damnit, tax is highest in PEI... stupid maritimes....

deathscent

I'm Canadian and the USD-to-CDN conversion of prices is a pain in the ass. Prices are way higher despite our dollar almost matching yours. Add our sales tax on top of that and it's a disaster. However, I must point out that if you're gadget-savvy then there's always Pacific Mall for Torontonians.

chrstphr

i've lived in canada for my whole life; if you know connections, you can pick up ANY gadget easily. there are the few rare occasions that you won't find something, but that means it's not necessary.
it's 13% tax, not 15% (i could've sworn it was still 14%...).
and our beer isn't expensive. we have dollar bottle beers which are alright, and then we start going in to the more expensive stuff.
best buy owns future shop, which is why future shops are slowly disappearing.
i'll say this once. newegg is not as good as some of the places i can buy PCs here. i've actually managed to get it down to about 90% of what i was originally supposed to pay... and then taxes hit me.
i live in ontario, which is where the highest tax is. you living in quebec gives you advantage over me; i have never complained once about taxes.
our health care sucks. if the gov't actually poured money in to it, i'd like it, but it sucks. nothing more to say.
and we don't ****ing need an iphone. it's useless. let me be the first here to say it, if it hasn't been said before.

deathscent

@TC2COOL: I think it's somewhere down south of Mexico or something.

ripfire

@Yekrut:

They'll find a way to hack it, but you'll probably have to pay a premium for the hardware without a plan.

Julio Allison

@aznplayer213: Well I'd have to say, it's hard.. though my Macbook Pro was only $100 more here, I know the iPhone is going to cost me an arm and a leg in fees. The phone will still cost the same, just the raping I'm going to take monthly is certainly straying me away from wanting one.

We make enough money to submit to all of our Electronic Sodom Overlords and as much as everyone bitches, nothing ever changes. Cars, food, clothing, insurance and of course electronics all cost a hell of a lot. But we're born and raised here and don't know any different, so this is what we think things cost, until we go south. I was kind of hoping that AT&T or some good American telecom company would migrate north for our Airwaves Auction and start a little competition. The monopolies of Rogers, Bell and Telus dig deep into our pockets every month and they offer us laughable, by international means, rates that I'm sure most gadget-loving Americans would have laughed at 2 years ago.

robot-shmobot

As a student at McGill coming from the states, the move to canada has been very difficult gadget wise.
I haven't purchased a single electronic component from canada.
My phone bill is over 60$ a month for a simple top 5 with 250 monthly minutes and 100 txt. I waited to get an iphone just to see what rogers would give us and am very disappointed. I hope they figure a way to unlock the new iphone.
As for media I agree 100%, streaming my shows are often done from shady russian sites...

Yekrut

I agree about Padma! She's a hottie.

KidDoc

KidDoc

While not a gadget, I was shopping for snowboards a few years back, and ran across a company base din Canada. I read up on them, checked the prices. While the board price was the same, compared to shipping within Canada I was getting a deal. The Province had their own tax and duties, not to mention shipping fees. All I had to pay for to ship to America was shipping, and no taxes. I was quit blown away that it would cost so much more to sell and ship within the country it was purchased than to another country. Its almost as if each province is its own country they way the each levy duties on each other.

valthun

Cell* lord.

carmen loves sexist gizmodians

@Dan Nosowitz:

Can't think of any others off the top if my head, but Blackberry's kind of a biggie.

Julio Allison

@Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!: What are you trying to say Kaiser? I see a conspierecy in Canada! I feel pretty bad for these canucks. High sell phone prices, high rate plans, they don't always get the latest of a lot of popular gadgets and they have Shania Twain and Celin Dion as part of their largest stars. I lower my hat to Canada.

carmen loves sexist gizmodians

@kush: Loooooooonnnnnnnggggggg drawn out argument waiting to ensue, try to stay on topic about crappy canadian gadgets?

health care is a long debate, ok? :)

B1663R

Haw do ya spell Canada, eh?

cAnAdA

yuk yuk

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

@DestroyerMTL: jeeze way to make it sound like we only have one Futile shop. and everyone lives near the boarder.

and for Cancon. you don't like King Of Kensington, Littilest hobo, Beachcombers, Danger bay, Corner gas, Little mosque, Mr Dress up, Hockey night in Canada,local news?

you know your taxes pay for the CBC so you might as well suck it up and enjoy it.

B1663R

Happy Canada day to our frigid neighbors to the North :) BTW, I'm half Canadian....but my better half is American! :)

Scott

@Julio Allison: Good catch there, RIM is indeed Ontario born and bred. But can you name another?

Dan Nosowitz

@kush: Many say that Canuckistan really only gets away with their "model" socialized medicine system because all Canadians know that they have a real safety net - the US. Really need an operation or treatment and you can't afford to wait (or manage to live) for three years? Drive across the border.

scuba_steve_1

Oh, the horrible, horrible price you pay for state sponsored universal health care. I believe my priorities are a bit skewed and would prefer to get my hands on a bright shiny new gadget than to go get a physical.

TOWken22

Yes, national borders still matter.

That said, since 90% of you live within 100 miles of the US border, why don't you just drive across? Alternatively, get a friend in the US. I buy items off of NewEgg for one of my Canadian friends and have it shipped to his wife's work location in Buffalo, NY.

scuba_steve_1

@kush: Pretty sure they don't.
[www.nydailynews.com]

92BuickLeSabre

If I'm understanding you correctly, this is a call for the U.S. to attack Canada and liberate its postal system.

itchytooth

@kush: Have you ever BEEN to a state hospital!?

3rd. World.

DestroyerMTL

Where I live (Argentina), sales tax is 21%,plus customs tax (more or less 50%) so if you want to get, say, a PS3 (which is not available in a legal way, though it will be soon), you have to spend around 800 bucks, a wii is sold for more or less 500 usd and you have no real warranty if anything should happen to them. If it breaks, tough luck. Hell, we even find that prices CHEAP in relation to what other gadgets cost.
Add to that the fact that 1 usd = 3 ars, so everything is multiplied by three in our currency. You can see how painful it is to be a gadget lover here. Don't get me started on media and tv shows...

You, my friend, have it easy. Don't complain.

Ikario

health care isnt really that great in canada, maybe because its free for Canadians (which im not) but it really sucks, you sit there for hours just to see a doctor, never seen that anywhere in the world, and no one cares if you are dying. im pretty sure in the states they give a rats ass if someone is dying in front of them.

kush

hmph... a McGill boy eh? should have known. oh, and NOBODY shops at Futile shop.

and yes it's true, for example, if i want an eeepc. i have to go to the source by circuit city (aka Radio Shack) and shell out $399.00 for the cheapest one.

if gas was cheaper i'd drive to Buffalo and score me some sweet, sweet toys.

B1663R

Dan, as a fellow gadget nerd who also recently graduated from McGill, I can tell you that you were looking in the wrong places when buying gadgets. There are plenty of US retailers willing to ship cutting edge stuff here, you just need to make sure that it doesn't come via UPS! Generally, USPS and FedEx's rates are reasonable and often you get under the wire with no duty at all. I just ship stuff to friends in the States.

As for Futureshop, I'm assuming you're talking about the one on St. Catherines. It's a nightmare. No one in there has even half a clue about anything. The bestbuy out on the West Island is somewhat better.

For Cancon, I couldn't agree with you more, we really are missing out there. The CRTC is an outdated and socialist organization.

DestroyerMTL

A little somethhing to remind you "A"

[img.techpowerup.org]

VeracityInexcusable

wait... isnt a plaid flannel considered a 'gadget' in Canada any way? correct me if im wrong here but i thought if you didnt kill it, skin it, tan it, and then create it, it was considered high tech.

venomous_duck41

Also, this is what the city of Buffalo is for...in fact, it is rumored, the only reason Buffalo exists as all.

Julio Allison

I frankly, DO LIVE IN CANADA
sadly, everything Dan said here was true, and it really does suck to be a gadget nerd here. Its all relative i suppose, just as it must suck to be a cell phone nerd in America rather than Japan. Having the US right 200km from us is just a kick in the balls though.

But we do have bittorrent and we don't have people sueing us for it. In fact its legal here. SO THERE. =D

t3tsubo

"Canada doesn't produce its own electronics..."

Isn't RIM in Canada -- in Waterloo, Ontario?

Julio Allison

Dan, we are happy you left Montreal! You are forgetting to mention the availability of the best smokable substances you can get for 1/5 the cost of what you would pay in the united states. Plus any real gadget lover in Canada has a US PO box where there gadgets get sent.

Besides that real gadget lovers know how to get their hands on things like the iphone, BB BOLD and ps3 months before they hit market.

I should be working for you guys getting my hands on the goods well before you would dream of it.

Unfortunately I do not have the time to do so - I do not even have time to comment on the 20 times a day I read giz.

Ripping into Canada got my first post after 18 months out of me - good work sign up and advertising stats increase.

oh and ps.. i probably severed you free beer at OAP a few times or tossed a Frisbee at your head.

BooWho

@92BuickLeSabre:

Where is canada anyway? Oh well..

At least two of the four people that live there are in my favorite movie "Strange Brew"

Lo ku ko ku ku koo koo koooo

Peace to:
Bob and Doug McKenzie
AKA Rick Thomas, and Steve Moranis

VeracityInexcusable

Sounds like England..... only cheaper.

(Author notes exception in the case of iPhone tarrifs)

ultim8fury

I can't wait to move to Hong Kong, the electronics are cheaper and more up-to-date than the US and Canada combined.

Anarian

Happy Canada day to all...

dufus

@nutbastard: Whether they've gone for it or not, they've succeeded.

@WD40: All polar bears belong to Alaska. They just like to go to Canada sometimes to get away from all the people.

@klaybc: Good try. You are obviously a Canadian in normal-people's clothing.

(Of course, I kid. I truly look forward to the day when our northern neighbors join us as our 51st state as Natural Law has always intended.)

92BuickLeSabre

And our government "sucks balls?" Yeah, well, actually it does (they all do), but everything is relative as you have eloquently laid out for us. Welcome, Oh Bearded One!

GadgetPlay

Let us end this mindless violence and join our hands in song.

Not a hymn to war, like our national anthem, but a sweet, soothing hymn, like the national anthem of Canada.

klaybc

Sure there are trade offs, but hey at least your health care doesn't suck, and the education is top notch.

rubasrv

@92BuickLeSabre:

"the impact is minimal."

isn't that the image Canada has always gone for?

nutbastard

@92BuickLeSabre: Don't forget the polar bears...

WD40

Where is this "Canada"?

TC2COOL

On the plus side, there are only ~4 people living in Canada, so the impact is minimal.

92BuickLeSabre

damn eletronics are that expensive in canda???? how do you guys live!?

aznplayer213

@kush: Something tells me that if you're actually dying you'll be bumped up the line. Generalizations brought forth from ignorance have no place on the internet. Oh wait...

hooked-on-tronics

This Dan guy isn't that bad... A good read indeed. I'm sympathetic with the Canadians, us Europeans have as much as 50% higher prices for some stuff.

rospaya

@Joseph: You came across the same research I did. Bravo, good sir.

TC2COOL

@ripfire: @Ryanraven: I looked into this, apparently this "Canada" is America's hat.

TC2COOL

Alberta has only 5% tax. Any real canadian gadget lover has mastered the art of online shopping.

Abnormal

Why not take a trip down to Plattsburgh? Either you try to sneak your gear back north or you pay the import tax, which is going to still be less than the markup.

joestoner

@TC2COOL:

Joseph

Damn, a happy Canada day ribbing to us all. I guess I'll have to spend the day drowning my sorrows in the one thing you Americans can't seem to get right; beer. Does anything else really matter?

hooked-on-tronics

Great article. Completely true. I hate this country.

ferrdidly

@kush: Actually, some hospitals will refuse anybody without health insurance, even with gunshot wounds. They'll just load you up on the ambulance and send you to the next hospital. Others will see you, but you'll end up paying through the nose w/o health insurance, and if you can't pay (like if you're homeless), the hospital must pass the cost onto the insurers, who then pass it on through your health insurance premiums. Trust me, as a U.S. citizen, I would happily wait in line if I knew that everybody was at least getting the same amount of health care.

Ajax

Who needs newegg when you've got NCIX.com?

Tax in ontario is a paltry 13% now. It is 15.5% in PEI, down from 17.7% just a few years back. The odd percentage is because the provincial sales tax (10%) stacks on top of the federal sales tax (5%). Only PEI and Quebec stack taxes like that. It's weird, but PEI is worth it!

Sleeman and Keith's make up for all the 'product pricing' shortcomings.

It is worth noting that the price gap is the worse for books than electronics.

weendex

@kush: Waiting for hours? Sounds a lot like a visit to the doctor here in the States, assuming, of course, that you can pay for one. I doubt any Canadians go bankrupt from getting sick.

Yeah, the gadget/media problem sucks, but for someone who likes media as little as I do, Canada looks like a good place to live, eh?

kc2idf

Dan,
My name is Dan, also, and I will be a first-year (trying to get used to it) this fall at McGill. I knew that going to a Canadian college would take some adjustment, but I didn't know that there would be this much of a rift for gadget geeks. Any specific tips on how to get by for the next four years?
-Dan L.

Ajax

First off: Happy Canada Day!

Next: You should have lived in Edmonton, AB... much more opportunities here and only 5% sales tax as of like 6 months ago (thx to our awesome conservative government!).

What are u talking about, corner gas is such an amazing show but then again, we don't expect u american's to get it... lol.

What we pay extra in gadgets completely makes up for ur health care system in the US. If my family lived there, we'd be dirt poor because of that system. So i really don't mind paying 150 extra for a laptop. Also, it is very easy to get gadgets from the US on the internet. And i've never had a problem with Canada Post... It's customs everyone hates... there the ones who keep ur toys and play with them for 4 weeks before shipping them lol.

@VeracityInexcusable: It's spelled "eh"...

Crispus

@TC2COOL: Sometimes it is called America - North. It's kind of a barren empty space that we store trash and oil in.

Ryanraven

Hunh. So this is why we so many Canadians in the border states?
Here in Minnesota- until someone pulls out their credit card it's awfully hard to tell a Canadian from a northern Minnesotan... unless they are Quebecois (then we assume they are French).

ionerox

@chrstphr: one problem, when a 6' tall white guy walks into the place they think he's a cop and shut it down...

B1663R

@kush: My goodness, some distorted views out there. I can assure you that health care is not FREE in Canada or any other country. I do believe someone has to pay the doctors, nurses, and receptionists. They also have to buy those big buildings called hospitals and fill them with really expensive gadgets. I cringe whenever someone praises FREE healthcare in other countries.

Now if you want to talk about the redistribution of wealth so that everyone gets the same level of healthcare, that's another discussion. To each according to their need, from each according to their ability, huh?

Roto-Rooter

@mrbach:

I wholehearted agree with almost everything that you said. Well done.

Happy Canada Day to my northern friends! Maybe someday i'll come join you (when you figure out how to make your country overall warmer, or when global warming gives it to you for free)

Puck

It's true it's true, the latest gadget launches and the soonest I expect to see it in a futureshop is a month after, if it's an ipod, 2 months if it's anything else.

I probably won't be getting an iphone until they lower rates and offer more data, I hope I don't cave in and let myself get ripped off.

and don't even get me started on sales tax

thedarkhorse

@Andwu: For years the CRTC has been forcing the telecoms to maintain landline service as their top priority. They did this so that all Canadians would have access to emergency contacts at all times. I'm personally more interested in public safety than what movies are available to me on iTunes, but perhaps now that so many people are opting out of their landlines for a cellphone we'll start to see different avenues being taken by the CRTC.

hooked-on-tronics

@Dan Nosowitz:

Voodoo PC and ATI systems

t3tsubo

I don't know, I'm Canadian, and sitting in my home office full of gadgets. TigerDirect online works just as well, and anything I buy from Amazon.ca or Amazon.com, still gets delivered. If I buy it from the States these days, its a bit cheaper because of the weak US dollar.
I earn more than my American counterpart, but pay more taxes. However, my student loan was paid off when I was 25, and my healthcare is paid for through taxes. If you take that into account, I earn about 30% more than my American counterpart.
I don't have to worry about everyone packing a gun (except certain parts of Toronto-ha!), and my political ads only last 30 days before an election. Either way, the right and the left agree on one thing, universal healthcare. Probably the only reason most people vote.
No one cares if the politician is Black, Muslim or a woman. My news is usually packed with news, instead of idle speculation, hate mongering, and fluff.
As a Canadian, I am protected by a modern Constitution (1982), that does not reflect a society that carried muskets or died from tooth decay at 30. I have a separate document called the Privacy Act, which vigorously protects my privacy, my data and protects me from being spied on. I may travel anywhere I wish, including Cuba, and no one can tell me where I may and may not go.
I may see boobies on TV, because in Canada, hey, it's cool. I can watch a movie after 10pm and have the F word, so I may properly enjoy Die Hard like an adult, and if I so choose, I can tell an officer of the law to F-off, because the Supreme Court says I can.
My Supreme Court actually treats and protects every citizen as equal under the law, and does not impose religious dogma on me. Gay people are actually recognized as people, and there is no equal, but different in this country. Equal, actually means equal and I don't have to worry about the next elected official taking that away.
My country doesn't import oil, nor does it invade others for theirs. It sits on reserves that probably exceed 2 trillion barrels, and enjoys the protection of many Commonwealth nations.
I find that winter sucks a bit, and the summer is sometimes too F'ing hot, but then, not everything is perfect, and when I see what other countries do to their citizens, I realize I am being petty about the small stuff.
I am disappointed that an American, that lived in Canada for any period of time, failed to realize these many things, least of which, was the ability to buy the same dam crap you get in the US, for the same price. This however, may be due to a mental deficit on the authors part, and I cannot discriminate or chastise anyone, or treat them differently because they have a comprehension problem. I am Canadian.
Happy Canada Day! Happy July 4th, to my American friends.

mrbach

I paraphrase the best description I ever heard for Canada
-----
Canada had such great promise.
English culture.
French cuisine.
American technology.

Unfortunately, they got
English cuisine,
French technology
and American culture.

hakubak

First off, everything in Dan's post is true.

3 reasons why getting the iphone here will not be that good:

1. Rogers/Fido (only GSM provider) will rip us a new one with their exorbitant data and voice rates.

2. Tech companies like Apple still charge Canadians more for everything despite our dollar being equal or even stronger at times (although not on the iphone I believe).

3. The CRTC (our FCC) sucks and does not serve the interests of most Canadians. Our iTunes store for example has no movies and next to no TV shows that we can download. Although Apple also needs to negotiate with our networks.

Andwu

@deathscent: haha I hate that stupid red island.

captainmajestic

@Dan Nosowitz: Nortel is one of the premier Telephone System (PBX) manufactureers in the world. That's high tech electronics.

@Julio Allison: Maybe Nortel will come up with some cool consumer gadgets.

URLyAdopter

Now, what about writing about "Why Brazil Sucks For Gadget Lovers"... actually, you'll probably need some pages to write that...
#
...and Canadians, Happy Canada Day by the way!

JrezIN

@Roto-Rooter: A Marx qoute, eh?

rospaya

Try living in Brazil.

- Most stores do not ship to us.
- 60% Customs tax + State tax (36% on the already taxed value, in my state)
- Customs over-estimate prices. Once i bought an USB bluetooth adapter for 3.99 dollars (cheapo chinese crap), they charged me taxes based on a price of 30 dollars.

PS3 in brazil: US$1000-1200*
Wii: US$500-700*
iphone (1st gen): US$ 900-1000*

*Not in official dealers, so no warranty or tech support

be glad you live in canada and only pay 15%.

Bohrier

As a Canadian, I must say that you also forget about the price of cars, who is way too much higher then in the US. They are reducing it now, but it still to high.

At least we are healthy and educated, since in Quebec, education is free, until you get to university. And even there it's really cheap.

TheMugs

Wow Dan, nice article! I found it extremely insightful and thoughtfully written! You were/are just an intern?... I have to say that it's written waaaay better than half of the stuff the regular contributors post! I look forward to reading more of your post in the immediate future! Kudos, and keep up the good work!

Ambiguous Blob 2.0

@mrbach: very well said. our country truly is better than any other lol. (yes i know... that sounded really stuck up... i'm just being sarcastic, but canada is a really good country!)

Crispus

I hear your brother. I am born and bred in Canada but that doesn't make me blind to the raping I receive with regard to all things electronic. However, that said I suppose it could be worse I could live in Sweden have you seen their taxes and mobile phone rates? At least they have safe cars and a hell of a lot of porn.

Meursault

I think you are off on your exchange rate. 1 CAD=0.9786 USD

wcnghj

@Ikario: I fully understand what you mean about gadgets in Argentina. I left a couple of years ago after spending a couple there. I wanted to die when i saw a simple mp3 discman was nearly $80 usd. gadgets there are impossible to find and expensive when you find them.

jeepingeek

@URLyAdopter:

Maybe Nortel should first try making the land line phone of theirs that I use at work at least partially functionally intuitive -- that, and figure out how to write a user manual in English instead of hieroglyphics or whatever you call the alien interpretation of English it is that they currently use.

Julio Allison

Bitch all you want about cancon... Trailer Park Boys is fine television, that teaches valuable life lessons, evn more improtant now in this time of crisis.

In the immortal words of Jim Lahey:

Who is this park, or even in the whole world, doesn't have problems? Who doesn't have a drink too many times once in a while and maybe even winds up passed out in their own driveway, pissing themselves? Who doesn't drink too much sometimes or who doesn't have a puff from time to time? And who doesn't have problems with the people they love? This is our home. This is our community.

adamator

I'm from Canada and I love how gadgets are so cheap in the US. But here are a few comments I have:
- Sales tax is only 13% in Ontario. Other provinces are lower. Google it.
- Futureshop sells the exact same shit as BestBuy. Actually BestBuy owns Futureshop and they have many locations. I think they're trying to fool the Canadian people by setting up BB locations in major cities. Prices are exactly the same.
- Yes, cell phones are ridiculously expensive. new iPhone users will be greeted with a 3 year contract!!! not 2 year like Americans. Plus, there is ROAMING charges when you step too far from your area. it's sad.
- Gadgets are and always will be more expensive there. The demand is strong, but the volume at which they sell is not as high as the US. Factor in import taxes, etc, the prices are adjusted as higher. Although I have heard with some negotiation, some stores are willing to give the Canadian price that is listed on the box (on certain goods, like books, games, etc).
- Woot does ship to Canada now.
- Any gadgets crossing the border are subject to customs/taxes/duties. Even worse, if you ship via UPS or FedEx from the US, you will be dinged with brokerage fees!!! So avoid that mess and try to ship with USPS. No brokerage fees, low duty fees.
- Corner Gas and other Canadian content is actually funnier than it looks. Just watch it. :)
- Happy Canada Day!

chopstickhero

Good read, although having all those obstacles can make you become real resourceful.
I have no problem getting US sites like hulu, just get invisible browser or UltraSurf to bypass the lockout. Torrents can do wonders as well, for the gadgets, get a family or friend to send stuff over.

Canada post does suck though, my zune 80 took 3 weeks to clear and when I did get it, they charge me $25 For duty.

Great pic, I grew up watching that show, strange Brew Bob and Doug McKenzie.
.....Later hosers I'm looking for a torrent of it.

wetworker

@mrbach:
Thank you for saying that so I didn't have to type it out.

lmulaire

"Thank you for saying that so I didn't have to type it out."
was meant for mrbach

lmulaire

Thank you for saying that so I didn't have to type it out.

Canada is a great country and i would never want to move away from here. When we say that we're going to the country it doesn't mean a suburb just out of the city, it means the country.
We have some of the most beautiful scenery in the world in my opinion and it's not all filled up with ads to buy the latest and greatest shoes ever.
I don't mind having to pay 12% in sales tax because what i get back from my non-corrupt government is worth so much more then that. Paying 6000$ a year for a great education is top notch and doesn't take me till I'm 87 to pay my debt back. And you know what... some things might be more expensive but a minimum wage of 9$ is all anyone here needs to pay rent, food, clothes and utilities.
Dan, i agreed to some of your points but did you actually venture out of Montreal and go to say, the maritimes, Northern Ontario, Prairies, Rockies?
Happy Canada guy and honestly.. I'm a disappointed in this article not stating the things that make Canada a great nation

lmulaire

Anyone who has spent time in a Canadian hospital would realize that the healthcare most certainly does suck - it's just "free" (as in not really).

Guess what: "a society who (sic) prefers sensible politics and beneficent social values to slightly more convenient electronics purchasing" is really just another socialist paradise, which is why gadgets are overly expensive and the airwaves are clogged with CanCon Crap.

And societies aren't people - I guess your fancy McGill edumacation didn't include grammar?

Before you think I'm a Canada-hater, my passport has a maple leaf on it, and I lived there for almost 30 years. It is really a very nice place, filled with mostly wonderful people, many of whom are, unfortunately, suffering from a national inferiority complex which they attempt to sublimate with rather crude and stupid anti-Americanism, which intern-boy appears to have imbibed along with his charmingly broken Quebecois English. The anti-free market (ie anti-American) attitudes held by many Canadians, especially many members of government, results in higher prices and circumscribed choices - and frankly gadgets are the least of the problem, at least compared to stagnating medical technology, crippling monopoly pricing on agricultural commodities and a sharply declining manufacturing sector. Without the oil sector, Canada would be in a real, properly defined, recession.

Canoehead

@Mandatory_Field: Why are you setting it up now? You're three days early.

92BuickLeSabre

I grew up in Detroit and had a friend south of us in Windsor (Canada). I used to make a cool $5 back in the high school days for picking him up whatever games or CDs I was getting and driving it over to him.

theonlydoublej

Happy Canada Day! From my teeny patio! Where I'm assembling a *&$#@ barbeque!

Mandatory_Field

@rospaya: Why yes. I just forget which one - Groucho or Harpo. LOL

Roto-Rooter

Do handguns count as gadgets?

hakubak

Yes there are some gadgets that are simply just not available to Canada, but can't the same be said of Japanese stuff not sold in America? Iphone is an example, but the biggest reason for the problems in Canada are the collusion between Rogers/Bell/Telus and the government.

SuperSan

Tech in Canada is more expensive because of the much higher taxes on sales and imports than the US has. The price is already adjusted for the weak US Dollar *shakes fist*. Canadians have to pay for a lot more things while also buying an iPhone. I'm not saying it's bad. To each their own. I would personally rather have cheap tech because I use it more...and I have health care through my work :)

pine1045

I used to live in Canada when I was really little, but I didn't have to pay for anything back then so I don't remember anything of this sort. It was very cold...Yes.

Karinabob

@kevman90: You get mad when people defend themselves, and you wish the US would invade Canada because of that? From now on I'm using you as my reason for Canada being the superior nation.

hooked-on-tronics

@Canoehead: Hey, before you trash grammar and spelling mistakes (that aren't mistakes), make sure you never make any yourself. I only had to look at the first page of your comments before I found one here. You want to be an editor? E-mail the person who posted, and ask them politely to look into it. I thought we just went over this yesterday.

Benny Goldman

Oh and I dont believe in Canada Day

kevman90

@Canoehead: That was brilliant! You know, for a Canadian.

Roto-Rooter

@mrbach: Why do Canadians always have to defend there existence. I mean come on. Relax buddy.

I sorta wish the US would just invade Cananda already. I know it sounds racist/ignorant and all but i just get so mad when Canadians do that...

kevman90

@lmulaire: I tried to make it pretty clear that this is a good-natured ribbing of a place I genuinely love. I even praised Canadian politics and education, which isn't easy in a piece on consumer electronics.

And yes, everyone: Trailer Park Boys is amazing.

Dan Nosowitz

@Dan Nosowitz: The article has to be read in Canadian to know it's funny.

Happy Canada Day, you're missing out on BEER GARDENS.

No matter what side of the border you're on, at least you can visit the other side any time by land.

And for anyone that complains about gadget prices at local retailers, it costs big bucks to be sitting there in a massive brick and mortar, operating costs are much higher for something that has a physical presence bigger than a two car garage. If you're on here, then you're only a few clicks away from buying whatever you want online, and having it delivered to your door. And you always order from a neighbouring province, or alberta, to avoid the crazy tax penalties.

This is going to be a awesome week :) Shoulda booked it off

Canada Day, a few days to recover, then Independence Day.

skulldriveshaft

@Canoehead: blasphemy for using the name of mr canoehead against Canada.

the kids in the hall hate you for it.

skulldriveshaft

@hooked-on-tronics: No kidding. Who wants to invade people who are going to defend themselves? That sounds like a lot of work. I get mad when Canadians defend themselves because it stands in the way of my desire to invade them.

92BuickLeSabre

First a post about the angry letter to Steve Jobs over iPhone plans, then a post aboot (LoL) BlackBerry and now this. Looks like Giz is at about 5% Cancon right now. :P

Seriously though, the US is awesome! Canada is also awesome! It's Mexico that sucks! Just kidding. You're cool too Mexico.

Happy Canada day everyone!

Rantonium

Dan, well done - you've got some great writing chops there. That was a great read. What's it going to take for the Giz to hire you on full-time?

J.T.

@mrbach:

I lived in London, ON for 5 months while I worked at Diamond Aircraft.... Thank FSM that they paid for a trip to "the real world" every 2 weeks. I feel as though many Canadians try to play perfect and non-judgmental, but 99% of them look down on people from the USA. Sure, we have our problems, but like it or not, the US is a damn fine country, that has contributed more toward progress of the human race than most other nations combined

(i.e. we built the Space Shuttle...you built the Canadarm....we built the 747, you built the CRJ...we went to the moon, you had a half-Canadian guy help invent the Moon Pie..We found a way to market burnt coffee...your national coffee chain took the guilt trip of a hockey player dying to really take off...etc)..

Oh, and free health care isn't all it's cracked up to be, the wait times are insane and I personally find (and many Canadians agree) that the level of experience is lacking. There's a reason that Canadians are coming to the USA and paying for their own healthcare when they could have it for free up in our hat.

LUV2CattleCall

@kevman90: well... if Canadians had the attitude of "let's invade the USA", I'm sure all Americans would defend their existence too.

chopstickhero

@Benny Goldman: I assume an intern is paid for posting content, or at least can list the job on his resume? I'm just another poor commenting fool...but if Giz decides to pay me, I'll use proper grammar in all cases.

Canoehead

Having worked at in the electronics dept at target In the niagara falls area. Most of the customers where canadian. They told me they came over here to get there fix because A.) it was cheaper, and B.) We had stuff they could not get there yet. One guy cleaned us out of Rock bands for xbox360 because they where not out there yet.

DarkFlow83

Sales tax is now down to 14% here in Nova Scotia.
Should be down to 13% soon I hope. Gas is still a killer though! It changes every Thursday night/Friday morning at 12:00 pm, and I think this is only the second week sense it started that it hasn't gone up! It's worth it though, to live here.
-LoganC-

LoganC

I forgot about "Kids in the Hall!" Was "SCTV" a Canadian show? "Second City" started in Chicago.

@Canoehead: "but supremely nasty anti-Americanism that the Canadian media establishment and politicians use for their own crass benefit."

That's something we have in common. Our press and 35% of our political establishment are the same way.

GadgetPlay

@skulldriveshaft: i think you mean 'four on the floor', and older comedy show similar in format to 'kids in the hall', featuring 'the frantics'.

happy canada day from bc {~}3 *cheers* *cough*

undeadmachine

@chopstickhero: "Corner Gas and other Canadian content is actually funnier than it looks."

"Corner Gas" really does grow on you. Very low keyed, but very funny and well written. And of course, there's "Red Green."

@Ajax: "Actually, some hospitals will refuse anybody without health insurance, even with gunshot wounds."

Emergency rooms are by law not permitted to turn anyone away. That's where the illegals get their health care and stress the hell out of our system.

@Roto-Rooter: :"To each according to their need, from each according to their ability, huh?"

Groucho?

GadgetPlay

@Roto-Rooter: This kind of ignorance really insults me! Everyone knows it's Zeppo.

rospaya

@Roto-Rooter: We try our best, eh.

In all seriousness, it sort of triggers my commenting reflex when people insist on praising the elements of Canada that I like least, and really just do it to express their liberal chops within the US context. I think it is especially grating because of the casual but supremely nasty anti-Americanism that the Canadian media establishment and politicians use for their own crass benefit. There is plently to criticize abooot both countries, but I think it is weak to define one's Canadianness by the vehemence of one's anti-Americanness (or one's progressivism by ones Canuckophelia). Why not praise Canada's natural beauty, the warmth of its citizens, its bravery and out-sized commitments in both world wars, that Canadians can B-B-Q in the snow and Canada's steadfastness as a good neighbor and trading partner?

All that said, American beer is still like having intercourse in a small watercraft. :vP

Canoehead

Okay for starters is 5% sales tax here in Alberta(which is a province aka state). Just because you live here for several years does not make you an expert on all that is Canadian. It may be "good natured" ribbing buts its a rude and ignorant perspective which is exactly why some Canadians are a little anti american. An iphone is an iphone. It's fat, ugly, overhyped and not worth it. And besides if your really a gadget lover head to chinatown in any big canadian city and you can find whatever the hell it is you want.

ohayou_kun

@mrbach: Thank you sir. Happy Canada Day.

robjennings

Invade Canada? For what - more ice? We can make our own.

Take off, you hosers. America's toque indeed...

JDisnidiet

@92BuickLeSabre:
You should go to school and listen in class instead of smoking welcome mats.

@All:
The reason why we pay so much is that we still pay our stuff just the same as when our currency was 0.50$ US. Now, we should be having the same price as the U.S (as our currency is more or less the same are the U.S (depends on the day), but stores decide to cash in. And until one store decide to drop price for competition, prices will never go down.

GoodBytes

An american friend of mine verbally cocksmacked me in the face a few years ago with this little gem: "I find it so cute that you guys have your own government."

navvywavvy

Yeah Canada is OK, possibly slightly better than the states overall (from a biased opinion of course). And Dan pretty well nailed Canadian issues, but to clarify, healthcare is quite expensive here (once you realize that more than half of all tax dollars collected pays for it - and just because you don't have to pay to visit a doctor or stay overnight in a shared hospital room doesn't mean we don't have tons of other medical expenses - prescription drugs, medical supplies such as cast materials and crutches, wheelchairs, etc, plus optometrists and dentists are not covered, plus the fact that most people cannot get a GP, and an emergency room visit will consume all the daylight hours, walk-in clinics are hit/miss, you will likely die of cancer after waiting nearly a year for an MRI etc) In fact when I do my family's tax return every year I discover that our annual out-of-pocket medical expenses have usually been over $2,000 (after my group insurance's portion for which I pay an additional $200 a year for) and even the first $1500 or so isn't tax deductible.

So besides a tech deficit, I think there is a huge healthcare deficit (despite the private system in the states).

And with the tech, freedom of choice is especially hard to find in the photography market. My first choice is Don's Photo (which is OK as a B&M store) and second choice is a drug store (London Drugs) otherwise I have to look at Future shop because there is no Best Buy in my city (of 260,000). Though compared to Best Buy's Website, Future shop does seem to have slightly cheaper prices, and occasionally even some different brand names (which is bizarre for the same company).

And to VeracityInexcusable: Are you intentionally messing up Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas' names?

Fierock

Great post and it's all true. We get screwed no matter how we try to make the best of the situation.

@Joseph: That one's a bit wrong, it should be "Canada - America's Top Hat". The translation for those below the 49: "We make America look good."

CapitalC

He really does have a point. I've thought of myself as a gadget nerd ever since I was young (though not overly obsessive) and many times I do feel very limited, both buying online (definitely understand the Woot and the Amazon bit) and in store ("And your total comes to twice the listed price, thank you."). Best Buy and Future Shop are absolute garbage (though for all my dog-sledding and igloo-dwelling brethren, Best Buy does occasionally live up to its name by giving sales better than its bigger brother with the fast-forwarding logo). I'm going into university next year and I'm planning on getting a summer job, so first thing I thought of was to apply to those two places mentioned above, just so someone who is aware of their horrid customer service can maybe make a change in another poor, Canadian techie's life. Wrong. Not only do they serve a steaming platter of an "online" "interview" (notice the individual quotations to stress the sarcasm) with half an hour of multiple choice questions such as, "If Susie was to leave on her break just as a customer walked into the door knowing that the customer was present and refused to help said customer, would the manager be right in firing her?" followed by four answers consisting of "Definitely yes, probably yes, probably no, and definitely no", my followup telephone call led me to meeting a very rude and discouraging lady who told me they weren't hiring when I had gone to the actual store the previous week and one of the customer reps there told me they were hiring for all positions. So this summer, I won't be able to work at a place around things I'm passionate about (not to mention no employee benefits, but that's not as important), and I'll have to continue to brace myself every time I walk into one of those stores because though nothing will have changed, I know that there is no other choice.

I apologize for the slightly off-topic rant, but it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders now that I've told someone. I've had my eye on the Blackberry Bold for quite a while now, and I have a sinking feeling that importing it from Asia will draw from me less blood, sweat, and tears than if I were to buy it here. Getting a data plan, I'm sad to say, doesn't seem like it'll ever be a viable option. However, other than the gadget crisis, Canada is still the best place on Earth to live, in my humble opinion. But oh, the sacrifices we must make!

With that, Happy Canada Day!

SnoopsterJ

@GadgetPlay: omg, America has never seen Red Green? that was my childhood in a nutshell.

Happy Canada Day :)

fudged71

but... I like corner gas :(
well, in relation to all other cancon

I agree, however... it sucks big time to be a gadget nerd here. I'm a canadian iPod touch user... the hardest hit by anger

fudged71

we3ll at least the future is bright, once global warming kicks in we will have fertile land,largeset freshwater source(already are) and we currently export the most uranium, don't forget atlantic oil!!! soooo ha!!!!

canada-man89

Well first off Happy Canada Day!

Second all to all your lower 48er, we Alaskan's are somewhat like Canada in that very little stuff get shipped to us. I happen to live on an Aleutian Island, ground zero for the "Deadliest Catch". We are 800 miles from the nearest electronics store. So whom do we buy from? Dell ships here for free, sometimes Amazon.com and Ejectit, but Woot..not a chance, Yugster...no way, and newegg, tigerdirect, list goes on...these companies will charge you next-day-air to ship anything to us which adds $50 to $80 to the order. I have a friend send all my woot stuff from Washington State. But all you lower 49ers can look to Alaska as your "Canada" with out tax, in fact residents of Alaska have a negative tax, every man woman and child receive a Check from the Alaska department of revenue every October, revenue sharing from our $50 Billion Alaska State Permanent Fund. Last year every Alaskan received $1675.00! This year with all the oil profits it will probably be near 2K. hmmm I wonder what I will spend my money on this year? Looks like it will be an unlocked Iphone! Happy Canada Day and Happy 4th of July!

Peace to all our North American friends!

AlaskaUn

It's probably better in America's Beard...

Damn, I was so disappointed at Rogers' iPhone plan. And now unsubsidized iPhones are $599 and $699. thats half a new macbook! sheesh...

kmkl

For Canadian Media, yes, all we have is a plethora of shows about Inuit culture, and a whole lot more about how Government is very very confusing. Corner Gas is a meagerly good show that's jumped the shark and on its way out, and Just for Laughs is like 10 years old now.

However, looking at it from just a computer perspective on gadgetry, there are a number of websites that are either located in Canada and serve the purpose of getting new, quality products to us, or just give free shipping to the both countries.

And seriously, would you want an iPhone... the Telus commercials are so cute.

fishghost

You must not have watched TV after 9pm because in Canada we're actually allowed to hear Mother Fucker and Cocksucker and see nudity on regular broadcast television. Our CRTC at least isn't run by a bunch of puritans. They may have their heads up their asses... but thats another point.

tuckertuck

First: Happy Canada Day.

Second all you lower 48er us Alaskans are somewhat like Canada in that very little stuff get shipped to us. I happen to live on an Aleutian Island, ground zero for the "Deadliest Catch". We are 800 miles from the nearest electronics store. So whom do we buy from? Woot..not a chance, Yugster...no way, and newegg, tigerdirect, list goes on...these companies will charge you next-day-air to ship anything to us which adds $50 to $80 to ANY order. But all you lower 49ers can look to Alaska as your "Canada" with out tax, in fact residents of Alaska have a negative tax, every man woman and child receive a check from the Alaska department of revenue every October, from our $50 Billion Alaska State Permanent Fund. Last year every Alaskan received $1675.00! This year with all the oil profits it will probably be near 2K. Hmm so what will I buy with my oil windfall? Probably and unlocked iphone...3G out here?...No Way..

Happy Canada Day! and Happy 4th of July!

Peace to all North Americans!

rockxdude

I didn't know Canada was so frustrating for geeks/nerds, hahaha I thought that Mexico (where I live) was worst country to buy gadgets and electronics. Here electronics are expensive but I can buy them in the US and import them a paying a little more because of duties (not very expensive) or buy them here if I found them ;)

Also we can have all the US TV content (best and worst) by cable or satellite or even internet, our stupid politics don't even know what a computer is so we have really free internet lol, I love my fucking country where sometimes you found good things!

duhguy

((Anyone who has spent time in a Canadian hospital would realize that the healthcare most certainly does suck - it's just "free" (as in not really).

Guess what: "a society who (sic) prefers sensible politics and beneficent social values to slightly more convenient electronics purchasing"))CanoeHead

Just to let you know our healthcare does not suck here in Canada, its one of the best in the world, unlike the USA. Cuba has a better healthcare rating then the USA just a FYI. Also Canadians live almost 4 years longer than Americans do, proving our slow but equal healthcare is effective and does work. Srry for the disapointment. Healthcare is only amazing in the USA if you have the cash. There is no denying that.

mbruni

The sale of handguns is largely blackmarket, so no, guns dont count. Tigerdirect.ca is a fine retailer, and yes Futureshop is horrid. I had a rep REFUSE to sell me a USB A to USB B cable stating It wouldnt work for connecting the stereo I had just puchased there to my PC. Even when I showed him the USB B port on the stereo, he was adament that USB B was for Printers ONLY. Oh, and they also said my 320GB USB/1394 external harddrive had Windows on it and would not work with OS X / Ubuntu. Bestbuy/Futureshop is a joke. Did you know in the City I live (thunder bay, ON, CA) they had only 2 mobile devices with Windows Mobile 6? Whaaa?

j.z.l

@tuckertuck: only allowed to hear those words, along with watching hardcore gay porn and re-enacted images of incest and child sexual assualt, so long as it is "Canadian content" on Canadian networks, especially on CBC-french.

Fierock

I blogged about this a while ago - it's only Apple based though.

[www.jlindenbaum.de]

jlindenbaum

You should try Sweden:)
Like Canada but even better health care, education etc....
and a smörgåsbord of really good, fairly priced 3g services (eg, tre.se). Social security is truly world class, personally im not complaining.

Although we do have moderate taxes:
Income (although earnings are good): 30%
Groceries, etc: 12%
Gadgets, etc: 25%

But the difference here is we see all that money coming back to us in form of retirement, free education, unemployment, well maintained infrastructure. Unlike the US investing trillions in war, when that money could give free education to the whole nation.

citizen024

@sharmanova

You are wrong there... Canada's health care system is not only better than the US, it's also significantly cheaper per capita. Plus, we have the added benefit of it not being taken away from us if we are gay, non-white, poor, or in a high risk job ( like their 'insurance' companies will )...

[en.wikipedia.org]

tinkertank

@Joseph:
Too funny. Doesn't that make Florida, America's wang?

PS Healthcare in Canada is unsustainable, and has only worked because we live so close to a private health care facility called the US.

As for the iPhone, as much as I wanty, and though I have the scratch, I am not going to buy into the douchery that is the Rogers price plan. Those f*ckwits, with the only GSM network in Canada, had a chance to conquer being the carrier to have the latest Blackberries and iPhone. I've been waiting this long for an iPhone I can wait until new carriers go online in 2009 and God willing one will be GSM, have the iPhone and price it to kill. I only hope God remembers where Canada is.

sharmanova

Please, don't come back.... Canada is the Greatest Country in the World, and we don't want you bloody Americans here messing it up. As for Can Tech:

Corel
Nortel
Mitel
CANDU
RIM
ATI
Matrox
PSB
Energy
NAD
Bryston
Magna
Ballard
Bombarier ( Skidoo, Seadoo, Learjet )

tinkertank

Canada is a country going down hill full of 3rd world immigration. Just check out Best Buy owned Future Shop full of 3rd world immigrants trying to rip you off every chance they get like in a flee market in India or Pakistan. Our health care sucks more then in the US where I lived for 5 years, but we're brainwashed by our government to think we have the best healthcare system in the world. Unless you're an unemployed bum or someone who just arrived from some 3rd world country with 6 kids this welfare healthcare might work for you. But if you're a hard working middle class Canadian paying 60% of your income in taxes and need to wait for 3 months for a simple test and so on….It's ridiculous. Canadian TV also sucks and it protected by the outdated communist CRTC. One of the most popular show in Canada is called "The Little mosque on the prairie" It's an ass kissing, sugar coated, brain washing series on Muslim immigrants. The US is also not perfect the crime is very high and there is a much bigger gap between the rich and the poor. However I don't believe in handouts or taxing the hell out of the middle class to pay for some bums welfare and then get treated like one in the emergency room. The other day I was charged $20 in duties on 30 beers I bought for $12 in the US by the Canadian border Nazis. OOOOHHH CANADA!!!!!!!

Porscheboy

@tinkertank:

I'm not saying Canadian health care isn't Giselle Bundchen, I'm just saying that a middle class guy can only date her for so long as his credit cards hold up. When maxed, the gig is up.

Those 47 million Americanos without health care probably at least have reasonable data plans and can watch the latest episode of Entourage.

sharmanova

@sharmanova

In 2006 47 MILLION americans had no health care coverage whatsoever.... That's more than all of the people in Canada...

tinkertank

That 47 million uninsured figure is quite a stretch. First of all, many of those are young adults that do not feel the need to have catastrophic coverage for everything under the sun. It also covers the roughly 5% of the work force that is temporarily unemployed. They were insured recently, and will be insured again soon. "Lies, damned lies, and statistics."

@fudged71: Our local PBS station is carrying it now on Saturday nights, has been the last few years. "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy!"

GadgetPlay

Canadian boy here. I love all the pro american stuff you guys are writing ... it's absolutely hilarious. Canada is by far the best country in the world, bar none, and if you believe it's the US, I feel really really sorry for you. Education, health system, economy, government, lack of hurricanes and heat waves, clean air and water, the list goes on. I'd trade any gadget in the world to live here.

FYI - the population of Canada is ~33 million, not 4, and we don't really want your craptastic tv shows.

broho

Canada is a country going down hill full of 3rd world immigration. Just check out Best Buy owned Future Shop full of 3rd world immigrants trying to rip you off every chance they get like in a flee market in India or Pakistan. Our health care sucks more then in the US where I lived for 5 years, but we're brainwashed by our government to think we have the best health care system in the world. Unless you're an unemployed bum or someone who just arrived from some 3rd world country with 6 kids this welfare healthcare might work for you. But if you're a hard working middle class Canadian paying 60% of your income in taxes and need to wait for 3 months for a simple test and so on….It's ridiculous. Canadian TV also sucks and it protected by the outdated communist CRTC. One of the most popular show in Canada is called "The Little mosque on the prairie" It's an ass kissing, sugar coated, brain washing series on Muslim immigrants. The US is also not perfect the crime is very high and there is a much bigger gap between the rich and the poor. However I don't believe in handouts or taxing the hell out of the middle class to pay for some bums welfare and then get treated like one in the emergency room. The other day I was charged $20 in duties on 30 beers I bought for $12 in the US by the Canadian border Nazis. OOOOHHH CANADA!!!!!!!

Porscheboy

"This however, may be due to a mental deficit on the authors part, and I cannot discriminate or chastise anyone, or treat them differently because they have a comprehension problem. I am Canadian."

LOL. Read your sentence again.

Naieve

Canoehead:

The "national inferiority complex" and "Anti-Americanism" you speak of is a direct result of having to rea