Is Microsoft Crazy - ripping the Dutch ?
[QUOTE=guru3d.com]Microsoft Netherlands has just released some more information in the final prices of Windows Vista. Now you all know that Europe and specifically the Netherlands is a very expensive place to life in with our comples EU rules and local taxes. Things have really gotten out of hand. While I expected Microsoft;s Vista to be a tad more expensive compared to the rest of the world I honest to God never expected the shame you are about to withness.
The prices for some reason are excessively high, although MS suggested the the prices MIGHT not be finalized just yet to cover their hairy asses. Now if you want to understand why piracy is such a big thing in Europe .. then here's your reason and a good reason to see it continued, get a grasp of something as you will get scared:
Vista Ultimate will cost 549 EUR; which is 730.80 USD ... in comparison the US version is selling for 303.24 USD.
Vista Basic will cost 279 EUR which is 371.38 USD .. that version in the US will cost 151 USD. Let me place the Dutch pricing model in a little table for you to get a better overview:
Version Upgrade NL Retail N Retail NL USD Retails VS
Vista Ultimate 369 EUR 549 EUR 730.80 USD 303.24 USD
Vista Business 279 EUR 409 EUR 544.47 USD 227.24 USD
Vista Home Premium 219 EUR 329 EUR 437.97 USD 181.64 USD
Vista Home Basic 129 EUR 279 EUR 371.38 USD 151.24 USD
Let me just end by saying .. Microsoft .. are you fracking nuts ? I'm utterly disgusted ![/QUOTE]
Ridiculous!
Everyone rips the Dutch !!
Basically noone ever buys it :) It is supplied for free with most new PC's and laptops. You have a Windows disk then for use in any computer you might own in the future :p On ALL prices except vital stuff(bread,milk etc.) we have 19% taxes. Software has another 5% "anti-piracy-tax" AND copyright money. This makes any software expensive here. There is no new PC-game to be bought for under 50€ or +/- 80 USD... I heard prices elsewhere are much lower. Exactly the reson why i buy all my games and empty cd's/dvd's from German online stores.
Good comparison:
10 empty cd's in case of a respectble brand cost in The Netherlands 9 € or 12 USD. In Germany however they cost just 2 euro or 2 dollar 70 cents. Why it is so differnet ? No idea,german taxes are 17%,just 7% difference :o We are being ripped off big-time. That is exactly why the Dutch economy is so bad at the moment. People just refuse to buy it in The Netherlands.
Another good example of the isanity.
For a average sized house like mine you pay about 280.000 €.
[url]http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7577/volkertuvenstraat0ec.jpg[/url]
Inside space is about 80 square meters. According to my father,who does taxations on houses for the government, prices in Germany or Belgium are about 90-100.000 € (!!!). We pay over twice that amount for a similar home.
I feel we will get a similar thing as when the tulip-craze collapsed.
Even though peoples wages have barely improved over the past years,evrything has become much more expensive. Buying a house of a million euro is nothing special anymore nowadays. Statistics show a huge increase of people running into financial trouble...I wont be surprised if I would too soon. I get 90€ a month to study from. It costs 200€ a month,then i have all kinds of insurances totalling 130€ a month.All kinds of extra things,like books,paper,pens,cd's,internet connection and anything else that is obliged cost 50€ more... My income should be atleast 290€ a month. Since my study is so intense and I need a lot of time travelling home again,i have no way to do that. Basically i pay my cigarettes and beers from savings. I guess no car or vacation soon...