Is Apple getting ready to charge for 802.11n Mac enabling software?
Apple is planning to allow owners of Macs equipped with 802.11n WiFi adaptors to take advantage of this new technology - but rumors are circulating that Apple will charge for this update.
According to the website MacFixIt Apple plans to charge $4.99 [Updated: Jan 19, 2007 @ 3.15 am Actually, it's $1.99] for the update.
Which Macs can take advantage of this update? Here's the current 802.11n-enabled lineup:
- iMac powered by Intel Core 2 Duo (not including the 17-inch, 1.83GHz iMac)
- MacBook powered by Intel Core 2 Duo
- Mac Pro using the AirPort Extreme card
- MacBook Pro powered by Intel Core 2 Duo
Apple will also offer the enabler software for 802.11n-compatible AirPort Extreme Base stations too.
Why charge a fee? Well, the current thinking is that a fee is required because of accounting regulations relating to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. I don't know enough about accounting to comment on this but it sounds like an odd explanation to me (but then again, knowing the intricate, confusing nature of big business accounting, I wouldn't be surprised ...).
Question. Would you pay $4.99 to have 802.11n enabled on your Mac? Is this going to herald in an era of charging for updates? Is this a path Microsoft could go down?
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