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PS3 European Launch 23 March, $835
Andy_R writes "Sony has finally committed themselves to a European launch date for the PS3, after disappointing European fans by not having the promised worldwide simultaneous launch, then missing the lucrative Christmas period. The BBC is reporting that the console will arrive on the 23rd of March. EU fans will only be getting the 60Gb version at first, and it will be priced at 599 Euros or 425 pounds in Britain. At today's exchange rates, that's US$ 835.99! From the article: 'A problem manufacturing blue diodes, used in high-definition Blu-ray disc drives, forced the Japanese firm to announce another delay but only for European customers. Sony said the decision was made because Europe was logistically the most complex market for distribution."
To make the data a little more meaningful to Europeans: 835.00 USD = 643.790 EUR.
Source.
425 quid isn't much if you live in the UK. The current exchange rate is irrelevant unless you are buying a UK model with USD. Your other problem is comparing pre-tax US prices with post 17.5% VAT ones. Add that to the US price and you're over $700.
However, I fully agree with your message. If you want prices to drop, don't buy artificially inflated priced product. But we all know that isn't going to happen. There's a reason the car manufacturers refer to Britain as the "golden island".
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At least you have it announced, it still remains to be announced in Australia. I've seen two PS3's in Australia and both of them were running Linux at Linux.conf.au 2007 (from the Yellow Dog Linux guys, so I don't think they were local). So to answer your question? It isn't. I can understand localization issues in parts of Europe might cause delays but for Australia were technically its British English but due to the absolute raping that occured during our early TV development where the US TV producers firmly established their foothold in Australia (to the point that easily 50% or more commercial TV in Australia is American; the Australian Broadcasting Commission's Radio National weekly 'The Science Show' covered this in one of its broadcasts on TV in Australia), American English would be accepted normally without a second thought. I'd almost suggest it'd be easier to ship the PS3 from Japan to Australia than it would to get it from Japan to the UK - especially via boat.
I always wondered where this setting was...
Mod parent up. The reason why European prices are often higher is not because they're being sold at significantly higher prices. It's because the high tax rates (VAT - Value Added Tax) are computed into the price of the goods rather than rung up separately at the time of purchase. Many Europeans actually prefer this situation as something that costs 200 pounds/euros will still cost 200 pounds/euros at the register. Here in the US we have to calculate the taxes before arriving at the price we'll pay at the register.
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I also like the idea of including taxes in posted prices; it makes calculating things much easier, especially across state lines and even cities where taxes can vary.
Even so, the PS3 is still more expensive in the EU. Assuming a 10% tax rate in the U.S (which is higher than most places), you're looking at $660 total for a PS3, still far less than what it is in the EU after exchange.
The reason is simple. Every State in the US has a different sales tax rate.
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