Ury Segal wrote:
> I checked the prices for laptops. We want to run Linux
> on them. But the prices in Israel are twice as in the US.
>
> We have the theory that it is because there IS custom
> on Laptops. Is it true ?
No. Absolutely.
The reason is historical:
The service and support for most of laptops, contrary to desktops,
is international. And contrary to desktops, the costs of the seller
are not only 10%, but much more (it is much harder to fix a laptop,
and the parts are very expensive). Many laptops have 36 months of
support, contrary to desktops. So the cost of the support may reach
30%-40% of the price.
When you are the producer of the laptop, there is no problem with
these costs, because most of the laptops cost between $2000-$4000.
But when you are only an Israeli distributer, it is hard to pay
these costs, from your little difference (between the price you pay
the producer and the price you charge the customer).
The fact that the support is international, prevents "Chappers"
from entering this field, import laptops, and sell them in
attractive prices; They can't compete the original producers, and
even if they want, they must charge prices which will allow them to
give support. On the other hand, original producers who are active
in Israel, don't have any reason to charge less than the high
prices.
Fortunately, the problem does not exists anymore. You mentioned
Linux, so take for example the ThinkPad 600E, which is the only
laptop which was certified by RedHat so far. When I bought my
laptop, it cost me $7000 (the price was $4800 in US), although it
gave only 133MHz, 32MB (later I upgraded), and a very heavy
weight (well, it was a long time ago...). ThinkPad 600E gives you
400MHz, 64MB (or more), 13.3", a very ultra-lite weight and very
thin about a third of my current laptop, all for only $3000 (the
price is SIMILAR in Israel and US, but vary according to the exact
configuration). This model is one of the highest end models of
laptops in the market, and still costs a reasonable price. Of
course, if you compromise on performance or weight, you may find
laptops < $2000, and when you compromise on both (performance AND
weight), you will find even < $1300.
Prices are very attractive now, also in Israel. And they are going
to be even lower, while the gap in performance between laptops and
desktops is removed totally. *IF* Y2K bug will not run millions of
customers to stores in the last week of 1999 and the first week of
2000, and *IF* there will not be another earth quake in Taiwan,
expect price drops in January, as well as newer attractive laptops
models.
In any case, don't buy without comparing prices before. Never pay
twice the original price. You may check pricewatch.com, as well as
the American sites of the producers (most of the American sites
give you full details, including prices, etc.). And don't let
anybody eat you stories about special prices of EMEA, or that the
prices of pricewatch.com are for re-furbished; It is not only
wrong, but also points that maybe THIS seller knows much about re-
furbished, or maybe even sell them as new and original. Be careful!
--
Eli Marmor
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