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#1 2007-01-15 9:30 pm
- Mr~Mac
- Member
- From: Restaurant at End of Universe
- Registered: 2003-07-17
- Posts: 815
Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
Link
"Most new Mac computers ship with built-in 802.11n wireless support that can be easily enabled with the installation of enabler software included with new AirPort Extreme wireless base station," Apple wrote on its website.
What the company did not say is that Core 2 Duo Mac owners who want to unlock 802.11n capabilities for use with third party wireless solutions will have to pay a small $4.99 fee before downloading the 802.11n enabler patch."
Dont worry Mr iMac you will be back, we'll keep the chocolate warm for you.
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#2 2007-01-15 9:32 pm
- bSimms
- mack n tosh
- From: PA
- Registered: 2005-01-10
- Posts: 238
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
Is probably already on the torrents
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#3 2007-01-15 9:42 pm
- Donkey Butter
- jerk face
- From: over yonder
- Registered: 2005-12-14
- Posts: 2449
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
According to the editor, the fee stems from a law called the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which supposedly prohibits Apple from giving away an unadvertised new feature of an already sold product without enduring some onerous accounting measures.
the patch won't be out until the new airport ships. but I'm sure you'll be able to get it free later that day.
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#4 2007-01-15 9:50 pm
- Fried Chicken
- Member
- From: Good question - keeps changing
- Registered: 2003-11-17
- Posts: 4557
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
That is retarded.
That is very un-apple like, charging for something stupid like that. They just charge a lot of money when you buy the product 
Just because something is legal, doesn't mean it's right. Just because something is illegal, doesn't mean it's wrong.
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#5 2007-01-15 9:55 pm
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
I'm sure they normally couldn't care less but with the SEC around they are probably paranoid about even the appearance of an consistency in the books.
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#6 2007-01-15 9:58 pm
- Aqua OS X
- Shark Sandwich
- From: Oakland, CA
- Registered: 2000-06-05
- Posts: 12669
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
Fried Chicken wrote:
That is retarded.
That is very un-apple like, charging for something stupid like that. They just charge a lot of money when you buy the product
...or they don't even implement the feature at all.
I'm still waiting for contextual menus on my PowerBook's scrolling trackpad.
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#7 2007-01-15 10:07 pm
- Fried Chicken
- Member
- From: Good question - keeps changing
- Registered: 2003-11-17
- Posts: 4557
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
Aqua OS X wrote:
Fried Chicken wrote:
That is retarded.
That is very un-apple like, charging for something stupid like that. They just charge a lot of money when you buy the product...or they don't even implement the feature at all.
I'm still waiting for contextual menus on my PowerBook's scrolling trackpad.
They could do that. And that would be a reason not to get a mac.
Just because something is legal, doesn't mean it's right. Just because something is illegal, doesn't mean it's wrong.
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#8 2007-01-15 10:22 pm
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
This is ridiculous, plenty of software and firmware gets updated with new functions all the time.
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#9 2007-01-15 11:59 pm
- Aqua OS X
- Shark Sandwich
- From: Oakland, CA
- Registered: 2000-06-05
- Posts: 12669
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
pirloui wrote:
This is ridiculous, plenty of software and firmware gets updated with new functions all the time.
although would agree that this is absolutely ridiculous, as of recently, Apple has seemingly adopted a policy of not adding new features on top of what has previously been spec'd for retail.
Bug fixes aside, with the exception of OS 10.1, I can't remember the last time Apple has given me a useful new software feature for a retail product after the purchase has been made.
Freebees seem geared toward apps that have not been distributed though a retail channel. (i.e. iTunes, Quicktime, etc).
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#11 2007-01-16 7:46 am
- tomfoolery
- Zu-Zu-Zune!
- From: Blue Zune of Death
- Registered: 2004-10-22
- Posts: 2303
- Website
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
In other news, I hear that the 10.4.9 update will soon be available for only $19.99.
F-ing cheapskates.
tF
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#12 2007-01-16 8:30 am
- lord funk
- Title
- Registered: 2000-12-11
- Posts: 2276
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
For those too lazy to rtfa -
According to the editor, the fee stems from a law called the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which supposedly prohibits Apple from giving away an unadvertised new feature of an already sold product without enduring some onerous accounting measures.
"Because of the Act, the company believes that if it sells a product, then later adds a feature to that product, it can be held liable for improper accounting if it recognizes revenue from the product at the time of sale, given that it hasn’t finished delivering the product at that point," he wrote.
Let bureaucracy rule!
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#13 2007-01-16 9:06 am
- pottymouth
- Uncreative
- Moderator
- From: JP, MA
- Registered: 2002-02-06
- Posts: 17411
- Website
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
WTF?
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#14 2007-01-16 9:26 am
- Shadowless
- Cpl, USMC
- From: Jacksonville, NC
- Registered: 2005-10-10
- Posts: 3061
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
Yay dumb rules?
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#15 2007-01-16 9:50 am
- Donkey Butter
- jerk face
- From: over yonder
- Registered: 2005-12-14
- Posts: 2449
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
oh sure y'all pay attention to lord funk, but when I say it in the third post no one cares.
guess I'll have to change my name to Lord Donkey Butter, then I'll get some respect 'round here.
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#16 2007-01-16 10:10 am
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
I rtfa and agree it's a dumb bureaucracy thing. I also think with the SEC at their door Apple going to playing this sort of thing as by the book so they can to keep out of trouble.
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#17 2007-01-16 11:07 am
- pottymouth
- Uncreative
- Moderator
- From: JP, MA
- Registered: 2002-02-06
- Posts: 17411
- Website
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
...but we still haven't heard it straight from Apple.
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#18 2007-01-16 12:04 pm
- tomfoolery
- Zu-Zu-Zune!
- From: Blue Zune of Death
- Registered: 2004-10-22
- Posts: 2303
- Website
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
I R'd the FA on The Register, and I don't believe they made any mention of this. But then that's hardly a surprise.
tF
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#19 2007-01-16 12:06 pm
- elpato84
- is Heavy Weapons Guy
- From: red team
- Registered: 2002-05-25
- Posts: 3307
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
What's the deal with 'n anyway? Does it make the connection faster/stronger, or do I need to have the specific card in my computer AND the router? Is it even worth it?
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#20 2007-01-16 1:02 pm
- NAG
- A witch!
- Royal Wombat
- From: /usr/local/apps/nag
- Registered: 2000-09-22
- Posts: 30229
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
Why would anyone complain about getting a new feature? Who made this law?
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#21 2007-01-16 1:58 pm
- TheFriedlander
- Elitistical Being
- From: Arkansas
- Registered: 2007-01-07
- Posts: 31
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
.n is 108Mbps compared to the 54Mbps of current .g networks.
I don't really care, 54Mbps is fine for me, there are three other computers in the house, and they rarely download anything.
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#22 2007-01-16 2:43 pm
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
NAG wrote:
Why would anyone complain about getting a new feature? Who made this law?
The sarbanes-oxley law was authored by sarbanes and oxley.
I suspect what the law wants to avoid is a company offering a significant upgrade to just a few customers. For example, spending a significant sum to improve functionality of powerbooks on G5 jets would obviously be favoring certain customers in a way not easily trackable by shareholders.
It's a paradox of how sharply dull I am.
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#23 2007-01-16 2:48 pm
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
This is the same company that charges for "Pro" features in QT (and MPEG-4 separately). Is anyone really surprised?
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#24 2007-01-16 2:56 pm
- bSimms
- mack n tosh
- From: PA
- Registered: 2005-01-10
- Posts: 238
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
robco wrote:
This is the same company that charges for "Pro" features in QT (and MPEG-4 separately). Is anyone really surprised?
Good point, its ridiculous that full screen is not included unless you have pro.
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#25 2007-01-16 3:19 pm
Re: Apple to Charge $5 for .N Wireless Unlock
bSimms wrote:
robco wrote:
This is the same company that charges for "Pro" features in QT (and MPEG-4 separately). Is anyone really surprised?
Good point, its ridiculous that full screen is not included unless you have pro.
Indeed. export etc fair enough, but full screen is ridiculous. Have probably just made more home users disgusted with apple than anything else.
product design portfolio / brothers art
Hackintosh C2Q 2.4Ghz - 4GB - GF9800GT - Mac Pro case
PowerBook G4 1,33Ghz - dead ram slot Apple won't acknowledge
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