Mac in the sciences; The mini and iPod to help Apple's marketshare?

Two news from Macworld on how the Mac is being used in science, particularly in bioinformatics and chemistry.

A Perfect X: The rise of Macs in life sciences

Chemists welcome Apple at California trade show

In another article ("Apple desktop market share on the rise; will the Mac mini, iPod help?"), Macworld surmises whether the Mac mini and iPod line will help Apple in getting a bigger piece of the pie. It may be the case in North America and maybe in Europe but it's a different picture here in the Philippines. The iPod may have become more popular but I doubt people will be interested in making the switch once they find out how much the Mac mini will cost. Indeed, the Mac mini is Apple's most affordable desktop PC but the price being offered in the Philippines is too high that it won't be too enticing.

The basic Mac mini is supposed to cost 499USD or 27,000PHP. However, units to be sold here will be bundled with the AppleCare Protection Plan which jacks the price up to 38,000PHP or about 700USD. That's $200 more.

Some would argue that the extra $200 ($150 for the APP and $50 for the reseller's profit) is a good price to pay for piece of mind for three years. There's no problem with regards to the APP or the small profit margin for the reseller. The problem lies in the fact consumers in the Philippines have no choice in the matter. They do not have the option of not getting the Mac mini without the APP.

The $200 difference may not be such a big deal for those living in some parts of the world since, as I have said, it does get you three years of peace of mind. But the problem lies in the fact that people here can get a complete PC running either Windows or Linux for just under 370USD. Now, why would anyone buy a computer without a keyboard, display, and mouse for twice the amount?

No matter how much Mac fans here in the Philippines blow their trumpets for Apple and the Mac OS the price to become a Mac consumer here is just too high.

Blame it on Apple Singapore. In a reply to an email I sent them, MSI Digiland said Apple Singapore dictates on how Mac desktops and portabes are to be sold here in Philippines since they are the regional office for Southeast Asia. It is Apple Singapore, MSI Digiland said, that forcibly bundles APP in all Apple computers and they can't do anything about it.

If MSI Digiland is serious in its statement that the Mac mini will pose a strong competition in the PC market then they better do something about the pricing.

Some Mac fans, feeling that they are being scalped, have opted to buy their portables in the grey market; buying from a nearby Asian neighbor is considerably cheaper even with the APP and shipping cost included in the total bill. Since APP for portables are honored internationally there are no worries about warranty issues. It is a different matter when it comes to desktops. Though the cost of huge savings are enticing some Mac users still think about the the chances of the hardware breaking down and the warranty is not cover locally. Still, some brave souls do grab a Mac from the grey, feeling a little risk is part of the excitement of owning a Mac.