Like most technology vendors, Apple seems to have created it"s own exchange rate for products being sold in the UK! This seems to be especially obvious with some of Apple"s newly launched products. Member Pilsbury in our forums has done a quick comparison. The figures in brackets represent the UK / EU price at the current exchange rate.
30" TFT in US = $3300 (£1800 UK, 2700 Euros)
Price from Apple UK? £2550 : 40+ % more.
Price from Apple EU? E3859 : 40+ % more *
23" TFT in US = $2000 (£1100 UK)
Price from Apple UK? £1550 : 40+ % more.
20" TFT in US = $1300 (£700 UK)
Price from Apple UK? £1000 : 40+ % more.
17" TFT in US = $700 (£380 UK)
Price from Apple UK? £549 : 40+ % more.
NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra in US = $599 (£330 UK)
Price from Apple UK? £449 : 35+ % more.
Of course, one has to bare in mind shipping and various other costs, but can Apple honestly justify this price discrimination? In most cases, there is a 40% increase on the US retail price; asides from any import costs that 40% is almost all profit! It really isn"t vary fare on UK consumers.