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.

Comments

Use the force

[jlgolson]

Apple Tech:
*Waves hand*
"There is no problem with your computer"

You:
"There is no problem with my computer"

Apple Tech:
"This isn't the update you're looking for"

You:
"This isn't the update I'm looking for"

Re:Use the force

[alcharn]

I was thinking about getting an Apple... any advice on why or why not I should purchase one?? This article isn't making the PowerBook look so appealing.

Re:Use the force

[superspoon]

I don't see why you would be discouraged by this article, it simply states that a problem has been fixed. I'd say that fixing is better than not fixing.

The problem is not just on slot loading drives

[McAddress]

Very often I am not able to eject CD's from the combo drive on my 12 inch iBook using the button on the keyboard. Sometimes the CD does not even show up in the finder (Often when using a msdos or linux disk).

The best way I have found to deal with it is to go into the Terminal and manually view the files from there, and use umount to unmount the disk, and then eject the CD by using the eject button in the now-crippled iTunes.And I still get a message saying that I have not ejected the disk prooperly.
A really big pain to use a CD.

But I still prefer my Mac over ANY OS from the borg.

Re:The problem is not just on slot loading drives

[Anonymous Coward]

I have also had problems ejecting a disk that the Mac can't read well. Usually 'diskutil eject /dev/disk1' (or whatever your CD device is) will work. If not, you can try logging out and back in and then ejecting the disk. The last chance is to hold down the mouse button while rebooting.

The other thing to remember about ibooks and pbooks is that you have to hold the eject button down for close to a second for it to work. I think this was a conscious design to make it less likely that you'll hit the eject button by accident on the small laptop keyboards.

Re:The problem is not just on slot loading drives

[Anonymous Coward]

how is itunes crippled you stupid fuck? just because you can't pirate music so easily?

learn to buy music you cheap fuckwit.

Re:The problem is not just on slot loading drives

[shippo]

I've had that problem too. I had one CD that I couldn't play in iTunes on my iBook that effectivly made OS X useless (back in the days of 10.1) as it was exceedingly unresponsive. When I finally got the CD out of the drive I discovered a severe pressing fault - a huge blob of paint on the playing surface - that rendered the disk unreadable.

I've since had simillar symptoms with another CD - this one has a hidden track at the start of the disc.

I'm sure that a firmware update could resolve these issues too.

Re:The problem is not just on slot loading drives

[Anonymous Coward]

iTunes update 4.0.1? I think I will wait ... until Apple reembraces freedom.

I think you mean "I'll wait until people stop using every means necessary to pirate music." Sure, you might be using the feature for a legit purpose, but you're probably in the minority at that. You KNOW why they had to cut the feature back, and you KNOW that it wasn't even a documented feature (the docs for iTunes 4 say specifically that streaming works within the subnet), it's not about your fucking freedom, it the fucking freedom of Apple to protect thier own interests.

I mean, if you need to stream MP3s that badly, just set up a fucking ShoutCast server, or serve them with Apache. It's not hard at all. You might actually learn something. Don't bitch about no longer being able to do something the way you want that you couldn't do at all 3 months ago.

I'm sick and tired of hardcore Mac heads who think that Apple owes them the world. Just DEAL with it, instead of bitching in your sig...

Re:The problem is not just on slot loading drives

[Anonymous Coward]

If humans were meant to stream their own music with apache, why the hell would we use iTunes within our subnet.
Maybe some of us are not pirates, and it is just a hell of a lot easier to leave my iBook at home than to have 2 computers on my desk.

Not quite ironic, is it?

[Enrico Pulatzo]

I mean, if Apple announced that a study found that there was absolutely nothing wrong with slot-loading drives, and did so while you were on the phone with an Apple tech, that'd be ironic. You sir (or madam, I really didn't bother to find out) experienced a coincidence. For more info, check out Dictionary.com's definition of ironic, specifically the "Usage Note".

Re:Not quite ironic, is it?

[Dominic_Mazzoni]

For more info, check out Dictionary.com's definition of ironic, specifically the "Usage Note".

It's not his fault. He probably learned what "ironic" means from
Alanis Morissette.

Re:Not quite ironic, is it?

[Piquan]

Yeah, that usage note kinda bugs me.

The usage note strongly implies that for something to qualify as irony, it should suggest "particular lessons about human vanity or folly." But the definitions of "ironic" and "irony" make no such implication.

So would this incongruity qualify as irony?

Re:Not quite ironic, is it?

[gryphokk]

No, but this is

The Gift of the Magi. (the Gutenburg Project)

If there's a greater master of irony than O. Henry, I want to know about it. (Though Spider Robinson is also a great master!)

Why is this newsworthy?

[Drakon]

There isn't a posting when someone writes a linux patch that fixes bug 1032321131 or a posting when freebsd releases a fix for thier emu10k1 code, or when Microsoft releases a patch that fixes windows hanging when attached to a APC 5000 UPS
Why is apple different?

Re:Why is this newsworthy?

[ip_vjl]

I would guess that it has to do with the fact that Apple is the sole supplier of Apple hardware. So a problem with Powerbook drives is more likely to affect a larger percentage of the total users than would an incompatibility between Windows and a particular brand of 3rd party UPS (as per your example).

Re:Why is this newsworthy?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because Apple had the Good Sense to put the icons on the right side of the desktop. Therefore, everything they do is now newsworthy.

Re:Why is this newsworthy?

[RzUpAnmsCwrds]

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.

Huh?

[ZxCv]

Quoteth the post:
... in Xserves and PowerBooks. The update prevents Combo drives from intermittently failing to eject discs.
.....
I wish Apple would be more specific about what systems this is actually for. Or maybe what the problem is.

Where's the confusion about what the problem is, or what systems are affected? Sounds like a number of slot-loading combo drives used in Xserves and PowerBooks have a problem with intermittently failing to eject discs. After reading the 3 sentence bit about this issue, I would have asked myself:

1) Do I have an Xserve or PowerBook?
2) Does the slot-loading combo drive of said Xserve or PowerBook have a problem with intermittently failing to eject discs?

It seems to me that answering these two questions would tell me whether or not I need to run this firmware update. Or maybe I'm missing something? :-)

Re:Huh?

[pudge]

"This update is for Xserve servers and PowerBook computers with an internal slot-loading Combo drive."

I have a PowerBook with an internal slot-loading Combo drive. Therefore, it should be for my computer. It is, apparently, not. How are you confused as to why I am confused?

As to what the problem is, I mean specifically, what the problem is, and what they did to address it. "A firmware issue" is not very specific. Is it because the latch won't open, a problem I had? Or is it because of a communications problem with the PowerBook? I want specifics. Apple rarely provides them.

Re:Huh?

[Anonymous Coward]

What good would it do you to have those specifics? They're really only of use to Apple HW engineers, so that they can prevent it from happening in the future. There's nothing you can do with the information, except say "See - I know what caused a problem in a computer I don't own, and can't service!" If you need it, install the patch and be thankful it works now. If not, then it shouldn't be of concern anyway.

Re:Huh?

[pudge]

What good would it do you to have those specifics?

First, in this case, the answer may very well be instructive as to why it does not run on my computer, despite Apple saying it is for my computer.

Second, if I know more of the symptoms, I can diagnose problems better. If someone comes up to me and says their CD won't eject, and gives me several symptoms, I cannot say if this would fix it, or if it should have fixed it, since the symptoms beyond "won't eject" are a mystery.

Third, I want to be able to better evaluate how well Apple has a hold on this situation, for my own personal buying choices.

There are plenty of good reasons.

They're really only of use to Apple HW engineers

That is false.

Re:Huh?

[Graymalkin]

Quoth Apple's KB document:

If your system does not require this update or if the update is unsuccessful, the update application displays one of the following alert messages:

"Your computer doesn't need this update."

Your computer has a different optical drive model and doesn't need this update. The application quits without changing anything on your system.

"Your drive firmware is up-to-date."

The firmware in your Combo drive doesn't need updating. The application quits without changing anything on your system.

If that does not answer your questions I don't think providing detailed hardware specifications are going to answer them. If you download the update and it gives you a message like..."Your computer doesn't need this update." that should say to you that your computer doesn't need the update.

As for specifics, how long have you been using Macs? I'm having a hard time remember any time Apple gave a detailed answer to a hardware problem. As far as I remember they've always gone with the "firmware update" problem instead of specifically detailing the bug. You'd think you could logically parse through the available information for troubleshooting.

Do you have a Powerbook?

No) Go away.

Yes) Go to next question.

Does your Powerbook have a combo drive?

No) Go away.

Yes) Download the firmware update.

Did the firmware update fix your problem?

No) Contact Apple.

Yes) Go away.

I didn't have a problem) What the hell are you complaining about?

Re:Huh?

[pudge]

"If your system does not require this update or if the update is unsuccessful, the update application displays one of the following alert messages"

Right. Why is it so hard to tell us which systems it applies to before downloading it? Maybe a link to an "advanced" document if they don't want to confuse people who wouldn't understand it.

As for specifics, how long have you been using Macs?

I dunno, over 15 years.

I'm having a hard time remember any time Apple gave a detailed answer to a hardware problem.

Yes, exactly. And it is annoying.

Re:Huh?

[commodoresloat]

Part of the problem is that Apple isn't very specific about its different models. The question of which powerbooks are affected would be easier to answer if every different powerbook model had a unique model number that was easy to find. I know it's out of tune with Apple's marketing strategy to advertise different models of computer with obscure number/letter schemes, but having to identify your computer as something like "PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze Keyboard)" or "PowerMac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)" is just confusing as hell for most users.

Re:Huh?

[pudge]

having to identify your computer as something like "PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze Keyboard)" or "PowerMac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)" is just confusing as hell for most users.

Sure, all of what I asked to know would be confusing for most users; I suggest a link to a separate document with more detailed information.

Re:Huh?

[Anonymous Coward]

If you want access to this kind of information, get cetified as an Apple Desktop Technician. If you really want to be informed about these kinds of things, I'm sure you can justify the cost, besides being able to easily recoup it by doing some consulting and/or repairs.

Re:Huh?

[pudge]

If you want access to this kind of information

I fail to see how this is in any way related to my saying that Apple should provide that information to the public, but thanks anyway.

Re:Huh?

[MoneyT]

Just to let you know, if your computer does not accept the update, but you still have problems, you should reset the power manager on your computer. This was a problem that appeared for awhile and according to the discussion forums, it can be fixed by reseting the power manager.

Re:Huh?

[MoneyT]

Another reason your computer might not be accepting the update. From the readme:

IMPORTANT If you are currently unable to eject a disc from your drive, you can't use the update application to update your drive firmware. If you have tried all methods of ejecting discs as described in your user manual, you may need to contact AppleCare for service.

Simple

[jdhaig]

Think Different [Apple.com]

Irony...

[el_doop]

Irony is not particularly difficult to understand. It occurs when an actual event is the exact opposite of what would reasonably be expected.

Given that there was obviously a problem with the slot-loading drives on these computers, it doesn't seem at all ironic that you would spend time working with tech support to solve that problem. Not just not ironic, but downright likely.

Re:Irony...

[Anonymous Coward]

Irony is not particularly difficult to understand. It occurs when an actual event is the exact opposite of what would reasonably be expected.


So, irony would be somebody using the term 'Irony' incorrectly in a post without 50 /.ers popping up with the correct definition and comparing the poster to Alanis Morissette.

Enough!

[mikedaisey]

I love Apple too, but this is silly--how did this firmware update get on the front page? It doesn't even affect all that many Apple users...I don't see Windows updates on the main page, and I'm glad about that--because it isn't really news. In a category, certainly--but there MUST be something you can post to the front page that's more vital than this, isn't there?

Re:Enough!

[Helmut Kool]

Front page? I didn't see this on the front page. Maybe you have configured /. to show Apple stuff there.

Specific drive

[Shishio]

I wish Apple would be more specific about what systems this is actually for.

The firmware update is for newer Powerbooks and Xserves that use the Matshita CW-8122 combo drive. It updates the firmware to version BA21. Previously used combo drives are not affected by the update.

Check out xlr8yourmac for further info and reports about the firmware update.

Re:Specific drive

[kirn_malinus]

It also says it's for Mac OS X version 10.1.5, I seem to recall this having been fixed already in the 10.2 update tree, maybe.

Re: Specific drive

[Anonymous Coward]

It really stinks that Apple only released this for the Matshita CW-8122 and not for the far more widely-used Matshita CW-8121 drive (that was in all the TiBooks before the 1 GHz models). A side benefit for having BA21 revision firmware (or AA21, for the CW-8121 drive) is that it's the minimum firmware revision needed to be able to back up to CD-R using Dantz Retrospect. (Dantz refuses to support using older versions of the firmware because they access the drives in a non-standard way, and claim it didn't work right until the most recent firmware revisions.)

And I was, like ? heh?

[Znonymous Coward]

I was listening to a CD, and it was, like, working fine. And then, like, there was an update to fix my problems. And I was, like ? heh?

Give me more firmware

[Anonymous Coward]

What I really want to see is Firmware that upgrades my superdrive to a 2x or greater dvd burner. that would make me REAL happy.

Re:Give me more firmware

[Anonymous Coward]

Or even better, a firmware upgrade for my CDROM that'll turn it into a Superdrive. That would rock!

Did anybody see this:

[Anonymous Coward]

In an effort to reduce music piracy, you will only be able play CDRs "burned" in iTunes with at least one iTunes Music Store purchase. Regular CDs and other CDRs will not play. To listen to your music CDs while using your Macintosh, we recommend the use of an external dedicated CD player.

Shit, and I thought Apple was supposed to be the "cool" company!

Re:Did anybody see this:

[physicsnerd]

Umm, I think I'm going to have to call B.S. Where did you see this? iTunes plays my cds and cdrs just fine, and I haven't bought a single song from iTMS.

Physicsnerd

"Physics is like sex, sure it may give some practical results, but that's not why we do it" - Feynman

No manual eject

[chigaze]

One reason this update is very important is that there is no manual eject on the combo drives. If a disk won't eject you have to send it in for servicing. This would be extremely bad in the case of an Xserve.

Curious about alternative...

[NaugaHunter]

From Terminal, you can open any folder (even supposedly hidden ones) with simply:
open /Volumes

My question is, is the CD in question listed in in the Volumes directory? If so, does open /Volumes/cdname
work, and open a Finder window? If so, can you right/ctrl-click and choose Eject? I know you can do all of that using a standard CD, but haven't had any problem CDs I can try it on. I have a feeling it won't, but you didn't specify what path you use to view the files, if it is through Volumes or through a unix alias. Of course, if there is a path to a folder open may still work, though it might not be recognized as a CD for eject to appear.

Anyway, it's just a thought.

Ahh.... makes me yearn...

[nettdata]

This makes me yearn for the days of the "ejectrode".

For those of you who don't remember/know, an ejectrode was a device (usually a stretched out paper-clip) that was used to manually extricate floppies out of their drive when they refused to pop out themselves. This was done by pushing the ejectrode into the small hole beside the floppy entrance, as there was no manual ejection button like on most modern floppy drives.

It was pretty funny, because you would see a few of those around any mac office (at least around our office in the mid 90's), and you knew EXACTLY what they were for.

It's too bad that the Combo drives have no such feature.

What Apple could have done.....

[kruton6]

I don't see why Apple bothered. I posted this cause I felt it was ironic that Apple made a Firmware update to in my own words allow the owner to eject their CDs.... uhhhh better!

I spent an hour on the phone with some chick at apple who had me hold down the mouse button at startup, hold dow the eject button at startup, Zap the PRAM, Reset NVRAM, Reset all parameters, reset the PMU, startup into the boot loader and try ejecting, and even load open firmware and type the command "eject cd". The Firmware told me "Can't OPEN the EJECT device" so then she gave me a dispatch number.

The next morning I'm updating a PB 12" and this update shows up!! The odd thing was that these PB's had Superdrives and not combo drives which makes me wonder if the update is for all slot-loader drives.

Re:What Apple could have done.....

[kruton6]

Seriously, why doesn't Apple's next powerbook make it so the slot goes all the way through the powerbook?? Then if the CD gets stuck you can just ram a stick through your powerbook to get the cd out!

Dear Apple

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear Apple,

I am a homosexual. I bought an Apple computer because of its well earned reputation for being "the" gay computer. Since I have become an Apple owner, I have been exposed to a whole new world of gay friends. It is really a pleasure to meet and compute with other homos such as myself. I plan on using my new Apple computer as a way to entice and recruit young schoolboys into the homosexual lifestyle; it would be so helpful if you could produce more software which would appeal to young boys. Thanks in advance.

with much gayness,

Father Randy "Pudge" O'Day, S.J.

Dear Randy

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear Father O'Day:

Thanks for your letter. Being Catholic myself, I know exactly what you're talking about! It has always been our plan here at Apple Computer Inc to revolutionize personal computing with our high-quality and highly gay products.

I'm happy to answer your letter by letting you know that YES we will be releasing an entire hLife ("homo-life") software line. You'll be able to recognize it in stores by the small stylized logo depicting a large cock entering a tight anus with an Apple logo on it. ("Suddenly it all comes together" indeed!).

Anyway, I hope you and other members of our community will join us on our mission, and purchase the exciting new hLife boxed set. Only the boxed set comes with translucent cock rings!

Sincerely,

Harry Rodman
Vice-president
Homosexual Liaison Services
Apple Computer, Inc.

Oooh yes!

[xvi]

...a fresh firmware, ready to be patched.

Thank you Apple, and please, please, release many more firmwares...

Zone free drive comming soon ?

[treuf]

Considering this updates the drive firmware, this means that we now have a prog to flash those matshita drives under OSX ...
Plus the firmware is inside the app :)

This could be a good path to start modifying that patch so it can change the RPC setting on the drive ...
(maybe also to remove restrictions, like enable RW dvds, stuffs like that)

Re:Zone free drive comming soon ?

[Anonymous Coward]

Been to the firmware page on WormInTheApple lately?

I'm different

[superspoon]

And I'm proud. *points at the clueless wintel loser* hehehe, silly :)