| Apple's pricing for its "most affordable" Mac--the Mac Mini--has drawn a storm of protest from European shoppers, who are petitioning Apple to rethink its EU pricing, according to CNET News.com. Users have started an online petition asking Apple to reduce the European pricing, which may be inflated due to the strong Euro (compared to the US dollar) and because of the included VAT (valued added tax), which is required by European Law (and not mentioned in the report). "We'd like to make an appeal to Apple on the pricing of the new Mac Mini in the European Union. Basing on the last long-term rate of exchange of U.S. dollars to euros (and vice versa)--which is 1.3293 on the spot market, so let's say 1.32--both announced prices of the Mac mini in Europe, 489 euros and 589 euros, respectively, are much too high." The petition also notes that German users are also being charged an extra 50 euros for the lower spec Mac Mini and 60 euros for the higher spec machine: "The petition's writers also claim the higher EU pricing is counterproductive for Apple's business strategy and would serve to discourage potential PC to Mac switchers."
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