Intel wants to charge $50 to unlock stuff your CPU can already do (2010)

Re:Intel wants to charge $50 to unlock stuff your CPU can al... by Ives on Tuesday June 04, 2013 @11:55AM (#5820194)

This is also something that's often seen in oscilloscopes. For example, many Agilent scopes can be upgraded by buying a key.

The impact for users is twofold. On the one hand users that don't upgrade still have to pay for a few (unused) components. On the other hand, if users decide they want to upgrade later on, they don't have to throw away/sell their 800$ scope or send it back to the factory. You can buy the basic model when you have the money and upgrade later.

It might be a bit awkward to buy something you pretty much own already, but it's still the most rational option.

If only humans were more rational...

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Re:Intel wants to charge $50 to unlock stuff your CPU can al... by joe_bleau on Tuesday June 04, 2013 @12:12PM (#5820317)

When Tektronix aged my 'scope out of support, the last free firmware update unlocked all those extra cost firmware-locked upgrades. A real class act.

I wonder if Intel will do the same a few years down the road?

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