In 2008 510GBP was around 1000USD. Now 500GBP is 750USD and 650GBP is a 1000USD. It's the exchange rate that's changed not Apple's price.

I understand that, but why then is the machine only $699 in the US? That difference (£307 according to XE.com) can't all be tax and import duty can it?

699 USD in GBP = 474.413 (on xe.com at time of writing)

474.413 * 1.175 = 557.435 (for current vat)

So the actual current difference is £91.56 They will put that down to shipping & handling costs, administrative costs of operating in the uk.

The iPad has a difference of £52 for a similar priced item (once you take into account vat).

This is something I always wondered.

How can you add extra s&h and sg&a? This stuff goes from Asia, you ship it either to US or to UK (or whereever). You don't ship it from Asia to US and then to UK. The shipping should be about the same to US and UK.

Similarly with sg&a. The US operations does not have it already included in price? Or the UK (EU, whatever) customers pay for that twice?

I would imagine that that £91.56 price difference edd quoted is not for "extra s&h and sg&a", but rather a cushion against currency fluctuation. Apple does not want to start suddenly losing money on their products in the UK if the dollar suddenly gets stronger.

Of course Apple could change the price based on exchange rates, but price hikes anger consumers, and there may be laws that make it difficult to suddenly raise the price anyway, especially if they have advertised them in catalogs, etc. And that's not to mention all of the third-parties that would have to sync up with Apple on these changes, and all the wrath they would face from consumers, etc.

So I think that their strategy is to set a price that gives them a currency fluctuation cushion and round it to an attractive number that ends in 9.

I'm sure Apple uses currency derivatives to hedge against currency fluctuations.

For cheaper options, check out http://www.hackintosh.com/

I'm running Mac OS X on a Dell Mini 9 which I bought for about $200 on sale.

With the caveat that the latest OSX releases broke Atom CPU compatibility and you've really gotta pay attention to what you're doing before hitting the 'Update' button.

I run OSX on a C2Q machine I built for $450. Works great with everything working 100% except it's not quite the same seamless experience a real Mac is (I've gotta fix my sleep mode nearly every update).

Yeah, it takes a little attention but if you can build a computer and do a little research you can get yourself a fairly inexpensive "Mac Pro".

Is the trouble really worth it to save $200? It has to be one of those "just because I can" things for most people who do this, right?

I agree. A lot of people (myself included) buy "real" Macs precisely because they don't want to have to deal with this sort of stuff.

It's basically a hobby project. You could arguably save a few $k building a Mac Pro clone, but if you really need a Mac Pro level machine then you probably shouldn't rely on a Hackintosh. It certainly kills the "just works" aspect of Apple products.

In evilduck's case, it's ~$200 more and 2 processor cores less.

I am running Mac OS X on Dell Mini 10v and considering buying an external monitor [18.5"]; curious to know how does it perform on the larger display in extended mode?

How does it run?

Pretty well. It's my favorite computer right now since it's so portable. I also installed xcode + the iphone sdk.

It's gone up substantially in continental Europe, too. Weak Euro and Pound (versus USD) to blame I'd have thought.

Yes, it is quite expensive. But then again, the entire Mac range has become more expensive over the last year. You used to be able to get a macbook for about £750, now its £850. At these prices I struggle to recommend Macs to people to who they would be suited, over a £400 dell laptop.

yes, but why would anyone buy mini over say macbook? it costs almost as much, doesn't have display nor battery, hardware expansion options are very limited etc.

Dual external displays, $300 cheaper, physically smaller, same upgradability options as a MacBook.

I'm guessing a major use for mini is some sort HTPC hooked up to your TV, and in that scenario the mini form factor easily beats a macbook.

Especially since the new model is even smaller and now has an HDMI out built in.

Apple is basically telling people the Apple TV is dead.

No its not. Apple can hardly sell the Apple TV concept at at their current price point, these are alot more expensive. People wont pay it.

I should imagine these cost more than most people's TVs.

> No its not.

it is. It might be reborn later using iOS, but the current system is dead, it's not even featured in the store's front page anymore.

> I should imagine these cost more than most people's TVs.

But it's far more flexible and useful than the Apple TV (it's a full HTPC, therefore able to stream e.g. Hulu or Youtube), and the addition of HDMI out removes the last big issue it had as an HTPC, compared to an Apple TV. The TV never found its place in the Apple ecosystem and with a smaller, more efficient and more powerful Mini that place just shrunk a bit more.

Yup reading this via my Mac Mini connected to my LCD TV from my couch(wireless mouse/keyboard). I have one from 2007. I'm liking this new sleeker design and no more power brick on this new one!

I was able to snag a 17" iMac with better specs (4GB RAM) from craigslist < the new Mac Mini cost.

The extra £139 is because it's prettier?

I realize that’s sarcasm but why exactly would that not be a reason to increase the price?

Absolutely, this is how most markets work. Take women's fashion, for example.

No, that's not how women's fashion works. Maybe once upon a time, but price no longer corresponds even to prettiness.

Trust me, my ex was way into that stuff.

Yes. Same as comparing a generic $30 ATX case to a lovely $300 Lian-Li case. Apple isn't interested in selling the equivalent to the $30 case.

I would never for a second claim the price for a Lian-Li is just because it's prettier. It's a bad analogy.

HDMI Output, SD Card slot, and the change in the power supply (no more brick) I think the HDMI is what kicks it up, along with an updated gfx card.

how is it prettier?

i liked previous design much better!

One reason it's prettier is because it is no longer accompanied by a huge plastic power brick that's almost half the size of the computer itself.