The real cost of FlashCash.

Interesting.

Could someone please diagram this sentence for me, I seem to be having trouble with that first possessive:

"Apple's turns away iPad buyer; points to No Cash policy"

I already knew about that policy for iPhones - it was put in place so they could track how many you were buying. I suppose it's the same for iPads. I don't personally agree with the policy and IMO, the stores should be forced to accept payment in cash for anything under $10000 (the point at which even at the bank you'd have to fill out a source/origin of funds declaration form/affidavit).

Don't you guys have some laws about stores not accepting cash?

Theory: Another possibility is to give them a way to enforce the 2-year AT&T commitment. Do I pads have a commitment if you buy them with the WWAN option?

Nope. But they're apparently in short supply. And since they're not released outside of the US yet, there's a good chance of someone buying up a couple of hundred for export - like they did with iPhones...

I think that that " 's " is a bug.

Actually no. The writing on paper money says "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private"

In the US, anyone to which you owe a debt must accept US currency as payment, but sellers are not required to accept it in a sales transaction.

I seem to remember that from 7th grade government class.

Edit: Yes as I thought

So Steve Jobs can demand any form of payment he desires but risks not selling his product.

Makes sense.

I suppose a suitable cash card could be purchased somewhere, for cash.

For a fee.

Actually, maybe you could buy an Apple gift certificate for cash and then use the gift certificate to buy the iPad. I doubt Apple charges a fee for their own gift certificates.

You can't use gift cards (certificates) to buy an iPad either....

O cool. I suggest another new thread about Eyjafjallajokull "The real cost of Ash", and another one about Windows shell scripting "The real cost of Sh", and another one about the tragic breakup of Steps "The real cost of H".

Peter

Oh dear. I was with you until the last one.

Problem solved. You can now buy iPads with CA$H. Or gift cards. You have to set up an Apple ID/account at the store during your purchase. They'll use that to track purchases and limit you to two iPads.

Can someone explain this whole "two iPads for life" thing? I mean, I can understand limiting you to something like two iPads per year, but for life?

But, the whole point of cash is to avoid being tracked!

Clearly, Apple expects the iPad to be in high demand for eternity. Well, at least 80 years or so.

So just keep setting up different accounts with different e-mail addresses every time? Or are they actually checking ID at purchase and making sure you are setting up the exact same account? Who are they afraid you are going to resell these to?

I'm sure supply will ramp up so that you can soon buy 5 iPads. The iPhone limit was increased after its original lower unit limit - though I don't know for sure what it is now, I thought it was 5.

People in countries where the device isn't on sale yet. There are two issues with this:

1. If someone in the UK (for example) has an iPad out in public, and makes someone else interested in buying it, their only route is to also try and import one. Thus creating a market for people in the US to buy them and sell to people wanting them in the UK. Most likely jacking up the cost along the way and taking a unit out of the market where Apple is trying to keep them in stock. Apple would rather have the units available in their stores so when someone wants one, they can walk in and buy it.

2. Certifications. Due to the WiFi and 3G hardware, the device has to be certified by a lot of different organizations. 802.11 in the 5ghz range is particularly tricky right now, with countries widely varying on what channels can be used. 802.11 in the 2.4 ghz range used to be similar.

As for the "for life" thing, that seems to be something added by the clueless Apple Store drones, and not a corporate policy. It will change once they can meet the currently high levels of demand.