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So how did they come up with $1.99?
The problem is you can't prove what some things are worth until you sell them. What's the value of a software upgrade to 802.11n on the open market? Apple isn't going to let any other company sell software that would upgrade a piece of its hardware, making it almost impossible to establish a market value for that software.

Companies establish values all the time, and, in fact, they must (Apple somehow managed to come up with $1.99 despite its being "almost impossible"). How does an auto company account for all the engines, dashboards, and seats that they have manufactured in advance of the introduction of a new model of car when it's time to do their quarterly balance sheet? They've never sold the car, and they certainly don't have any reference for the "open market" value of the dashboard for that car. Yet these items are assets that are part of the inventory that must be accounted for.

Bottom line is that Apple could have deferred the $1.99 revenue on the new Macs and allowed for a free download. $1.99 is no big deal 802.11n (I would be happy to pay it), but do "accounting regulations" now become an excuse for charging for any driver upgrade that allows new capabilities for the hardware? What about software? This is a very slippery slope.
Posted by: Rodney Davis   Posted on: 01/21/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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If Apple had been wrong  Ken_z | 01/19/07
Apple ...  markus_w | 01/20/07
I think you are confused...  mrlinux | 01/22/07
Apple  weenjoylife@... | 01/20/07
Clarification  frgough | 01/22/07
You are so full of it!  ShadeTree | 01/22/07
Man you guys get upset of the least little things:)  Laff | 01/22/07
Not quite  Badgered | 01/22/07
Just what is the point of this story?  mlindl | 01/20/07
Apple Fanboy Tells It Like It Is - NOT  seanhsmith | 01/20/07
GPL violation? Hardly.  eoffermann | 01/20/07
Apple Hater Tells It Like It Is - Not  dearrob | 01/20/07
GPL?  Yensi717 | 01/21/07
Kind of a fan of linux but that's fan with a small "f"  Laff | 01/22/07
Education is a terrible thing to waste...  BitTwiddler | 01/22/07
I think it has to do with  John Zern | 01/21/07
Point of the story.  Rick_K | 01/22/07
Apple Koolaid is potent!!  NonZealot | 01/22/07
Butt you my friend Non are "Impotent" which does Apple one better!  Laff | 01/22/07
Boo Fricken' Hoo  Asketill | 01/20/07
So how did they come up with $1.99?  Rodney Davis | 01/21/07
No  Rick_K | 01/21/07
Read your quote...  Rodney Davis | 01/21/07
Again Read the quote!  Rick_K | 01/22/07
Obfuscate  Rodney Davis | 01/22/07
the quote  doh123 | 01/23/07
Who cares, it's just a few Mac users.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/21/07
And Mac users are unimportant because _______?  CobraA1 | 01/21/07
Yep the world does revolve around us  TonyMcS | 01/21/07
Ahh the mythical 90% number again.  Rick_K | 01/22/07
But going up..:)  Laff | 01/22/07
the marketshare might be throwing you off  doh123 | 01/23/07
But in the end, who cares?  John Zern | 01/21/07
yeah, who cars just a few million Mac users  doh123 | 01/23/07
Agreed!  xxn1927 | 01/23/07
I don't really think Apple cares about the cost of the 'fetuare'...  BitTwiddler | 01/22/07
Include it in next OS Version  swiftmac | 01/22/07
???  tucker@... | 01/23/07
What?  tucker@... | 01/23/07

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