Apple Store is down - Page 3

**fryke** · #17 March 3rd, 2009, 08:04 PM

The move to the small keyboard (sans numpad) as _standard_ will be authorized resellers' hell, I'm sorry to say. While the small keyboard looks good in photos (makes the iMacs seem larger, heh...), my guess is that over 90% of people will prefer the numpad-version. Which means that people will want to change from the default which means CTOs. CTOs don't have stock protection (I'm sure Apple's own stores don't have that problem), which means that the _next_ time Apple changes the lineup, we'll either sit on old machines, lose money or we'll just have to buy standard machines and replace the mini-keyboards with bigger ones, which means we'll end up with tons of small keyboards that we'd need to sell those with Mac minis. But because Apple doesn't give resellers much headroom on the keyboards, we won't be able to lower the price for those much, which means that Mac mini customers will opt for the default keyboard as well. Darn you, Apple.

That said: We'll sell a lot of those inexpensive 24" iMacs now.

Tommo · #18 March 4th, 2009, 04:36 AM

Not good from my point of view. Great for the average home user, but 24" iMacs still retail well over the £1000 mark here in the UK. Trouble for me is although it has slightly higher specifications the entry level Mac Pro I was considering is now going to cost me an additional £200.

While not disputing the quality of the hardware you would think in such economically troubled times Apple like all companies would be trying to keep end user costs down rather than pushing them up, and before you mention it I know the exchange rate hasn't helped, but we have historically paid more here in the UK than US users.

It is hard for me to persuade our corporation that a switch to Macs would be good when they see them cost 50-80% more than a PC when funding is tight.

Rhisiart · #19 March 4th, 2009, 04:55 AM

Tommo's point about marketing more expensive products during a recession is valid. The basic Mac Mini has risen in cost in the UK by 25%.

However, the UK and Ireland have been rip-off states for many years. We pay more for consumables than most of our European neighbours.

Comparison with US prices for the new Mac Mini suggests that UK and Irish purchasers are paying 15% more than their US counterparts for the same product.

**fryke** · #20 March 4th, 2009, 05:09 AM

Hasn't that always been the case for _any_ countries outside the USA? Seems to me it's always been 10-20% above the price US Americans have to pay. The 599 USD Mac mini should be 705 CHF right now, but it costs 799 CHF. That's about 13% as well.

(They probably just go about it like this: "It'd be 704.50 CHF. But we can't make it 699 CHF or we'll lose more than 5 CHF per machine. 799 is a nice number.")

#21 March 4th, 2009, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icemanjc

My problem is that they use the laptop keyboard keys. Which for me tend to brake off easily. That is why I preferred the old keyboard.

Break off? I had not heard of that. Mine seem very solid and secure. They only protrude about 3/16th inch above the aluminum plate so I'm not sure what it would take to break one. Over all, it feels like the most quality keyboard I have ever used. Of course, that involves a lot more than the keys. But I will keep a close eye on how they feel thanks to your input.

I guess having to use a lot of cheap PC stuff for 6 years may have made me more appreciative of a little quality.

#22 March 4th, 2009, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fryke

Hasn't that always been the case for _any_ countries outside the USA? Seems to me it's always been 10-20% above the price US Americans have to pay. The 599 USD Mac mini should be 705 CHF right now, but it costs 799 CHF. That's about 13% as well.

I hear what you're saying but you don't know how bad it can be. The import duty on all products here in Brazil is 60%. That's right, sixty percent!

When I bought this iMac in January 2009, I expected to pay a lot more for it, but in reality it was only about $150 more than the USA price. I suspect that was because, anticipating the release of the new models, Apple was dumping a lot of them at discounted prices to other countries. Also, Apple has not been a force in Brazil until the last year or so. It might be that they are making an effort to penetrate the market here.

Either way, I am delighted that I have the iMac and all of my friends and relatives are so impressed!

nixgeek · #23 March 4th, 2009, 11:16 AM

I poo-pooed the new Apple keyboard compared to my white Apple keyboard that came with my iMac G5...until i tried it. It's not too bad, and it does feel like it's built quite well. But I do have to say that with the new keyboard I miss the tactile feel of the keyboard that this new one replaced. I could live with it, though, but I'm not sure how long I could live without the numeric keypad since I do use it.

Tommo · #24 March 4th, 2009, 12:24 PM

Like Nixgeek I was initially not too enamored of the new keyboards until I got one. now I would not go back to the old style now. Mind you the fact I have a similar keyboard on my Macbook might have prepared me for the change.

I would not be keen on losing the numeric keypad which is primarily why i use a wired keyboard over a wireless one.