Osaka Sofmap Store
August 28, 2004

I visited the Sofmap store in Osaka's Den-Den Town, the main electronics shopping district. The store is actually two buildings, one with mostly software of all types (DVDs, computer games, computer software, video games, etc.). On the 4th floor is the music and Apple section, both rather large. The store is typically Japanese--very busy displays, lots of placards and posters, lots of software brochures and booklets, and bright lights.

The interesting feature of this Apple retailer is the huge selection of used Macintosh models--all the way back to a Mac Classic! Check following the photos for prices and a comparison to the Apple store prices.
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the Den-Den Town shopping district

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on the landing just before the 4th floor

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overall view of the Apple section, with the
used section in the background
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the view as you arrive on the 4th floor

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the Adobe software section

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third-party Macintosh software
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third-part Macintosh software

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longer view of the Adobe section

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the Apple-brand software is in the middle
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the iPod and music section

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G5 island display

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the G5 island displays
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used Powermacs

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note the Bondi blue G4s to the right

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the iMac section of new computers
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Whoa! A Mac Classic for sale! It cost
about US$45.

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Some other classic Macs

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old iMacs
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a full selection of older laptops

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they also have newer laptops

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There is still a Dalmation iMac on sale!
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more G3s for sale

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the hardware section, with hard disk drives

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more used laptops
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Just down the road is a Dell store, open
from noon to 8 p.m.

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inside the Den-Den Town Dell store

  
Here's a comparison of products from the Softmap store in Den-Den Town and the new Shinsaibashi Apple retail store in Shinsaibashi:

Product Softmap Price Apple Store price
iMac, 17-inch, 256 Mb, 80 Gb, DVD ¥254,780 ¥
AirMac Extreme base station 23,940 23,940
AirMac Express 15,540 15,540
Powerbook G4, 15", 1.33 GHz, combo drive   230,790
iBook, 14", 1.2 GHz, combo drive   167,790
AirMac Express stereo connection kit 4,620  
AppleCare for iPod 7,140 7,140
AppleCare for Powermac 30,000  
OS 10.3 15,000 15,540
Motion 31,500 31,500
Remote Desktop 31,290  
.Mac account 13,440 13,440
GarageBand 12,180
iLife '04 5,700 6,040
Soundtrack 22,890  
Keynote 13,330 13,440
Final Cut Express 31,290 31.290
Final Cut Pro-HD 44,100 44,100
DVD Studio Pro 52,500 52,500
iPod Mini   28,140
iSight   18,690
iPod, 20 Mb   33,390
iPod, 40 Mb   44,940
iPod dock   5,040

Interestingly, the fourth floor of the store has a huge used computer section, including almost every Macintosh model every made, including the Mac Classic!

  • Mac Classic, 2 Mb, 8 MHz, 1.44Mb SuperDrive = ¥4,980 (US$45)
  • PowerBook, 15", 667 MHz, combo drive = 189,800
  • PowerBook, 15", 800 MHz, combo drive = 214,800