In the market for a new iMac? Good news! Apple just introduced a new cut-price base model.
It’s a new entry-level, 21.5-inch iMac packing a dual-core 1.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor (the former base model used to pack a 2.7GHz Intel Core i5), 500GB hard drive and 8GB of RAM.
It’s available from the Apple Store right now for $1349.
Australia Tax?
Now you might think that the price discrepancy between Australia and the US means that the Australia Tax is alive and well at the fruit stand, but it isn’t as bad as you might think.
If you adjust the price of the new low-price iMac to Australian dollars ($US1 = $A0.934), you’ll find it costs $1176. Tack on the 10 per cent Goods and Services Tax and you get an iMac that costs you $1293. Include the cost of re-shipping the device to Australia and you’ll find it’s more costly than the Australian sticker price of $1349. There’s a $100 or so discrepancy on the US, but it’s nowhere near as bad as the Australia Tax on the Mac Pro.
The reason you immediately look at the two prices and think we’re getting ripped off is because US retailers aren’t required to show prices inclusive of sales tax, wheras Aussie retailers are required by law to include the GST.