Apple Charges For 802.11n, Blames Accounting Law

If you have a Core 2 Duo Macintosh, the built-in WLAN card is capable of networking using (draft 2) 802.11n. This capability can be unlocked via an update Apple distributes with the new AirPort Extreme Base Station. Or, they will sell it to you for $4.99. Why don't they give it away for free, say with Software Update? Because of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (which was passed in the wake of the Enron scandal). iLounge quotes an Apple representative: "It's about accounting. 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."

Finally!

[Protonk]

NOW Apple pays attention to accounting laws!

:)

Re:Doesn't Make Sense to Me

[Anonymous Coward]

Prolly because Apple users don't feel right (ie superior) if they don't pay 200% or more markup on something...

-Ac

Re:So does the law require them to charge $4.99?

[LunaticTippy]

Wow, they're taking a huge loss on this whole iTMS thing aren't they?

Re:Don't tell Microsoft!

[Jon Luckey]

Microsoft add new features too. The security centre & windows firewall for one example.

Wait! You forgot the most important new feature of all: Windows Genuine Advantage®

Hard to picture how we could get along without it, these days.

Re:bs

[Overly Critical Guy]

I love when people lie and claim you have to pay "every year" even though new versions of OS X come out about every 2 to 3 years. Kudos for silently jacking up the price to $150 as well.

I seriously doubt you ever used a Mac or quit using it because of that.

Re:now that the peanut gallery has commented...

[Anonymous Coward]

Can we get an actual expert or SOX consultant to comment on this interpretation of accounting law (and not random geeks talking out their asses)?

Yes.

But not on Slashdot.

Re:Well understood-Give Me A Break

[Nom du Keyboard]

I thought this was common knowledge - I've been arguing that the effects of Sarbanes-Oxley are detrimental for some time now.

Give me a break. Who among the Slashdot readers besides the .01% group you obviously belong to finds anything common knowledge about Sarbanes-Oxley?

Re:Wow

[Junior J. Junior III]

How much do you want to bet that Apple Legal said "Yep, you can go ahead and release this patch for free." and then when Apple looked at the bill from Legal for this advice, decided that they needed to charge $5/download just to cover the consultation fees.

Re:Don't tell Microsoft!

[h2g2bob]

Hey, I'd not pay some money to not have that feature