The iPad has officially launched in the US and is now available for delivery or in-store collection over the pond. Assuming you want the Wi-Fi only model (sans 3G and GPS) and you can have one in your hands for just $499 plus taxes.
The 32GB WiFi only iPad currently retails for $599 on the Apple.com US store. Also retailing for $599 is the 2.26Ghz Mac Mini, the same Mac Mini that is available to UK customers via the Apple.com/uk store for £510:
This puts the price of the 32GB WiFi only iPad at £510 inc. VAT. The 16GB WiFi iPad costs 16.69% less which puts the cheapest iPad model at £418.20.
Given that the iPad is unlikely to sell for less than £399 due to currency exchange rate volatility and Steve Job’s own admission that doing business in the UK is more expensive than doing business in the US – I think £418.20 isn’t far off the mark.
However bear in mind that when the iPhone launched in the US it was available at the time for $399 (£200) whilst simultaneously retailing at £269 in the UK which is an approximate “Ripoff Britain” markup of >25%. An equivalent markup applied today would see the iPad available for £478.81 (£383.05 inc VAT + 25% Ripoff Britain markup). At the absolute top-end for the lowest end device, Play.com a fortnight ago accidentally ‘released’ an exorbitant price of £499 for the same iPad version, VAT free (Play.com are based in Jersey) but quickly withdrew the price from their Google Shopping data feed.
The real retail price is likely to be somewhere between the two but probably closer to £420 as Apple need these new devices in as many hands as possible (so that they can sell you additional content for it later).
And for those of you
planning your purchase, make sure you save money for the accessories (plus the inevitable man-bag you’ll now be carrying) as well as the App Store’s inflated iPad app prices.
Back to Objective C for me – I’ve got an iPhone app to finish for my favourite online accounting website :@)
