Stan's List

This update improves graphics stability and is recommended for all MacBook Pro (Mid 2007, 2.4/2.2GHz) computers running Mac OS 10.4 Tiger.

MacBook Pro Software Update 1.2 is available for download via Software Update or as a stand-alone file.

Too often Apple’s market share is compared to the over all market. With a world wide 2.7%, and then a US 6.1% market share, Apple’s market share would not seem to have increased. If you compared markets where Apple is actually competing, such as high end laptops, then you can see a growth in Apple market share. As reported by CNN, Fortune has Apple’s share of high end laptops at 29.4%. The problem they see is that Apple does not have much growing room, as compared to those looking at the 2.7%. Even though,  laptops are a substantial source of revenue for computer companies. More …

There’s also an extended blog write-up of this in the Baltimore Sun. More …

Battery Update 1.3 updates battery firmware and addresses battery performance issues with the 15-inch MacBook Pro. Your computer’s power cord must be connected and plugged into a working power source while running this update. After the Battery Update has been installed, any additional batteries you put in your 15-inch MacBook Pro are automatically updated. More …

Firmware Restoration CD 1.4
The Firmware Restoration CD is used to restore the firmware of an Intel-based Macintosh computer.

iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.2
This update improves the performance and reliability of Intel Core 2 Duo processors and fixes issues with Boot Camp for iMac computers.

Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.2
This EFI Firmware Update fixes several fan behavior and Boot Camp issues on Mac Pro computers.

MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.1
This update improves the performance and reliability of Intel Core 2 Duo processors and fixes issues with Boot Camp for MacBook computers.

MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.4
This update improves the performance and reliability of Intel Core 2 Duo processors and fixes issues with Boot Camp for MacBook Pro computers.

Xserve EFI Firmware Update 1.0
This update is recommended for all Xserve users and improves the performance and reliability of Dual-Core Intel Xeon processors.

This update enables file system journaling on MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook computers. Some MacBook and MacBook Pro systems were shipped with file system journaling turned off. Journaling is recommended on all Mac computers as a preventative measure against file corruption. Download page

If you have updated to Mac OS X 10.4.10 and do not use a 811.11n router, your MacBook Pro will experience random disconnects. Apple Discussions “Internet, and Networking the MacBook Pro” has a post by number6, who provides a fairly simple fix. A MacInTouch reader has posted the text to the MacBook Pro report.

Another fix would be to buy a 802.11n router.

PCWord has never be so friendly to the Mac. In tests against Dell, Toshiba and others, the MacBook Pro’s PC WorldBench 6 Beta 2 score of 88 beats beats all others. The article is swimming in praise as it compares features and compliments Mac Book Pro beauty. Yet, they could not get Apple’s predicted 5.7 hours of battery use. They could only get 2.75 hours. Ending the article that way was not a surprise. More … (Thanks BEV)

They must have been running a DVD all that time.

SeekingAlpha reports that RBC Capital Markets, an international corporate and investment bank, is predicting 2 million in Mac sales due to the back to school quarter. More …

The iPhone is having it influence. It is one thing to have the advance publicity and hype surrounding the release of the iPhone. eMediaWire is reporting a surge in Apple laptop sales, close to what was reported before. More …

There is not much evidence in the second article tying the iPhone to the increased laptop sales. At this point who is to say this isn’t also evidence of school year purchases? Laptops are becoming the computer of choice for schools, whether secondary school or higher education (not counting Maine)

Senior Lead Program Manager on Windows Live Hotmail, Omar Shahine, did have this to say about Apple:

I think Apple has already become the best PC OEM … Apple somehow manages to place all the required drivers on a single CD [Boot Camp] you can burn yourself with a single installer. Why can’t anyone else [Ed—Microsoft?] do this is beyond me.

This update provides important bug fixes and improves stability with Motion 2 and Motion 3. It is recommended for all 2.2/2.4GHz MacBook Pro models.

This update requires Mac OS X 10.4.9 or later.

Apple’s MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.3 “fixes a display issue on 2.2/2.4GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro models.” MacBook Pro Software Update 1.0 must have been applied first The update enables display rotation for 2nd display.