I'm a little unclear on exactly what's involved with the process of
updating the firmware on the 107 superdrive that came with my G5, what
benefits I'll get out of it, and what risks I'm taking by doing it.  Can
someone summarize? 

I'm running 10.3.6 on a dual 1.8 G5 PowerMac.  I regularly use iDVD,
Toast, cdrdao  and Disk Utility to burn dvds and cds.  I don't often
burn from the Finder or iTunes or iPhoto but of course I don't want to
lose the ability to do so. 

I've already downloaded FlashIt Kit 2.0, Patchburn 3.0b6 and the
"official" Pioneer updates.  One specific goal is to get 8x dvd burning
but I also just want to keep the firmware current, for the same reason
that I keep my ipod, airport express and G5 firmware current.  Otoh I
don't see any need for third-party firmware patches (to use unofficial
speeds or remove the region limitation or whatever),

respower <respower@studiors.org> writes:

> I'm a little unclear on exactly what's involved with the process of
> updating the firmware on the 107 superdrive that came with my G5,
> what benefits I'll get out of it, and what risks I'm taking by doing
> it.  Can someone summarize?

Well, my advice FWIW is to NOT use any third-party firmware updates
but to wait for Apple to release their version.  It's always possible
that some part of the firmware was modified by Apple in some way, that
that the new firmware might disable something useful.  You could
always contact Apple directly and ask them, of course.

["Followup-To:" header set to comp.sys.mac.system.]
On 2004-11-26, Tim McNamara <timmcn@bitstream.net> wrote:
> Well, my advice FWIW is to NOT use any third-party firmware updates
> but to wait for Apple to release their version. 

Of course Apple _is_ the third-party here.  What I want to do is
install the manufacturer's own firmware for this device.  You could be
right that it's a bad idea in this case, but if that's so I'd like to
hear more specific reasons.

Tim McNamara:
> > Well, my advice FWIW is to NOT use any third-party firmware updates
> > but to wait for Apple to release their version.

respower:
> Of course Apple _is_ the third-party here.  What I want to do is
> install the manufacturer's own firmware for this device.  You could be
> right that it's a bad idea in this case, but if that's so I'd like to
> hear more specific reasons.

Mr. McNamara _is_ right. He also wrote "It's always possible
that some part of the firmware was modified by Apple in some way, that
that the new firmware might disable something useful." I would add "or
even disable the device." As for specifics, two experienced users
warning against it (even if they haven't traced the path each electron
takes through the device) should be reason enough. If your SuperDrive
is not working properly, contact Apple. If it is working properly,
leave it alone.

Davoud

-- 
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

On 26/11/2004 12:20 PM, Davoud wrote:
> Tim McNamara:
> 
>>>Well, my advice FWIW is to NOT use any third-party firmware updates
>>>but to wait for Apple to release their version.
> 
> 
> respower:
> 
>>Of course Apple _is_ the third-party here.  What I want to do is
>>install the manufacturer's own firmware for this device.  You could be
>>right that it's a bad idea in this case, but if that's so I'd like to
>>hear more specific reasons.
> 
> 
> Mr. McNamara _is_ right. He also wrote "It's always possible
> that some part of the firmware was modified by Apple in some way, that
> that the new firmware might disable something useful." I would add "or
> even disable the device." As for specifics, two experienced users
> warning against it (even if they haven't traced the path each electron
> takes through the device) should be reason enough. If your SuperDrive
> is not working properly, contact Apple. If it is working properly,
> leave it alone.
> 
Not to mention that updating the firmware with the non-Apple updater, 
even if it works, may keep later Apple firmware updates from running. 
This was my experience when I applied new firmware that made the DVD 
player region-free.  Later Apple firmware updates refused to run at all.

In my case, it means I run the risk of running too hot if I burn to 
specific media.  I've determined that it is unlikely I'll ever do such a 
thing.
-- 
clvrmnky <mailto:clvrmnky@COLDmail.com.INVALID>

Heat up and unmunge email to reply.

In article <30p1pvF32b6fjU1@uni-berlin.de>,
 respower <respower@studiors.org> wrote:

> ["Followup-To:" header set to comp.sys.mac.system.]
> On 2004-11-26, Tim McNamara <timmcn@bitstream.net> wrote:
> > Well, my advice FWIW is to NOT use any third-party firmware updates
> > but to wait for Apple to release their version. 
> 
> Of course Apple _is_ the third-party here.  What I want to do is
> install the manufacturer's own firmware for this device.  You could be
> right that it's a bad idea in this case, but if that's so I'd like to
> hear more specific reasons.

How about: Because it will void your warranty and if it doesn't work for 
some reason you may not be able to restore a version of the firmware 
that will leave the device in a usable state.

FWIW, Apple is not what's traditionally considered the third party in 
this case. Not unless, for example, you're also going to assert that 
Apple was just a VAR for Lucky Goldstar when the iMac shipped in 1998.

-- 
Change account to gw when responding by mail.

In article <30ottsF32itt0U1@uni-berlin.de>,
 respower <respower@studiors.org> wrote:

> I'm a little unclear on exactly what's involved with the process of
> updating the firmware on the 107 superdrive that came with my G5, what
> benefits I'll get out of it, and what risks I'm taking by doing it.  Can
> someone summarize? 
> 
> I'm running 10.3.6 on a dual 1.8 G5 PowerMac.  I regularly use iDVD,
> Toast, cdrdao  and Disk Utility to burn dvds and cds.  I don't often
> burn from the Finder or iTunes or iPhoto but of course I don't want to
> lose the ability to do so. 
> 
> I've already downloaded FlashIt Kit 2.0, Patchburn 3.0b6 and the
> "official" Pioneer updates.  One specific goal is to get 8x dvd burning
> but I also just want to keep the firmware current, for the same reason
> that I keep my ipod, airport express and G5 firmware current.  Otoh I
> don't see any need for third-party firmware patches (to use unofficial
> speeds or remove the region limitation or whatever),

I upgraded my 105 iMac Superdrive, from the following site:
http://www.macetvideo.com/flashpioneerosx/flashpioneerosx.html

Worked fine.

On 2004-11-28, Kent Clarke <kentc@dot.org> wrote:
> I upgraded my 105 iMac Superdrive, from the following site:
> http://www.macetvideo.com/flashpioneerosx/flashpioneerosx.html

Thanks, this is helpful (and gives me an opportunity to dust off the
little bit of French I learned 30+ years ago :).

clvrmnky <clvrmnky-uunet@coldmail.com.invalid> writes:
> 
> Not to mention that updating the firmware with the non-Apple
> updater, even if it works, may keep later Apple firmware updates
> from running. This was my experience when I applied new firmware
> that made the DVD player region-free.  Later Apple firmware updates
> refused to run at all.
> 
> In my case, it means I run the risk of running too hot if I burn to
> specific media.  I've determined that it is unlikely I'll ever do
> such a thing.

You may not have a choice in the future.

If you're talking about the SuperDrive update that keeps 4x DVD-R
media from damaging 2x drives, take note that 2x DVD-R media is no
longer made.  The slowest you can buy today is 4x.

If you install the Apple update, that media will run at 1x speeds.
Slower than it should be, but it won't damage the drive.

Of course, the latest Pioneer firmware (which Apple has not released
for their drives) will burn to that media at 2x speed.

-- David