Remember last weekend? Apple quietly released a firmware update Friday evening that
disabled third-party memory in a lot of newer Macs. By
Saturday morning, the Mac Web was abuzz with warnings and
theories.
At this point, it appears that 3-2-2 RAM upgrades, whether from
Apple or someone else, work just fine once the firmware update is
installed, but some (and definitely not all) 2-2-2 memory fails to
work after the upgrade. There seems to be no way to
downgrade, so if your computer lost its RAM, you're out of luck
until you replace the memory or Apple produces yet another firmware
update.
Our mole at Apple (a.k.a. John Doe 27) tells us this wasn't
an accident. Apple wants your money. They want you to buy
"Apple Certified" memory either with your computer or from The
Apple Store. In the future, if you don't buy Apple Certified
memory, your computer may not recognize any memory you've added due
to changes in the firmware.
Of course, Apple realizes that a lot of us are more than happy
to take our chances with third-party memory. After all, Apple wants
$600 to put a single 256 MB module in a PowerBook G4. By
going to ramseeker.com, you can
find the same amount of memory for under $90.
You could buy six different third-party modules, throw out the
ones that don't work, and still save money compared with Apple
Store pricing.
Well, Apple is going to address that two different ways. First,
starting April 1, 2001, you'll be able to order RAM directly
from Apple - even if you're not buying a new computer. This memory
will be about 60% cheaper, dropping that 256 MB module to
$240 (less than some vendors on ramseeker charge!) and making it a
far more attractive option for individual purchase or when
installed in a new build-to-order Mac.
Second, Apple will allow vendors or manufacturers to submit
memory for testing by Apple. If it passes the test, this RAM will
become Apple Certified.
Of course, Apple won't do it for free. There will be a flat fee
of $500 plus $1/MB to certify a specific design. If the
manufacturer makes any change to the design, such as switching chip
suppliers, the new version will also need to be certified. This
allows Apple to make a little money from the manufacturers or
dealers.
But that's not all. Every piece of Apple Certified memory means
money in Apple's pocket. The certification surcharge is currently
set at 10¢/MB, which adds $25.60 to the price of a 256
MB module.
Sure, you can take your chance with uncertified memory, but the
next firmware update might make it unusable.
Or you can buy only Apple Certified memory, which is not only
certified to work with today's firmware, but also guaranteed to
work with any future firmware updates. Not only that, but if you
use Apple Certified memory in your computer, it will automatically
be covered if you buy AppleCare. No more, "Sorry, but
third-party memory isn't covered."
In the end, it looks like a win-win situation for
everyone. Apple makes more, vendors can sell memory they know will
work with future firmware changes, and the buyer has greater peace
of mind.
Sure, it'll cost you more, but high-end Mac users should be used
to that.
Stop settling for memory that may not survive the next firmware
update - buy Apple Certified.
- Anne Onymus
Recent Rumor Mills
New Apple drive supports Blu-ray and HD DVD, 09.11.
Tired of being second-guessed and sometimes outmaneuvered by Microsoft, Apple has embraced both next gen DVD formats with its new SuperDrive Extreme.
California: Beyond 'no light bulbs for you', 02.01.
A Calfiornia assemblyman wants to make incandescent light bulbs illegal - but that's just the beginning. His next target: CRT monitors and TVs.
Sudden impact: Apple's great Asteroid hoax, 06.09.
Truth of the matter is, the Asteroid Project didn't exist to produce a viable product, but as a way to shut down rumor sites.
Mac of the Day: PowerBook 190cs, Aug. 1995 - The last 680x0-based PowerBook could take a PowerPC upgrade.
List of the Day: The iPod List The iPod List is a forum to discuss the iPod, it's accessories, the iTunes Store, iTunes, and related topics.
August 28 in LEM history: 95: PowerBook Duo 2300 - 00: Gaming on older Power Macs - 01: AppleShare on Linux - From Beebs and Acorns to Macs - 02: Sleep of Death, - Think smarter? - It's the software, stupid - 06: PowerBook 5300 reminiscence - You might be a Mac fanatic if... - Hiding complexity behind elegant simplicity
Recent Content on Low End Mac
CrossOver Strikes Out, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 08.27.
Running Windows apps on a Mac without paying for Windows is great in theory, but actually getting Windows software working is another story.
MacDrought: 4 Months with No New Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 08.27.
The most recent Mac update was over four months ago, and the Mac mini has been unchanged for over a year.
Best Intel iMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27.
Used 17" 1.83 GHz, $625; 20", $599; 2.16, $749; 24", $950; refurb 20" 2.4, $999; 2.66, $1,299; 24" 2.4, $1,299; 2.8, $1,549; new 3.06, $2,094 after rebate; more.
Best 15" PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27.
Used 1.25 GHz Combo, $600; SuperDrive, $650; 1.33 Combo, $640; 1.5, $680; SD, $725; 1.67, $730; hi-res, $800.
Best Time Capsule and AirPort Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.27.
500 GB Time Capsule, $294; 1 TB, $468; AirPort Extreme Card, $39; 802.11n Base Station, $166; 802.11g AirPort Express, $60; 802.11n, $98.
Purposeful Reincarnation for Old Macs, Phil Herlihy, The Usefulness Equation, 08.26.
The key is to avoid spending more on upgrades than the final use of the machine can justify.
Best Power Mac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26.
Used 1.6 GHz single SuperDrive, C$499; 1.8, $569; dual, $675, 2.0, $800; 2.3, C$899; 2.5, C$1,199; 2.7, $1,225; 2.5 Quad, $1,500.
Best 17" MacBook Pro Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26.
Used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, $1,330; 2.33 C2D, $1,689; refurb, 2.4, $1,899; new, $2,099; 2.5, $2,558 after rebate; 2.6 Santa Rosa, $2,399 a/r; more.
Best iPod shuffle Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.26.
Refurb 3G 1 GB, $39; new 3G, $45; refurb 2 GB, $59; new, $68.
Mac OS X Has More Problems than Vista, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 08.25.
All it takes is a simple Google search to demonstrate that Mac OS X has more problems than Windows - and way more than Vista.
8 Free POP3 Email Options, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 08.25.
In recent years, a lot of free POP3 email providers have started charging or left the field. Here are 8 choices you may want to consider.
iPod touch or Cowon A3: What's a Mac User to Choose?, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 08.25.
For Internet access and integration with the Mac, the iPod touch is the way to go. But for media recording and playback, the Cowon has it all over the iPod.
Upgrading Your Lombard PowerBook G3, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 08.25.
Step-by-step instructions for getting inside the Lombard PowerBook to upgrade RAM, replace the hard drive, and swap out the CPU card.
Best Power Mac G3 and PCI Video Card Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.25.
Used beige 300 MHz, $25; 333, $198; blue & white 350, $55; 400, $90; 450, $105; PCI video cards from $15.
Best Titanium PowerBook G4 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.25.
Used 500 MHz DVD, $480; 667 MHz Combo, $500; 867 MHz, $550; 1 GHz, $678; SuperDrive, $900.
Best Xserve Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 08.25.
Used G4, $1,250; G5 from $1,700; new 2.0 4-core Xeon, $1,900; refurb 2.8 GHz, $2,599; new, $2,888; refurb 8-core, $2,999; new, $3,299; lots more.
High End
Mac is an independent publication and has
not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple
Computer, Inc, although we suspect they'd be most grateful if you'd
follow our advice and buy a new Mac today. Apple, the Apple logo,
Macintosh, iMac, and iBook are registered trademarks of Apple
Computer, Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks of the individual companies and are hereby
acknowledged.
