If you read the article earlier about the US$1450 MID that’s for sale in Australia, you should read this as, following our article, the price has come down some 20% since we had our moan and now sits at around US$1100. That price might still sound shocking but for me it’s in the consideration-zone because it now translates to something like $750 in the U.S. Here’s why.
The cost of electronic goods in Australia is expensive compared to the US. Less demand, less competition and higher transportation costs means that pre-tax prices are at least 10% higher. Then you have to take the goods and sales tax into account. That’s another 10% that you don’t see on prices in the U.S. I would also take into account another 10% based on this being a pre-order ‘first available’ price. Typically, retailers will try and mop-up the cream of the ‘money no object’ buyers in their first shipment. You also have to consider that this is a recommended retail price and there’s going to be some flexibility built into that price. Probably another 10%.
Taking all this into account, I estimate that the price of the 3G-enabled M528 to be about $750 in the U.S. with a street price that could quickly hit $650. You might even see some retailers taking risks at $499 with the non 3G version of the device. In Europe we can expect slightly higher prices at an extimated 700 Euro for the 3G-enabled model but its still VFM compared to 800 Euro E90’s and HTC Advantages. At 900 Euros the M528 would have been a non-starter for me but I think we’re back on track now.
What do you think though? How much would you pay in pre-tax $US for the 3G-enabled M528. Vote below.
May 13th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
For this money i buy the new iphone 3g (for me is clearly a MID), and the rest of the money for the hsdpa data plan.
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July 28th, 2008 at 12:16 am
What “rest of the money” are you talking about? A non contracted unlocked iPhone 3G will cost you the same if not more, since these prices are estimated for a non contract device that’s what you have to compare it with! Unfortunately NO money can buy you a physical keyboard for the iPhone. Btw typing this on my non 3G iPhone
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May 13th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
The iphone will satisfy a lot of people although battery life under 3G usage could be a big problem for heavy internet users.
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May 13th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Well I’ll still go for a 3G iPhone, but it doesn’t stop me wanting a MID. I think both can co-exist. iPhone great when you don’t want to carry anything around with you, a MID when you can. I love the iPhone and think the browsing is great, but it is still an effort that an 800×480 screen will make a lot easier.
Stupidly, like Chippy, I will pay too much for one too! Still I hope his guesses are right about the price…
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May 13th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Greetings Steve:
Now that is some very good news.
I was looking forward for the marketing of the Gigabyte M528.
To me MID’s should be below the $600 US mark, period.
I hope this MID makes it to Canada soon.
Regards Robert
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May 13th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
For this price we have the wibrain b1h a UMPC and money in your pocket. This MID is too expensive, and only a MID = no real O.S. (xp, or vista or osx or real complete linux, for the use of a MID i really prefer something more little and with phone use like iphone or htc diamond. If the iphone of second generation come with 5mpx camera, sdk, hsdpa, gps and the rest of things of the actual iphone i have no dude.
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May 13th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
You cant compare the price of a umpc unless you add a hsdpa modem cost into your equation, this adds us$200-300 to the comparison price
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May 13th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I would _prefer_ to pay $500-$600… but I _will_ pay as much as $750.
EXCEPT … that’s only if I can put a storage card into the microSD card slot without having to remove the wifi capability (and storage space on the wifi card doesn’t count). AND if there’s an internal bluetooth capability that doesn’t depend on an external USB dongle.
Otherwise, less than $500. Much less than $500.
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May 14th, 2008 at 5:06 am
It would be wise to wait a few months for the pricing to normalise. We already know that intel are selling these cheap. It’ll be up to each company to find the rights parts at the right price and bleed each others margins away due to competition.
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