It really is a crime that Apple has let this go on for such a long time.

[HomunQlus]

There were also cases with Mac OS X 10.0 or 10.1 destroying Firewire drives for some reason. I think it's a firmware problem like it has been said before, not a problem of OS X.

[texanpenguin]

The iMac firmware issue has been a known installation step for most people for a long time.

It's surprising that no-one has written a self-running program which can install the FW update "blind" by just inserting it on a CD into an unpatched iMac.

Off-topic: HomunQlus, you're gonna look mighty silly with that signature if Mac OS XI comes out :P. Using your archaic technology forty years into the future (assuming you plan to live that long)

[HomunQlus]

Originally Posted by texanpenguin

Off-topic: HomunQlus, you're gonna look mighty silly with that signature if Mac OS XI comes out :P. Using your archaic technology forty years into the future (assuming you plan to live that long)

If Mac OS XI comes out, I'm pretty sure I'll use that then, and the sig will be changed accordingly...

[Viro]

So that means that you current sig is inaccurate

[HomunQlus]

Alright, what about "Mac OS User for life" ?

[fryke]

Hm. That, too, could be off if Apple starts dropping the "Mac OS" moniker completely and calls their OS versions ONLY after the codenames.

Back on topic: Really, the requirement of installing the newest firmware is very clearly stated in the ReadMes and the manual that comes with OS X. It's not like they're hiding anything.

Plus: OS 9.1 is NOT a requirement for installing OS X, since you can install OS X on a computer without any kind of operating system on it (i.e. a clean harddrive). So should they make a _big_ message that reads "Install firmware first!" on the package, the install media as well as the software installer? Should they do big messages for ANYthing a user could do wrong? No: They create a manual for that. And ReadMe files. Etc.

[WeeZer51402]

Fryke you make a good point and maybe people should read the ReadMe files but in reality how many people actually do that? Would it really hurt to add an extra line to the system requirements that reads "Firmware XXX.X". Yes ultimately it is the end-users responsibility to read the manual but why list system requirements other than CPU/RAM/HDD...what about "Built-in FireWire", why not screw those people too? However since Apple didn't include it from the beginning I think anybody would have a hell of a time convincing apple to change it now considering corporation == never wrong and how many of there users are trying to install 10.x on that model iMac...probably not enough where they are going to care. Besides a bricked computer is just an excuse to mortgage the house and buy another!

[fryke]

Well: There's different Firmware revisions for different hardware. They'd end up with a looooooooong list of requirements for different hardware which only confuses people.