iPad 2 here on Friday

[Roman4604]

...and Apple to do something about iOS. It's still just a bunch of apps on the "home screen"

Dont see why this is an issue ... for me the value of a tablet is directly related to the variety, usefulness, visual appeal & plain ingenuity of the available apps. The OS is just a means to an end.

Thats why I would still rate the iPad as the best tablet currently available. If the day comes when Honeycomb has a greater variety of leading edge, tablet optimised, innovate apps, I'll drop the iPad for an Android based tablet.

 

[Pixual]

It's probably thanks to those grey importers that Core have had no option but to up their game. Ain't competition a wonderful thing?

 

[Kayoss]

couple of questions, is the smart cover coming here to? and at what price?? also, can you get a prepaid micro-sim and load data on it? and at what price? i dont want a contract for data..

 

[kingrob]

Dont see why this is an issue ... for me the value of a tablet is directly related to the variety, usefulness, visual appeal & plain ingenuity of the available apps. The OS is just a means to an end.

Thats why I would still rate the iPad as the best tablet currently available. If the day comes when Honeycomb has a greater variety of leading edge, tablet optimised, innovate apps, I'll drop the iPad for an Android based tablet.

Well, then that day can't be far off.

Google has just made Google Docs available in the Android Market + I see AutoCAD WS by Autodesk Inc. has just popped up in the market, Worldmate is there now (fantastic app, remember it on the Palm)....hey, start saving for a Sony Android tablet.

 

[fxit_man]

also, can you get a prepaid micro-sim and load data on it? and at what price? i dont want a contract for data..

yes. Depends on what bundle you go for. The sim is about R50

 

[Tick]

These prices don't look very competitive to me. Here's a chart comparing the prices to the US prices:

Model, US Price, US RETAIL Price in Rands, Core Group Retail Price, Difference, Percentage Higher than US Price
16GB $499.00 R 3 319.35 R 4 399.00 R 1 079.65 32.5%
32GB $599.00 R 3 984.55 R 5 399.00 R 1 414.45 35.5%
64GB $699.00 R 4 649.75 R 6 399.00 R 1 749.25 37.6%
16GB+3G $629.00 R 4 184.11 R 5 599.00 R 1 414.89 33.8%
32GB+3G $729.00 R 4 849.31 R 6 599.00 R 1 749.69 36.1%
64GB+3G $829.00 R 5 514.51 R 7 599.00 R 2 084.49 37.8%

At the high end, that's almost 40% higher. MyBB - "competitive"? Really? That looks like about the same markup Core Group have always charged.

Keep in mind Core Group pay LESS than the US retail prices.

 

[Kayoss]

yes. Depends on what bundle you go for. The sim is about R50

aah so you can buy those prepaid bundles? great, i dont mind paying a little more and not being bound into a contract.

thanks

 

[Kayoss]

Gee, starting prices are "only" 30% higher than US prices. I'm so overwhelmed and amazed. Core Group must be crying.

I'm sorry but that looks like about the same huge markup we've always seen. Not sure why MyBB blindly promotes Core Group's pricing as "competitive".

try comparing us to the whole of europe and see the markup there... it's really competitive..

 

[kingrob]

try comparing us to the whole of europe and see the markup there... it's really competitive..

I guess it's competitive for South Africa, cos you most probably will get it for next to nothing in the rest of Africa.

 

[Tick]

try comparing us to the whole of europe and see the markup there... it's really competitive..

Our prices are higher than Europe too, even though Europe/UK have extremely high VAT rates typically around 20%. PS edited my above post to be a table of all prices compared instead. By the way, taxes aside, could it be Apple's products are overpriced in Europe too? And if so, would that make it somehow "OK" to rip us off too?

 

[fxit_man]

try comparing us to the whole of europe and see the markup there... it's really competitive..

Thank you... we are EMEA after all...

Our prices are higher than Europe too, even though Europe/UK have VAT rates typically around 20%.

659 pound I paid for my 64gb 3G+wifi. So that's what. R7300 vs R7600 odd of core. Nothing shocking...

 

[Big Sub-Zero]

These prices don't look very competitive to me. Here's a chart comparing the prices to the US prices:

Model, US Price, US RETAIL Price in Rands, Core Group Retail Price, Difference, Percentage Higher than US Price
16GB $499.00 R 3 319.35 R 4 399.00 R 1 079.65 32.5%
32GB $599.00 R 3 984.55 R 5 399.00 R 1 414.45 35.5%
64GB $699.00 R 4 649.75 R 6 399.00 R 1 749.25 37.6%
16GB+3G $629.00 R 4 184.11 R 5 599.00 R 1 414.89 33.8%
32GB+3G $729.00 R 4 849.31 R 6 599.00 R 1 749.69 36.1%
64GB+3G $829.00 R 5 514.51 R 7 599.00 R 2 084.49 37.8%

At the high end, that's almost 40% higher. MyBB - "competitive"? Really? That looks like about the same markup Core Group have always charged.

Keep in mind Core Group pay LESS than the US retail prices.

Like I said – We are used to being raped day in day out.

 

[Azbubu]

Can we really just compare prices like that considering the different incomes and standards of living in other countries?

 

[Roman4604]

Well, then that day can't be far off.

Google has just made Google Docs available in the Android Market + I see AutoCAD WS by Autodesk Inc. has just popped up in the market, Worldmate is there now (fantastic app, remember it on the Palm)....hey, start saving for a Sony Android tablet.

Slowly getting there, but I wonder how many are/will be truely Honeycomb optimised.

Also Marketplace still a way to go to match the likes of Flipboard & Zite from innovation & visual impact perspective.

 

[Tick]

Just having a look at a few other countries, for interest:

http://store.apple.com/cn/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad

The low-end iPad in China starts at 2888 Chinese Yuan = R2950.73 (compared to our price of R 4 399.00) .. interesting, so it's even cheaper in China than in the US.

It's possible they're assembled or shipped regionally, lowering shipping costs, but I suspect it's more likely mainly that competition is heavier in China from lots of other cheap electronics, and the Chinese are a frugal bunch that know the actual meaning of the phrase 'competitive pricing' (hint, MyBroadband, THAT is what "competitive pricing" means, please stop using the phrase in the South African corporate context where it means "very high prices").

On the other end, Apple Brazil sells the 32GB model (R5399 here) for 1699 Brazil reais which if I am not mistaken (? I might be, as this seems very high) is R7208.40.

*Edit* Apple Mexico sells the 16GB basic model for R4015.24 (6999 Mexican pesos) (slightly cheaper than our R4399).
*Edit2* Apple Canada, R3 566.63
*Edit3* Apple Malaysia R2 678.47
*Edit4* Apple Australia R4 155.77
*Edit5* Apple Taiwan R2 974.13

 

[PHOBOS]

As I have always maintained, the problem is not so much the price of the iPad, but our income.
Tech and cars will always leave us feeling financially violated, like a 12 year old at MJ's house (or at church).
I still want one though and happy version2 is coming so soon. a 16GB or 32GB WiFi only would be sweet.

 

[Azbubu]

Guess i'm getting mine from Malaysia. Excuse to take a holiday to Bali and transit in kuala lumpur.

 

[MonTage]

These prices don't look very competitive to me. Here's a chart comparing the prices to the US prices:

Model, US Price, US RETAIL Price in Rands, Core Group Retail Price, Difference, Percentage Higher than US Price
16GB $499.00 R 3 319.35 R 4 399.00 R 1 079.65 32.5%
32GB $599.00 R 3 984.55 R 5 399.00 R 1 414.45 35.5%
64GB $699.00 R 4 649.75 R 6 399.00 R 1 749.25 37.6%
16GB+3G $629.00 R 4 184.11 R 5 599.00 R 1 414.89 33.8%
32GB+3G $729.00 R 4 849.31 R 6 599.00 R 1 749.69 36.1%
64GB+3G $829.00 R 5 514.51 R 7 599.00 R 2 084.49 37.8%

At the high end, that's almost 40% higher. MyBB - "competitive"? Really? That looks like about the same markup Core Group have always charged.

Keep in mind Core Group pay LESS than the US retail prices.

If you check the UK pricing it's pretty much on the same pricing.

 

[milomak]

Can we really just compare prices like that considering the different incomes and standards of living in other countries?

to an extent yes. one would for instance assume an apple (proper) store would source the hardware from the same place. thus the base price should be identical if not largely similar.

then local conditions will impact on pricing.

obviously this is a bit problematic with core seeing as they are not an apple proper group. so there maybe other factors influencing prices.

 

[Tick]

If you check the UK pricing it's pretty much on the same pricing.

I did check the UK pricing, and it is higher in the UK (though very close), but as I pointed out, UK has a 20% VAT rate - so actually, it's still a fair bit more expensive here.