[Aiglos]

Bored out of my wits i decided to browse the Apple store (Canadian version) to look at their powerbooks. I plan on starting my Master's degree in chemistry next year and I was contemplating on getting a portable. I've got a feeling that i'll be spending more time on campus than at home, plus our lab has only a limited number of comps (1 now, 2 later next month) and i don't feel like using the undergrad labs.

The first thing that struck me wasn't the specs or the impressive enclosure, but the price. I was at awe and felt like Canadians always get the short end of the stick when it comes to price conversions. American, a 15" PowerBook was $1999 while a Canadian equivalent was $2849.

Then for fun, i went to the Australian website to see how their situation was. From this link it looks like the Canadian dollar was comparable to the Australian's. Around 1:1.1 (CAD:AUD), so i thought it should be similar to the Canadian pricing. I was shocked to see a $3800 15 incher. After seeing the price i felt a little better of my situation but now felt sorry for the australians. Are there any Australians here? How do you feel about the price differences?

I wouldn't be so uptight about the price presently as I can easily afford the 17 incher right now. BUT, i'm planning a trip to the UK next year and I'm thinking of moving out on my own in a year and a half so I can't just blow $3000-4000 Canadian.

In the end I'll probably end up getting a mid-ranged PowerBook but I just wished Apple took the concerns of its international consumers since I can get a comparable Wintel portable for less here in Ottawa.

<Sigh> One day I'll know what it's light to have a PowerBook.

End of Rant

Aeglos

[marumari]

Well, consider that, at the current currency conversion rates:

$2849 CAD = $2,087.25 USD (so, Canadians pay $88.25 more, not too bad)

Furthermore,

$3800 AUD = $2,521.50 USA (a quite bigger difference of $522.50)

Still, I'd imagine that
1) The Australian market is considerable smaller than the US/Canada market, and
2) Australia has some sort of VAT tax (I think 10%?) So, that accounts for a good chunk of the difference)

[Clarkey]

Before you go Waco on the Loonie (hehe!) you should look into buying your Apple product through your school -- I can get the 15" PowerBook (base model) for $2540 (that's $1814 US) plus tax.

[Aiglos]

Originally posted by Clarkey:
Before you go Waco on the Loonie (hehe!) you should look into buying your Apple product through your school -- I can get the 15" PowerBook (base model) for $2540 (that's $1814 US) plus tax.

Really? I should check out our computer store, but because it's located inside our Bookstore, I have a feeling I'll be ripped off by them and end up paying more. But i'll take them into consideration since they like showing off their mac stuff in a predominately PC University.

But yah, for a 15" PowerBook 2540 sounds sweet. I think I've been looking at the wrong places...

[Alpha-sphere]

Originally posted by marumari:
Well, consider that, at the current currency conversion rates:

$2849 CAD = $2,087.25 USD (so, Canadians pay $88.25 more, not too bad)

Furthermore,

$3800 AUD = $2,521.50 USA (a quite bigger difference of $522.50)

Still, I'd imagine that
1) The Australian market is considerable smaller than the US/Canada market, and
2) Australia has some sort of VAT tax (I think 10%?) So, that accounts for a good chunk of the difference)

The base model of the 15" costs �2378.81 here in holland
That's like $2669.51 so what is everybody bitching about? I have to pay it out of my part time salary and i have to pay for school myself.

The 15" base model is even cheaper in the UK that here in holland.
$2545.44 which is $124.07 cheaper then just across the north sea

[Aiglos]

Originally posted by marumari:
[B]Well, consider that, at the current currency conversion rates:

$2849 CAD = $2,087.25 USD (so, Canadians pay $88.25 more, not too bad)

Furthermore,

$3800 AUD = $2,521.50 USA (a quite bigger difference of $522.50)

As good as that sounds, i still wish that the Canadian price would just lower a smidgen. If based on my summer job, I would have to wait two pay checks later in order to save up for that price compared to an American with a similar salary.

Bah! Whatever, maybe next summer my supervisor will give me a raise!

[milhaus]

It works both ways, depending on where the Canadian dollar is headed. When the dollar was at its lowest point, Apple's prices were more than fair - in fact, we wound up gaining on the exchange and got this cheaper.

A better example which lasted a lot longer: books. I remember Penguin Classics used to have prices like $9.99 US, 10.99 Canadian for years and years. They adjusted to the new exchange rates, but it took many years.

But do check your University store, or buy direct from Apple Education store - www.apple.ca - they require you to submit student number and institution affiliation, but you'll save $250 - $300 on a PB.

[James L]

The 15 inch PB on Apples Canadian College and University student pricing section is:

base model: $2,549.00

1gig model: $3250


...not bad at all really. Now, the worry, is that these prices will be going up with the release of the new models!

[CyberPet]

In Sweden, including our sales taxes (25%) with todays currency exchange to USD:

12" Combo: $2,216 USD
12" SuperDrive: $2,462 USD
15" Combo: $2,708 USD
15" SuperDrive: $3,448 USD
17" SuperDrive: $4,433 USD

I asume it's the same with the Canadian and Australian AppleStore site that they include the Sales tax in the price?

[Eug]

asume it's the same with the Canadian and Australian AppleStore site that they include the Sales tax in the price?

Nope. Canadian Apple Store prices do not include sales tax, partially because that is not the usual practice, and also because the sales tax varies from province to province.

Anyways, the original poster's complaint isn't really justified, since the prices are already fairly close to the US prices, after conversion. As somebody has already mentioned, sometimes Canadian prices are actually lower than the corresponding US ones.