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As anyone who's been around the electronics scene knows, there's big money to be made in selling cables and other related peripherals with big markups. Apple knows this as well as anyone, and they've gone and set their sights (and their lawyers) on a trio of companies selling knockoff power adapters for MacBooks and MacBook Pros.
Apple has filed a lawsuit against the three companies, identified as Brilliant Store, Sunvalleytek International, and Hootoo.com, according to court filings. All three companies own and operate sites that sell computer parts, accessories, and those pesky adapters Apple claims is a patent violation.
This official MacBook Pro 60W adatper runs $79 on Apple's website.
Is Apple simply protecting its interest, or playing the part of tech bully?
Image Credit: Apple
Comments are closed on this article
Viper95
July 15, 2010 at 10:22am
Thank You, aerogamer.
@Caboose> Last one on the train, huh. You stated they did not, I stated they did. They do.
Go to your Ford dealer get your 80cad key and be happy.
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Apple likes bullying to get the last penny they can; out of anyone they can.
Pay the Apple toll ahead, please.
Athlonite
July 15, 2010 at 6:38am
It's not the tech they're pissed at it's the fact they cant charge (Cr)apple tax on it
Play till it breaks then learn how to fix it!
gothliciouz
July 14, 2010 at 10:04am
stupid apple with its overpriced sh*ts, i can't believe they sell an ipod touch power adapter for $30.00 freaking dollars.
aviaggio
July 14, 2010 at 8:32am
How exactly does one patent a basic power adapter? What kind of fancy new tech could possibly be in there?
violian
July 14, 2010 at 11:04am
It's gotta be the design of the magnetic connection that hooks up to the laptop that's patented.
Caboose
July 14, 2010 at 8:38am
It's prob. the design, and the magnetic power clip bit...
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
hammer6556
July 14, 2010 at 8:07am
i want you guys to write about consumer reports calling the new iphone a piece of crap.
Viper95
July 14, 2010 at 11:17am
Why? It is and they just told the truth.
Suck it up and drink your Apple w(H)ine .
hammer6556
July 15, 2010 at 4:34am
i suscribe to consumer reports and hate the way apple does buisness, Vipe(duh)95
violian
July 14, 2010 at 11:06am
...can't. Mentioning the name "iPhone4" can constitute copyright infringement.
someuid
July 14, 2010 at 7:59am
...is a lawyer who can link designing and selling a 3rd party item like this with free speech. Then we can tell Apple to go stuff it.
smkoerner
July 14, 2010 at 7:12am
Their charger doesn't offer any added benefit. They simply made it differently so they could patent it, rip people off, and then sue others if they tried to replicate it. The price of replacement parts should really be in a disclosure statement/ Off topic, they do the same thing with car keys. They custom make them and build in a complex syncing system between key fob and car so that your dealer has to program it and charge you $50 for a key and $75 for the fob and syncing. By the time you find this stuff out, you've already bought your car/computer and you're hosed.
Caboose
July 14, 2010 at 7:55am
I dunno if the key for your caris the same as Apple being anal about AC adapters. The chip in your key is used to activate the starter and make your car go. I can see why car companies would want to keep that pretty damn secret and only allow authorized dealers (aka official Ford, Dodge, Toyota, etc dealerships) to create, sync, and sell such keys. If they open that up so you can get a new key with security chip anywhere, you can bet your ass that car thefts will skyrocket.
As for Apple, they're just being douches and bullies!
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
Viper95
July 14, 2010 at 11:14am
You can get those keys made a lot of hardware stores> Ace Hardware, for example. Oh, any (decent) car thief can make one for you.
I agree with this comment you state: " As for Apple, they're just being douches and bullies!"
Par for (BAD) Apple's record.
Caboose
July 14, 2010 at 1:59pm
The key you can get cut from Ace Hardware is just like the one for your house, or office. It's a normal, plain metal key. The keys that almost all cars use now have a programmable microchip inside which is required for the starter to, well, start.
If you were to get a copy of your car key made at Ace (or anywhere other than a certified $car dealership) all it'll do is open the doors (and the glovebox if it's got a lock on it too). It won't start your car.
Older cars yes, but nothing made within the last, oh, I'd say 10 years...
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
Viper95
July 15, 2010 at 2:27am
You know not what you speak of... quiet.
Please research something before you type.
Thank You.
Caboose
July 15, 2010 at 7:44am
No. I know what I speak of.
There are 8. 8 Ace Hardware stores, and they look to be specific Ace Hardware stoes that can do that. In all of North America! I would have to say that that is about less than 0.1% of all stores in North America.
So, if I wanted to get a chipkey for my car, I now need to track down one of these stores somewhere in North America (and last time I checked, Ace Hardware is specific to the USA).
Now, if i wanted to replace the chipkey in my car, my dealership will cut it, and programm it for me. for $80cad. Not to mention that it's an official Ford chipkey, and so if I have any issues with it, I can go back to my Ford dealership and they'll help me at no cost to me...
When something is available in only a few locations, and only available to a small number of people, I'd sa that that's not a viable option for everyone.
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
aerogamer
July 15, 2010 at 9:50am
No, you are still wrong. It's not that ACE is unable to make such a key, but that they decide not to due to cost. They would have to purchase whichever device is required to program (adapt) the key to the vehicle; which for many newer vehicles requires syncing with the ECM.
I know this because I work for a car company and part of my duties include supporting the indipendant locksmiths that are willing to do this.
See california key law SB 1542, which other states have adopted, and since the vehicle companies 'typically' sell to more than california, liscensed lock smiths in other states are just extended this as long as proof of ownership is provided.
Viper95
July 15, 2010 at 2:23am
I know what a programmable mated key is. I know how it is done. Maybe, you are the confused one and do not understand.
Ace has them, in my county, for 59.95(programmed).
See, here: http://www.rockys.com/digital_auto_key_duplication.html ;I don't post FUD.
I guess your Ace's are behind the times ...
