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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."
Talk about turning Sarbanes-Oxley on it's ear and using it as a scape goat for profit. What is Apple thinking? People are buying the product the way it ships. However they expect (and with good cause) that if a feature is in the product but not turned on that Apple should supply the update to allow that feature to be used. This has nothing to do with accounting and everything to do with politics and greed. Once again, short on Apple stock!
And even if they believe their own propaganda, why don't charge one dollar, or even one cent? The accounting principle wouldn't be broken.
Right, so a company trying to cheat the law couldn't do the same thing? Accounting, in our Byzantine code, is as much about appearances as it is about figures.
I don't have a big opinion on this matter, but games like that get you in trouble.