Although most analysts consider the iPad to be a tablet and not a PC in the true sense of the word, Russia passed iPad tablet among personal computers to eliminate an import tax. The Russian Customs Agency changed the category of the tablet thus reducing a 5% import tax that is applied when the products enter the country. The tablet was initially included in the category of navigation devices and that's why it was charged that fee, but now this is no longer valid, although the 3G version has GPS included and allows users to use it as a satellite navigation system.
Russia's national customs agency has decided to reclassify Apple's iPad as a personal computer, a change that will allow customers to avoid a 5 percent import tax that was previously applied to sales. Russia's Federal Customs Service has nixed the 5 percent fee by nixing the "navigator" classification that was previously applied to the iPad, according to Vedomosti (via Google Translate). The iPad 2 has been available in Russia since May of 2011.
The Apple company could also have contributed to this decision, which will stand to gain because the tablet will be 5% cheaper, while the rest of the tablets will not be included in the same category. It is possible that Apple lobbied the Russian government to change the category of the tablet and if this is true, then the company should be "congratulated" for its success.
