Apple ripping people off with the black MacBook 1703

If there are no other differences between a black and a white PowerMac other than the color of the plastic used, then they are, indeed, overcharging people by selling the black ones for $150 more. OTOH, if one feels that way, one has only to exercise his god-given right not to buy one. If everybody does that, Apple will soon get the message.

I don't think that it is in evidence that people will pay a $150 premium for a black plastic case over a white plastic one, but that's not the definition of "rip-off." the definition of rip-off is stealing. If you give your money willingly and without coersion, its not theft.

Not so. Is it only a rip-off if people 1) don't know until it is too late that they have paid twice the going rate, and they wouldn't have paid that if they HAD known. Or 2) That it is a necessity of life (like heating oil in the Northeast, for instance) and the price-hike was gratuitous and the buyer has no choice.

If one chooses to pay an artificially high price for something, especially something that they know is more expensive and don't really have to buy, then it can hardly be considered a rip-off. After all, each individual is reponsible for how they use their disposable income.

Even so. It would not be a rip-off unless you had no choice. No one forces you to purchase the more expensive product. I'm not trying to apologize for, or justify, Apple's pricing in this or any other case. I'm merely taking issue with your use of the term "rip-off."

It is only a rip-off if you feel that the product is not worth the money spent and you have no choice but to purchase it anyway.

Its overcharging, perhaps, but its not a rip-off because nobody is twisting your arm making you buy one. If I were in the market, I would probably choose black were there NO price differential. But since there is a $150 price delta, I'd take the white. There, I just exercised my right to say 'NO' to Apple's pricing in this particular instance. I was not "ripped-off".

Ah, you're a Communist. Now your atbreastude is making more sense.

It's ill advised, in my opinion. They could get away with charging a $25 dollar premium for black -citing increased manufacturing costs for the black case-, possibly even $50, but not $150. They obviously don't want to sell many or to sell them for long.

Depends. In many parts of Europe, food costs more depending on where you sit. Sit outside on the sidewalk cafe seating in many places, and your meal will cost about 20% more than it would if you were using the indoor seating. People in Europe seem to accept that. But I doubt if one could get away with it here in the USA.

-- George Graves The health of our society is a direct result of the men and women we choose to admire.