"Strong dollar likely responsible" leaves a sour taste for Europeans that had to live for decades under the 'price for tech in dollar in the US is price in Euro in Europe' even when the dollar was way cheaper than a Euro.
US price doesn’t include tax, plus sales in the EU come with a non negotiable two (or was it three) year warranty.
Tax might have been a part, but very far from all of the difference. The dollar=euro was there decades before the introduction of the mandatory 2 year minimal guarantee.
Also if your product can't handle 3 years of use then maybe you shouldn't be selling it
The point is that is factored into the cost. Regardless of what you plan for, you need to offer a 3 year warranty. That has a non-zero cost, regardless of how reliable or awesome you make your product.
Not so bad in Switzerland starting at 499CHF (~508EUR, ~441GBP, ~497USD)
Switzerland always seems to be slightly cheaper for electronics than our neighbours
> iPad pricing brings even more pain to European buyers
You don't have to buy it.
"Strong dollar", what's the point of a strong dollar if you can't export your products anymore, pushing foreign market into the hands of your competitors