Right, I've got a question. (concerning price difference on MacBooks)

[Jondot]

Why is this 'new' white MacBook...

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook?mco=MTE3MjE

2.1GHz Core 2 Duo
1GB RAM
120GB Hard Drive
Intel GMA X3100 graphics
£719


...£19 more expensive than the 'old', absolutely identical MacBook?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=790562&category_oid=

2.1GHz Core 2 Duo
1GB RAM
120GB Hard Drive
Intel GMA X3100 graphics
£699





Anyone?

 

[sn00pie]

Because prices can vary between resellers?

[edit]: I changed your title into a title.

 

[homeforsummer]

Answer: It isn't, it's £20 more expensive

And, it's probably because it's being sold through Apple's own site.

 

[Casio]

The new Macbooks aren't indentical otherwise they wouldn't be new would they?

And the specs on the UK site are wrong then, because all new MacBooks have 9400M Graphics and at least 2GB of RAM.

2.0GHz MacBook (MB466LL/A) - $1,299

* 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 3MB L2 cache, 1066MHz System Bus
* 160GB 5400 rpm HDD


2.4GHz MacBook (MB467LL/A) - $1,599

* 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 3MB L2 cache, 1066MHz System Bus
* 250GB 5400 rpm HDD
* Backlit Keyboard


Shared Specs:

* Precision aluminum unibody enclosure, 12.78 x 8.94 x .95-inches, 4.5 pounds
* 13.3-inches LED-backlit display, 1280 x 800 resolution
* 8x Slot-loading SuperDrive
* 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 memory
* Multi-Touch glass trackpad
* NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor
* Mini Display Port connector
* Built-in iSight camera, stereo speakers, microphone
* Optical digital input / analog line in/out
* Built-in AirPort Extreme WiFi
* 2 USB 2.0 ports
* Gigabit Ethernet Port
* Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard & iLife '08
* 5 Hour Battery life

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I'm more concerned as to why the new aluminium Macbooks are so expensive.

Because prices can vary between resellers?

I believe Apple have a set retail price for every reseller.

 

[Casio]

Probably cause theyre aluminium, and idiots will pay extra for it.

 

[Sage]

I'm more concerned as to why the new aluminium Macbooks are so expensive.

Probably cause theyre aluminium, and idiots will pay extra for it.

Because they have much, much, much better video cards, faster RAM, and LED backlighting. Also, they’ve machined the aluminum structure from a single piece (I don’t believe any other manufacturer does this), which provides for much tighter engineering tolerances. As an owner of a polycarbonate MacBook, I can tell you that that to me is one of the most exciting features, because the engineering tolerances for plastic are relatively poor. It probably sounds pointless to you guys, but as an engineer I was in awe that they decided to go the machining route for this.

I believe Apple have a set retail price for every reseller.

I believe it’s just a ceiling – resellers can’t go higher than Apple’s price, but they can (and do) go lower.

 

[Casio]

Its a bit unfortunate how on the dual graphic card MBPs you have to log off to switch though.

Are you aware if the sides are also made out of the one piece?

 

[Sage]

Yes, the entire bottom case is one piece, except for two removable pieces on the bottom used for internal access. Here’s a picture from underneath that I screenshotted from an Apple video:

 

[Jondot]

I should explain.

I mean the 'old' new MacBooks, ie the white ones that they still sell and have decided to add 'new' to. I took a look at the UK store the other day and thought 'huh, I'm sure they used to be £699' - the link to PCWorld is just an example of somewhere that's still selling the old model at its RRP.

If you look here:
http://uk.gizmodo.com/2008/02/27/apple_overhauls_macbooks_the_s.html
(Written in February)

...it would appear that the previous model was £699 from new, and has therefore gone up £19 £20 (my bad ) with no apparent changes other than having 'New' next to it on the site.



EDIT


Ahh, now from what I've been reading, the white MacBook has gone down in price in the US and up in price here, which I find a little weird.