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So for all those Mac lovers out there, it sounds like Apple wants another fiver to get functionality that is in the Intel based Macs already. The 802.11n wireless networking functionality is currently disabled, but with a simple firmware update (all PC users are a little too familiar with) on their machine.

Source News article: Apple’s $5 Wi-Fi Fee Stirs Global Strife

If we all can ignore the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) mis-information ramblings, does anyone see anything wrong with charging for things that already exists in a product, but was not enabled because their were originally issuses?

If you bought a car, but noticed that the stereo wouldn’t play your CD’s and had to go back to the dealership and pay a couple extra bucks, would you be happy? “Oh you wanted the stereo to actually play CD’s? That feature costs extra for us to turn it on.”

Not cool. $5 firmware upgrade, what a shame. Sounds like Jobs has been hanging out with Sony management on their Playstation Store (which is free with your overpriced PS3) and will charge you for everything else. Can anyone say micropayments for your games to just have the cars and features you thought you got by actually BUYING the game? Does micropayments make it easier for us to all consume? I feel a bad trend starting here!

UPDATE:

Well it is not quite $5.00! You get to keep 3 singles and a penny in your pocket! Apple says it will be charging only $1.99, and it’ll be available for purchase on Apple’s website. How nice of Jobs. Apple said it is required under generally accepted accounting principles to charge customers for the software upgrade. You mean generally fattening of your bottom line.

“The nominal distribution fee for the 802.11n software is required in order for Apple to comply with generally accepted accounting principles for revenue recognition, which generally require that we charge for significant feature enhancements, such as 802.11n, when added to previously purchased products,” said Teresa Brewer, Apple’s Mac hardware public relations manager.

If it was a nominal distribution fee, why not charge 10 cents? Or better yet, Steve why don’t you put the dime in for all your Mac follower and just give them the “patch” for free!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 16th, 2007 at 7:23 pm and is filed under network, tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.