So Sony slashed $US100 off the price of the Tablet S in the States overnight. But what about Australia? Given the $579 RRP for the 16GB version, we kind of hoped Sony Australia would follow suit. Turns out that won’t be happening in the immediate future.
Sony sent us a statement about the price drop:
As part of the Australian seasonal sales period, we offered a special six-day-only price for Sony Tablet ($499 for 16GB) from Boxing Day. We may consider some price adjustments in the future as we prepare to introduce the 3G version of the Sony Tablet, however nothing is confirmed at this stage. We still believe that Sony Tablet offers great value for its current pricing, as an all-round entertainment device.
So in other words, a price drop is probably on the way, but not just yet.
Ben
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 2:08 PMAustralian answer to this market abuse, easy, don’t purchase Sony Tablet.
It will come down, all Android seams to follow this route, so don’t be first, it pays to wait if you want Android.
Sam
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 2:14 PMNick, your last sentence is incorrect, it should read:
“So in other words, Sony believe their product selling well enough at the moment not not necessitate a price drop, and they believe that most of their customers are too lazy or ignorant to import a cheaper model from overseas markets.”
Chris
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 2:21 PMThe Australia Tax is still in force :( Hmmmm.. grey import with no warranty, or get ripped in relation to our US cousins… or don’t buy it period. I think I won’t buy it
MotorMouth
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 3:17 PMWhy wouldn’t a market that is 15 times bigger offer lower prices? Why do you think the EU exists? When the Aussie dollar was worth 54c, we were getting everything MUCH cheaper than the rest of the world. i.e. It is more a reflection of the strength of our currency than any other factor. When the dollar returns to long term averages, 75c-80c, all our prices will be aligned.
Gem Lee
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 2:24 PMIs this a better deal than an Asus Transformer?
Esophagus
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 5:27 PMI have the Transformer and after a few teething problems fixed with firmware updates, its an amazing tab for the relatively cheaper price you can find if you look around. The Transformer Prime has much better specs than the original and the current Sony, but is only essential for performance apps.
MrIan
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 2:31 PMScrew You Sony.
We’re sick of you treating Australia as a Cash Cow.
No wonder smarter, cheaper and more agile companies are overtaking you in leaps and bounds.
Not to mention the fact that your device doesn’t stack up against the new Asus Transformer Prime anyway.
Barry
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 2:34 PMI have found since the Australian dollar being higher or very close to US Dollar that tech companies are holding off price drops for Australia longer than other countries (example – Sony).
Though this shouldn’t be a surprise as Australia is one of those places that overseas tech companies don’t really care about and thre is a long list of examples there for that one.
light487
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 2:58 PMSo if $100USD price of a product is $199 in Australia, when they pass on the price drop we will see a $199 price reduction? :) lol..
Chris
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 3:08 PMok honestly how many people here see these products on a train or anywhere? take a poll in a train carraige in sydney and all you will see r ipads. I vote companies get over this anroid tablets bs and work us some magic with windows 8 later this year!
light487
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 3:14 PMUhmm.. ok..
Android is an O/S.. iOS is an O/S.. WM7 is an O/S.
Android is like Linux, iOS (obviously) like MacOS, WM7 is like Windows.
It’s not BS, it’s just another “flavour”.
MotorMouth
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 3:22 PMWhat’s WM7? Neither iOS nor Android are proper OS’s, they are cut-down, hobbled versions of proper OSes that don’t really do much. That works for Mac users, who are not really computer people, but anyone who actually relies on their computer to earn a living will be hanging out for Win8, a full-featured OS. If Apple are smart, they will already be working on a full OS X version of iPad to compete. If they don’t, they will quickly fall to irrelevance.
smurfydog
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 8:10 PMI really hope companies don’t “get over this andeoid tablets bs” because it is the drive for competition that brings innovation and value to consumers.
This is why I was so sorry to see HP drop the ball with WebOS. It’s also why I’m looking forward to seeing what Win8 tablets come out in the next year or two.
Plus you can’t beat an OS license that costs $0 for keeping costs down.
Big Windows
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 8:32 PMTried one over Christmas and expected a reasonably good experience… It is Sony and all… Nup… Meh… Not gonna sell until it gets at the minimum ICS and probably wont then either…
Jesse
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 2:23 AMwhats the 16g tablet worth with tax included