Computing

Updated: Dell Hybrid Will Cost $999 In Australia; Why do They Hate Us?

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12:42PM July 30, 2008 | Nick Broughall


UPDATE: Turns out that the Australian Hybrid machines are higher specced than their US cousins – So rather than hating us, Dell actually love us by giving us better hardware. For a full list of differences, you can check out the Dell websites, but we get 2GB RAM and a 320GB hard drive instead of 1GB and 250GB. The same spec upgrades go for the Latitude PCs as well…

We saw the Dell Hybrid announcement come from the US overnight, and its US$499 price tag was actually pretty exciting for a desktop computer. Of course, the computer was pretty exciting itself – 80% smaller, using 70% less power and packed in 95% recycleable packaging.

But now that the pricing for Australia has been announced, some of that excitement has quickly worn off.

If you’re interested in greening up your desktop PC with one of these bamboo-cased wonders, you may need to start saving, as Dell in Australia have the starting price set at $999 – almost double the US price. The US$499 equates to $525 on today’s exchange rate.

Obviously the exchange rate isn’t everything when it comes to pricing – there’s also the whole ‘economies of scale’ thing – Dell are going to sell a lot more of these in the US than they will in Australia (just based on populations), so they can afford to reduce the profit margin over there. But double the price? That’s a bit rich, isn’t it?
Dell’s other announcements from overnight are even worse: The Inspiron 13 laptop, priced at US$800 (AUD$842)will cost $1,299 in Australia; while the Inspiron 518 Desktop starts at US$349 (AUD$367) in the States, yet will cost $999 down under.

I’m waiting to hear back from Dell as to why there’s such a large price difference between the products here and overseas, and will update as soon as I hear back from them.

[Dell]

Comments

  • Kathleen

    July 30, 2008 at 2:00 PM

    that really, really sucks

  • nondell

    July 30, 2008 at 2:02 PM

    is it possible to purchase directly from the US site and have shipped to Aust?

  • Stew

    July 30, 2008 at 2:06 PM

    Sod off Dell. Unacceptable.

  • Adz

    July 30, 2008 at 2:09 PM

    And what about the Dell mini E? How will the compete in the mini notebook arena without a competitive price?

    I keep looking for a small form factor PC for a HTPC running Linux. At that price, I will be looking more at the ASUS eee Box.

  • Adz

    July 30, 2008 at 2:18 PM

    I checked on the dell site and starting price for the studio is $1399, but that’s with a 22″ monitor that is not optional.

    Since when is a monitor not optional?

  • mr.crash

    July 30, 2008 at 2:21 PM

    Hmm – can you also ask Apple and Fujitsu while you’re at it?

    Fujitsu in particular, I love some of their P series tablets but they’re just so freaking expensive here.

  • mark

    July 30, 2008 at 2:30 PM

    still a rip off a $999, for those specs it should be around the au$800 mark

    looks like a nice system for my parents, pity about the price

  • dale

    July 30, 2008 at 2:31 PM

    No I think you were right the first time they do hate us. I was thinking this would make a good home server or htpc but you have to order it with a monitor.

    Also the extra hard drive space and ram only costs an extra $150 … so there is still a large difference.

    As a community we need to do something about this price gouging.

  • Red T-Rex

    July 30, 2008 at 2:45 PM

    Yes but the differences listed (more RAM and bigger hard drive) amount to a difference of about $50 in cost. So you were right the first time – Dell hates us and wants us to bend over forwards and take one up the rear from them!

  • attila

    July 30, 2008 at 3:22 PM

    So where does the $999 come from? The only option currently is the $1399 version with a monitor.

  • Aqua Fyre

    July 30, 2008 at 7:48 PM

    Are Dell looking to enter this new mini desktop into the FUGLY AWARDS…?

    I hope they do…because it’s going to be the winning “Dog of the Year”

    Bamboo…for a “office and home enviroment:”

    Give me a break….

    It looks more like a Sushi Roll that some Office Fat Ass has sat on and shoved a CD into….

    Here’s a tip Michael Dell…

    Next time you hire computer designers…make sure you don’t pick from off the unemployment line…

    As for a cost comparison…

    I can but a fully kitted up AOPEN MP965-D for about $700…

    And it doesn’t spare on the horsepower..

    Cheers

    Aqua Fyre

  • Tim

    July 30, 2008 at 9:31 PM

    Poor form Dell !!! :-(

    But you are not alone… are they Apple ?

    And possible the GREEDIEST of them all is Adobe.
    This week they release the 2.0 version of Lightroom.
    Upgrade via download in USA US$99.
    Upgrade via download in Aust AUD $179 !!!

    Something needs to be done to make these companies STOP this blatant GREED. I’m not sure what. I do my part by refusing to support such outrageous Australian pricing (Yes, I have NOT forgotten you either Canon Cameras).

    Ideas ?

  • Alienware

    November 25, 2008 at 8:25 PM

    Dell is shit.

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