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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.
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"
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
Twelve fingers or one, its how you play. ~Gattaca (Vincent)
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.
$0.02 (CDN)