01/19/2007, 1:10pm, EST
Friday, January 19th
Apple to charge $1.99 for 802.11n update
"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 Apple spokeswoman Lynn Fox.
The new wireless standard boasts a large increase in bandwidth over the previous 802.11g standard, offering a longer range while providing backward compatibility with older wireless standards. The 802.11n standard will likely see ratification later this year, but the Wi-Fi Alliance has said it will begin certifying products based on a draft of the standard.
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Of course, with the price of gas or shipping you might as well pay the $1.99.
I'm sure someone will upload the software patch [downloadable from Apple for $1.99] at some point soon and then we can grab it form there and like the subject line says "screw apple"
I could maybe understand it more if I only paid $500 for my $2000 computer system - but I'm not chipping in an extra 2 bucks for some bullshit_
if someone said, "Hey! I'll pay you $2 to downgrade from n to g/a!"
would you?
Thanks for the great laughs. Wait - you're serious?
You bought the computer as a computer that had only 802.11a and g. So now you get an extra feature for $1.99. You would only use the extra feature if you buy a 3rd party router. So consider it part of the price of the router, which will undoubtedly SAVE you money compared to the price of the Airport Base Station.
If there's ANY chance unlocking it for free would raise accounting issues, Apple better not do it, with the options investigation going on. They can unlock it for free with the purchase of an Airport Base Station because it's then accounted for as part of the price of the Base Station.