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Apple Posts Slot-Loading Drive Update
K-dog writes "Apple has posted a firmware update for the slot loading combo drives in Xserves and PowerBooks. 'This update installs new firmware on PowerBook and Xserve Combo drives. The update prevents Combo drives from intermittently failing to eject discs. It's recommended that you install this update to ensure that your Combo drive avoids this problem.' It's kind of ironic that I spent an hour on the phone with Apple trying to get one of our new 12" PB to eject!" I have a new-ish PowerBook G4/867, with a Combo drive, and it reports, "This hardware does not require this update." I wish Apple would be more specific about what systems this is actually for. Or maybe what the problem is.
Because this is Slashdot, which is now a Mac site.
In 1997, most of the Slashdot crowd used Windows, but they wouldn't admit it.
In 1999, many of the people commenting used Linux. Well, probably only some of the time. But some of the most vocal Slashdot supporters were the biggest supporters of Linux.
Linux, however, only appealed to a small audience here on Slashdot. It lacked the hardware and software support that most Slashdot users wanted.
Most of Slashdot at the time was "Closet Windows" users. They really, really wanted to get away from Windows, but Linux just wasn't a great option (even more so at the time). They talked about how great Linux was, but never used it.
Then Mac OS X came out. It had UNIX features. You could run Apache or Bash (you can do this on Windows too, by the way). It supported all the hardware you wanted flawlessly (the only hardware you wanted already came with your computer). But most of all, it wasn't Windows.
Mac OS X was perfect for those who hated Windows but couldn't make the jump to Linux - a large part of Slashdot posters.
Macs have a cult-like following. This happens because they are "different". The're also more expensive, and cooler looking. Just like a sports car, Macs set their owners apart from everyone else. Here's a fact: few people actually need a sports car. Macs appeal to those who want to spend a little more money for the "extra touches" - the OS, the appearence of the hardware, and other such things. Mac owners often develop a superiority complex (as do most people with luxury products). They express this by trying to convince people how ultimately superior Macs are to PCs. As if they are trying to justify their slower hardware and $500 extra cost.
The editors of Slashdot all got Macs. They are now part of that cult. It's all about bashing Microsoft or Dell or whoever stands in their way. When an article about a cool new Dell laptop with a WUXGA screen, DVD burner, and GeForce4 Ti graphics comes out, the only comments are about how superior the 17" PowerBook is. How the 1GHz G4 is faster than a 2.5GHz P4. How the Dell is "hotter", even though the PowerBook gets extremely hot and the Dell does not (thanks to the fans). How Mac OS X is better than Windows. How Macs must be so much more durable. How the high-resolution screen is "unreadable" (it's not). And any praise gets modded into oblivion. When a new PowerBook comes out, the opposite is true. Our savior has come, crush those PC infedels.
Guess what? Most Slashdot users still use Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Last I checked, it was near 70%. But Windows users don't need to defend their platform. It gets the job done, like a car or a pickup truck. Many of us don't want sports cars. But those with sports cars are the ones that speek the loudest.
Welcome to Macdot. News for Mac users. Everyone else go away.
Let the flame war begin.