This article is more than 1 year old
Apple speeds budget Mac
While Europeans pay hefty mark-up
Apple has speed-bumped the bargain basement Macintosh originally aimed at schools. The eMac was last refreshed in May 2003. Both new models of the CRT eMac now feature 1.25GHz G4 processors, up from 1Ghz, and improved graphics cards with ATI's Radeon 9200 superseding the 7500 card.
US prices are $799 for the 40GB CD-RW model and $999 for the 80GB model with Superdrive. European prices reflect an escalating mark-up. With current exchange rates that should work out as €670 and €837, or £440 and £550. But it doesn't. Instead Apple is charging £549 and £649, a tax for British buyers of 24 per cent and 18 per cent, or 21 per cent for the €799 low-end eMac.
If you're in the UK and you're after a 15" PowerBook with Superdrive, it's once again cheaper to fly to New York and buy it there: the price difference is £568. ®
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