will treat you like a 5 years old talk about the thread, not about the dispute between us; I am doing it here to show how childish you are about this.

It is true I am going down to your very low level; but I am angry today, so hopefully you will also relax, get a job (which seems to be an impossibility) and get a life which is not part of mine. Just ignore my post, I usually do except in this case you were advising someone to commit a crime and I want to point to point this out to everyone.

Anyone else find that post rather ironic? She tells me not to make any comments to her posts but the rest of it is trying to bait me with really pathetic attempts at insults?

By the way Monique, have been been "angry" EVERY day for the past 5 years.

And I would looooove to know how you know that it is "an impossibility" for me to get a job when I am at work right now and have been working full time consistently or freelance for the past 6 years.
So what in the world did you base that comment on? Just stupid I guess.

Get a grip nutty.