Exetnd your OS...for $2

[image from Engadget]

Imagine if Microsoft decided it wanted to charge you for a new feature of your OS at some future point. Lets say for example you wanted to enable IPv6 or wireless projection from PowerPoint. How much would you pay - £5, $10?? Probably nothing is my guess as you've grown up expecting updates and free stuff like Messenger, Windows Live Writer, Media Player, GroupShot etc. Not so with Apple who are charging $2 (or maybe $5, i can't quite tell) to allows customers who bought 802.11n enabled Apple hardware to be enabled. Mad eh but apparently all down to SOX according to Apple.

"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,"

More details at CNET

Hmmm, I'm sure Apple's loyal customers will love this.

Link to Apple confirms 802.11n unlock fee, but it's just $2 - Engadget

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 21, 2007
  This need Microsoft to be able produce those nice add-ons first. Also - I'm sure Microsoft will start charging like this - there are move in this direction with Vista Ultimate Extras. As well  - it's not much different from Windows Anytime upgrade - simply more modular.

• Anonymous
  January 21, 2007
  They're blaming it on GAAP, not SOX.

• Anonymous
  January 21, 2007
  What's also interesting is if you install Windows Vista on an ICBM with draft N, Windows sees the hardware and can use it. If I were a crazed Mac fanatic, I'd mention the $99 wireless adapter for the Xbox 360 which some consider to be very overpriced. But I'm not like that.

• Anonymous
  January 22, 2007
  Hi Rosyna -not sure the Mac analogy is true though as that sounds the same as buying an Airport adapter for a machine that doesn't have wifi - you'd expect to pay for hardware right. this is simply paying to turn on some hardware!