Tim Wu at Slate writes about the legality of unlocking your iPhone link here. He unlocked his after looking into the law and admits it is not a move for the faint of heart. But he adds that Apple would like to convince you that unlocking the phone and moving to a different service provider is illegal and it is not. "The reason is an explicit exemption for personal unlocking issued by the librarian of Congress in 2006. As the librarian wrote, the locks ‘are used by wireless carriers to limit the ability of subscribers to switch to other carriers, a business decision that has nothing whatsoever to do with the interests protected by copyright.'"

Monopolist Apple looks even less on the consumer's side when it issues the warning that installing its software updates may turn you iPhone into a brick. So stay away from any updates. I doubt whether Apple is legally right in issuing destructive updates, but who is going to sue for damages? It is malware of the worst sort, but proving it is not easy.

Best choice-forget about buying Apple gear.

"California resident Timothy Smith on Friday filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the iPhone maker violated the state's antitrust law. The suit was filed on behalf of Smith by Damian Fernandez, the attorney who's been seeking plaintiffs for a class-action case against Apple over iPhone bricking." See Apple Class-Action Suit Filed By California Man Over iPhone Bricking .