I'm a big fan of Apple - - I own three G-5's and an old G-4 laptop, and my two of my three kids own iPods (Nano's).

The sleek design, seamless workability, and rock-like defense against viruses and other threats that always seem to befall those unfortunate souls in the Windows-based world are all hallmarks of an Apple product. It's like I almost feel sorry for Dell, HP, IBM and, of course, Microsoft users.

So what to make of the contunuing fallout of Apple's highly-touted iPhone? Ever since its rollout two months ago, the iPhone has suffered a very Windows-like fate: constant complaints about quality, dependability, and lousy customer service.

Now it looks like a new class-action lawsuit has been filed against Apple. Plaintiffs say that Apple failed to disclose that the device was locked to AT&T's wireless network and that using it outside the U.S. could result in substantial roaming charges.

The following passage comes from AppeInsider, which interviewed
lead plaintiff Herbert H. Kliegerman, a resident from New York State.

"Approximately two weeks after purchasing his iPhone, Kliegerman traveled to Mexico for a week where he continued to use his iPhone to check emails and surf the web. He did so, according to the suit, after reading a statement on Apple's iPhone website stating that "[y]ou can browse the Internet and send emails as often as you like without being charged extra."

Upon returning from Mexico, Kliegerman claims to have received a bill from AT&T with $2,000 in international data roaming charges. Being a frequently traveler, he turned to the wireless carrier in order to obtain an unlock code for his iPhone, but was informed that such unlock codes would not be provided to him, according to the suit."

No word yet on how many other iPhone users have joined the class-action suit, but you have to figure there are plenty of Apple customers who travel overseas with their iPhones in their pockets. The complaint wants iPhone carrier AT&T to unlock codes for iPhone users, something AT&T has routinely done for other phone customers in the past, the lawsuit alleges.

This is not the first time that Apple has been sued over its iPhone.
Two previous class-action suits, filed in Illinois and California, allege that Apple and A&T failed to adequately inform early customers of the costs involved in maintaining a working battery for the life of the phone.

That's a lot of legal briefs for a product that's only been out on the market for a few months.

I believe in Apple and, so far, am convinced that the company needs to work a few kinks out with the iPhone before it gets back in the good graces of its loyal base (Heck, it's not like the Apple-ista's are going anywhere).

But any more bad news and any more law suits might shift the popular message about Apple's technological prowess and its cool cachet with customers into negative categories. If that happens, people might think twice about buying from Apple.

Ouch, dude.