PowerMac Edu Prices?

[MacRumors]

According to one report PowerMac G5 educational bulk pricing has dropped significantly.

[psxndc]

Originally posted by Macrumors
bulk pricing

Bummer. I was hoping for just edu pricing in general. If I ate a lot, would that help?

-p

[TranceClubMusic]

EDU Prices for Individuals need to be much higher - like 20%

[primalman]

Originally posted by TranceClubMusic
EDU Prices for Individuals need to be much higher - like 20%

what?
:confused:

[heuer007]

DAMN, if edu pricing for single purchases went down Id actually consider buying one.

[ethernet76]

Originally posted by TranceClubMusic
EDU Prices for Individuals need to be much higher - like 20%

Yes, apple needs to raise education prices because...wait a minute. Dell and the PC lot also offer great price cuts.

Why offer price cuts? A) A mac user now is usually a future mac user b)I'm sure they get some type of goverment tax break for educational sales. c) Universities are more and more going to PCs because they are cheap. Dell already gives large discounts to universities that sign exclusive agreements with them. D) today's students are tomorrows businessmen. People who've used a mac would more likely base their business around a mac platform.

[solvs]

I think he meant DISCOUNTS need to be higher. As in 20 % off. That would be cool. Like the Student Dev program, but you can buy more than 1 computer at the discount.

[dho]

oh the joy, finally payment for hours of corrections on my english papers!

Having a mom College prof DOES pay off :\

Too bad she ont get a g5 anyway :(

Away with the PHD

Realy though, any actual significance?

[ionas]

1. while i welcome this - why do you think this has happend?

2. what about prices for UK, France, Germany and so on?

[5thorseman]

I don't remember what the prices used to be, so I can't tell if there have been price drops, but my Higher Education discount nets me a G5 1.6Ghz for £1,205 ($2,282) and a dual 1.8 for £1,633 ($3,089). The exchange rate used here is from xe.com, about $1.8/£1. Now looking at the american Apple Store prices.....

Even with the largest discount (14%) an undergraduate can obtain for a single computer for themselves in the UK the standard non-edu prices in the US are $600 cheaper. I don't know about you, but this just seems wrong to me. Seems a bit too extreme actually, I might be mistaken

[ionas]

prices in us stores are without tax as far as i know.

still apple doesnt get that ppl can actually compare USD to GBP to EUR...
just everyone can - apple has to fix the prices somehow to be at least almost the same in us compared to outside of the us

[AVON]

Bulk prices are restricted to education institutions only correct?

These would be even lower than those students and faculty individually could get.

Is it possible Apple is trying to off load some stock... like something else was coming?

I'm probably being optimistic... I'm in the market for a G5-RevB

[takao]

yeah we had that before ...european prices are very strange

i made a comparisation in excel where i calculated for 22 apple products(including ipod displays etc.) the price in dollar without tax
and then made the average
at the exchange rate of today 1euro = 1,28 dollar
prices here are 22.1% higher without tax

a few examples:
iMac 15": 14% more expensive
Powermac Dp 1.8: 17,5%
eMac without Superdrive: 20%
iPod 15 GB: 24%
all Powerbooks and TFT Screens: 27-28%

im gonna make the same comparisation later with all edu prices

[AVON]

^Apple isn't completely to blame for the price differences.

My girlfriend is from the Basque area in Spain, specifically Gernika. Everything electronic is more expensive really. It was cheaper for me to buy and ship her an Epson printer from the USA than it was to purchase there (i think it was about 70 euros difference).

Europe has a different tax structure, and i'm sure some import duties that get put on top these types of things.

[aquafina]

are before any taxes are added (both retail and online).

So if you are comparing, add another 6%-9% to the price (depending on the state you live in). Also, online purchasers must pay shipping, so add another $20-$75 depending on where you live and how quickly you want the goods.

[takao]

EDU prices are 24,9 percent higher than edu prices in the US. (without tax)

the edu prices of the 12" powerbooks and 17"screens are over 34% higher

@AVON
there aren't any import duties for computer as far as i know but i will ask my father who works at logistic coporation...he calculates how much importers have to pay ...

most apple computers are made in ireland: no taxes for importing into the EU... if there are any import duties on computer parts from taiwan/asia etc. they are 1-3% these duties don't add up to 28 % for powerbooks

electronics aren't more expansive on general... some things are cheaper others more expensive ...

[Photorun]

Sometimes depends on the ineptitude of the college store. The one where I work will often stick the wrong price tag on things/in their computers. You can wind up (as one student) getting a brand new G4 iBook for $799 (whoops) or in my case, getting iLife for $19.99.

[michaelal]

Prices for MACs need to be much lower across the board, not just educational prices. Apple's arrogance in this matter has cost them dearly over the years. I love the new G5s, but the fact that they are so expensive and until recently have no kept up in speed really bites me!

[wrldwzrd89]

Originally posted by michaelal
Prices for MACs need to be much lower across the board, not just educational prices. Apple's arrogance in this matter has cost them dearly over the years. I love the new G5s, but the fact that they are so expensive and until recently have no kept up in speed really bites me!

There are three main reasons why Apple prices their Macs the way they do. Number 1 is that Apple likes high profit margins and needs them to survive. Number 2 is all the hardware and software included with a Mac that you won't find (as easily) in a PC. Number 3, and perhaps the most important, is that all these packages of hardware, software, and profit margin are priced into the Mac from the beginning, whereas on PCs such things are usually extras that aren't included in the base price of the computer.

[dougmckee]

Personally, I think the edu pricing is pretty good considering it's nearly impossible to find actual discounts from anywhere else! I would much rather have ~10% off (e.g., $2699 vs. $2999 for dual 2-Ghz) than a free bottom-of-the-line printer and a little extra memory!

But what's really interesting is that the individual campus stores seem to have some flexibility in pricing -- right now the UCLA store is offering dual 1.8's for $1999! That's a solid 20% off and would be tempting if I hadn't been holding out for the rev B's since MWSF.... sigh....

Doug

[morkintosh]

hmmm... could apple be trying to encourage the use of G5s in more cluster computers? Cluster computers that educational instutitions buy in ... wait for it ... BULK?

[AVON]

All the macs I've bought lately have a made in Taiwan sticker on them...

But I'm not a tax expert. All I know is what I see really. I have a Nikon CoolPix camera that I bought here in the states, paid $220 for it... saw it in a show in Bilbao for $280 (and this was before the super strong euro of present)

But yeah, toys are too expensive.

[Bilba]

UCLA does discount Mac prices rather nicely.
I believe that they discount the price themselfs, i.e subsedize it for their students. There aren't many universities that do the same.

[sprocklingcat]

The prices at the Campus Reseller that I work for has discounts between 250-300 per G5 and then $100+ if it is purchased with a display.

[virividox]

we all know the powermacs will be updated its just a matter of time....damn this waiting

[ffakr]

Originally posted by ethernet76
Dell and the PC lot also offer great price cuts.

Um, no. Dell charges us MORE if we purchase through our computer store than if we pay retail. The best deals from Dell are almost always in the 'small business store'.
Now, Adobe knows how to do Edu discounts!! 50% off is normal.

Why offer price cuts? A) A mac user now is usually a future mac user b)I'm sure they get some type of goverment tax break for educational sales.
I've never worked in an Edu computer store, but I've done mac support at Universities for years (and I've got friends who work in/run campus computer stores). I've never heard about any tax break from retailers for edu pricing. That's pure speculation. What exactly would they get a tax break on? The only thing taxible would be the income (profit) from the sale.. and reducing price reduces profit, which means less to get a tax break on.

c) Universities are more and more going to PCs because they are cheap. Dell already gives large discounts to universities that sign exclusive agreements with them.
Now I can't comment on exclusive contracts.. BUT our campus computer store only sells Dell PCs (and Macs) yet we do pay more for Dells than the average purchaser. Our Dell pricing is very firm yet Dell runs specials like crazy.
D) today's students are tomorrows businessmen. People who've used a mac would more likely base their business around a mac platform.
Your other points are true and relevant, but Apple does need to make a profit. I've long suggested [to Apple] that they should subsidize Game development on the Machintosh to gain marketshare, but I was told that 'Apple isn't in the business of losing money anymore'. Apple's margins on machines can run from roughtly 10% to over 20%. Their Edu discounts are fairly consistently 10%.

Personally, as someone who has been in the Edu system for a long time, I feel that Apple's hardware discounts are great. They tend to offer us great deals on software too. I seem to recall that we were recently offered 3 years of software maintenance for $75. That's 3 more versions of the MacOS X for $25 per copy. Not bad.

jmho
ffakr

OH, by the way...
Apple doesn't offer bulk G5 pricing at the Education Store for Institutions. I've not received any bulk pricing from our area Apple rep either.. which I usually get. It could be happening, but I haven't seen any indication that Apple is actually offering discounted bulk G5 pricing even though there is a good chance that I'd be in a position to know about it. :-)

[CmdrLaForge]

Originally posted by takao
yeah we had that before ...european prices are very strange

i made a comparisation in excel where i calculated for 22 apple products(including ipod displays etc.) the price in dollar without tax
and then made the average
at the exchange rate of today 1euro = 1,28 dollar
prices here are 22.1% higher without tax

a few examples:
iMac 15": 14% more expensive
Powermac Dp 1.8: 17,5%
eMac without Superdrive: 20%
iPod 15 GB: 24%
all Powerbooks and TFT Screens: 27-28%

im gonna make the same comparisation later with all edu prices

You are probably right. But I think its worth to mention that a year ago the exchange rate was the other way around. I guess that before there are clear signs that the exchange rate will stay where it is today for a long period of time they will not change the prices, because if they drop the prices today they can't really raise them tomorrow.

My 2 cents

[mustang_dvs]

Originally posted by michaelal
Prices for MACs need to be much lower across the board, not just educational prices. Apple's arrogance in this matter has cost them dearly over the years. I love the new G5s, but the fact that they are so expensive and until recently have no kept up in speed really bites me!

Okay, please don't feed the pseudo-trolls. The fact that he refers to them as "MACs" alone should have told you that this is someone unfamiliar with the Macintosh platform and it's history.

Yes, during the Scully years, Apple showed a great deal of arrogance regarding pricing, believing that people would quite willingly pay a premium for a premium computer, and in so doing, pad the profit margins. That's definitely not the case these days.

Apple's current profit margins are thin on the iMacs, eMacs, iBooks and some of the G5 systems. The fact of the matter is that compared fairly, Macs have a lower cost of total ownership than comparable PCs, and the G5's are cheaper to buy than equally-equipped PC systems.

No, Apple isn't selling a $500 package deal, but then again, Apple doesn't have warehouses full of last year's computers which they need to dump quickly - you know - like Dell's recent TV ad sale.

(EDIT - added 'un' where it should have appeared in my original draft.)

[Opteron]

I get a better discount in a PC store when I offer to pay in cash, Hell Apple's "Cost Price" for a USB connection to an iPod is $32AUD.

There education prices are a joke. Through and through.

[mustech]

Where do you see new pricing for BULK edu purchases? I looked at the online apple store and only saw the same pricing that has been offered from day one. Is there another place to look?

I don't understand a lot of the replies people have submitted. If this is a reduction in prices for BULK edu purchases, it clearly has no impact on someone who is looking to buy a G5 for themselves. Also, why the posts about sales tax? Schools don't pay any!

I submitted a proposal for 17 new G5s for my classroom, so if there has been a reduction in price, I'd love to be able to show that to my Tech director.
Mike

[MagnusDredd]

MAC - Media Access Control (this is the hardware address on all ethernet cards) allows the routing packets on a switch. The MAC on this machine is: 00:03:93:66:f1:ba

Mac - Short for Macintosh
- Used as a form of address for a man whose name is unknown.

mac - A prefix, in names of Scotch origin, signifying son. ie: Manannan mac Lir


When you capitalize the word MAC, and you mean Macintosh it makes you look less intelligent.

As one of my english teachers used to say: (paraphrased) Using poor english detracts from your argument, by making you appear to know less than you actually may.

[QCassidy352]

Originally posted by ffakr

OH, by the way...
Apple doesn't offer bulk G5 pricing at the Education Store for Institutions. I've not received any bulk pricing from our area Apple rep either.. which I usually get. It could be happening, but I haven't seen any indication that Apple is actually offering discounted bulk G5 pricing even though there is a good chance that I'd be in a position to know about it. :-)

well, now that's very interesting. Has this price cut actually happened that anyone can verify? Here we have a member who seems to be exactly the type of person who would have heard about this price drop, yet he hasn't. Makes me wonder... anyone else?

[morkintosh]

you sir or ma’am are most welcome for the web site recommendation; i am always pleased to have the chance to encourage good grammar. i salute a true student of the english language.

i was remise to not thank you for your helpful suggestions ... the world is so fortunate to have people like yourself to issue we plebeians unsolicited advice, thereby making us better people.

thank you sir or ma’am for making this bulletin board a better place to post!

[sigurros]

They are probably lowering them to make for the new PMac's coming out (soon).

But yes, Apple needs to lower their education prices. This is one of the main reasons schools use PC's. It's all about budgets, and why not get 20 PC computers for the price of ten macs?!

School administrators generally look at money, not quality.

[ffakr]

Originally posted by sigurros
They are probably lowering them to make for the new PMac's coming out (soon).

But yes, Apple needs to lower their education prices. This is one of the main reasons schools use PC's. It's all about budgets, and why not get 20 PC computers for the price of ten macs?!

School administrators generally look at money, not quality.

First off, there is still no evidence that there is ANY bulk EDU discount. I've yet to receive any such info and I've been in touch with my Apple rep quite a bit lately. This was a totally un-supported rumor.

Second, Apple's EDU discounts are almost always 10% off their retail. I've yet to see anyone show a vendor who give a better EDU discount on computers. I pointed out that our Dell EDU pricing is actually higher and no one has disputed this observation. I'd love to see cheaper prices as much as the next guy, but Apple needs to finance a LOT of R&D with a small fraction of the PC market. Unfortunately, their machines aren't as cheap to make as an eMachine so they need to charge good money to make a profit. Again, I'd love to see 25% off EDU discounts (because I qualify for EDU pricing) but that isn't realistic.

Finally, geez, lighten up on the language corrections. As pointed out, this isn't an english forum. It's a place for geeks to share info and opinions on a topic of interest to them. As long as the ideas come across adequately, who cares if there is an occasional faux paus.

FFakr
:D
(not as grumpy as he purports to be)

[DieselClown]

glad i still have my student id. hope it works.

[The Dreaming]

Quick question: If I qualify for the Apple Educational Loan, what is the term??? It says "interest only payments for the first 24 months". So I have two years to pay the total accrued interest, but how much time do I have to pay off the principle??? Is it a Five year term? -So do I have three years to pay off the principle?

[wrldwzrd89]

Originally posted by The Dreaming
Quick question: If I qualify for the Apple Educational Loan, what is the term??? It says "interest only payments for the first 24 months". So I have two years to pay the total accrued interest, but how much time do I have to pay off the principle??? Is it a Five year term? -So do I have three years to pay off the principle?

Apparently, this information is located in your account agreement. I can't find it on the Apple Loans for Education page. One other thing: it's principal, not principle.

[spacepower]

I have to agree to some things, such as Apple not adjusting their prices for other countries. Since I am an advocate for globalization ( which is for another thread ) I believe that if a DP 2gig cost 2999 in the US then it should cost the same ( eqivelant) in all other countries, before respective taxes. Apple can still get a good profit or even possibly better if it kept the prices even between countries. It might not expand the US market share but it could increase International sales and market share. I spent a couple years in Europe and Apple and other manufactures prices are rediculous (even b4 taxes). I bought a Canon camera lense that cost me double in Italy than it would have in the US. I lived in Hungary for awhile...

I had a PAL Sony PC110E MiniDV sent from the factory to the US. PAL stuff cost alot in the US. But I Bought the Sony Pal MiniDV cam and a round trip ticket for a friend from the US to Budapest (to bring me the camera), for less the the retail price (b4 VAT,25% In Hungary). I sympathize for the European consumers and others. I bought the camera for 1800USD plus 1000USD for the Plane ticket = 2800 which was less than the Hugarian pretax price. I could have bought the US version of the camera for 1200US. Still it was a better deal to have a friend bring it from the US. I am not bashing any countries import laws, but if you live in Western Europe, you may get get your money back in social services, but in Hungary hell no.

If you ever go to Budapest, go to Apple Corner near West End City center. There are very nice people there. I just feel alittle bad for them bc Apple is not adjusting their prices to correspond with US prices. I just don't see them seeling too many 4000USD DP G5 in Hungary.


Shame on Apple

It's even worse in Romania (been to a nice apple store there) where prices are high and average income is less than Hungary

PS
BTW if any one is interest i have a postcard that i can email a copy of, which was for the debut of the iMac in Prague(Czech Republic) in Czech lang. There was a giant inflatable 60ft iMac replica in the main tourist area of Prague. very cool :) but i don't of a picture of that :(