"New MacBooks said to have issues with maxed out RAM"

http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/09/new-macbooks-said-to-have-issues-with-maxed-out-ram-faulty-nvid/

With all these problems I keep hearing about I'm just happy that I don't have any of them.

 

I have 4gb new macbook. I'm not having any problem. I do feel frustrated though that they removed the firewire port and the did not WARN US. because I was expecting this to be exactly same as the older one. now i'm stuck with terrabites and terrabites of firewire hardrives with loads of my photos and files on them yet i can't access them! thats stupid.

 

I will never buy a 1st-gen Apple product ever again. My 1st-gen MBP had problems galore. I have learned my lesson.

You could buy an ExpressCard Firewire card. It is horrible how Apple screws its users over anytime Steve Jobs feels like it. *Edit* I just realized MacBooks do not have an ExpressCard slot.

 

The MB don't have a express card slot either.

 

I have 4GB of memory in my Macbook too and I havent had a single problem or issue.

 

amazing how things get blown out of proportion on the internet.

for every one unhappy person, im willing to bet there are 100 happy ones.

that combined with the fact that it is a first gen machine, there will be "issues." You all take that risk when you purchase. Its an assumed risk, whether you want to admit it or not.

Ill wait for 2nd, only cause I want a cpu bump from my current last-gen 2.4. If i didnt want that, i would jump on the new books, problems be dammed . ( i know its spelled wrong!)

 

I've had 4gb from day one, and no issues.

 

I've ordered my 2X2GB on eBay.com ( http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=WuHUQoomyfI&am=R-A8rcT3UCHJBX3qHwKqpA ) I hope it will work !!!!! as soon as they arrive I'll take my MBP to the apple store because I don't want to mess up something...

 

only apple can get away with such incidents

going to canon on their 5dmk2 issues, people just say they will return them instead of protecting their brands

 

Getting away with it how? You want people to sue them? It's on the internet on major blogs, that's not really getting away with it.

 

Why are Macs so finicky with ram? They have widely used Intel/Nvidia chipsets. It kind of makes you wonder why other notebook companies are less picky about ram.

 

I'm not sure they are. The bigger problem may be their finicky detractors.

 

I hear what you're saying. I usually don't buy 1st generation anything when it comes to technology. That practice has usually benefited me.

 

I don't see how apple is screwing anyone about firewire or anything else. Companies try things if they work great. If not then get phased out. Also if you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. Speak with your pocket book.

 

I guess in the case of the Macbook and firewire, you'd either need to buy an old model, or get a Macbook Pro instead (or buy new hard drives or enclosures).

 

Well in the case of the nVidia chipset, the disadvantage of getting first dibs on things is that you are kind of serving as the guinea pigs as the first real world application. I believe nVidia didn't even officially launch the 9400M chipset until after Apple released the new MB, MBA, and MBP.

Apple has released EFI updates to the MB, MBA, and MBP for the 9400M chipsets. Maybe it'll fix this issue.

 

The reason I ask why Apple is so finicky with ram is that they are the only company to have "Apple-approved" memory at computer stores that cost a million dollars more than standard memory.

Why do Macs only accept certain modules? It is not like the memory has ECC or is registered.

They have no excuse now considering they have moved away from PPC.

It is almost as if Apple is purposefully crippling non-Apple memory in the firmware.

 

I've never seen "Apple approved" memory. I mean stores might label something as compatible with Macs or whatever, but they take the same RAM as everything else.

Years and years ago-like more than a decade, they tended to take different RAM than Intel hardware. Had some physical differences-it wasn't exactly Apple specific per se, but it was different.

But that ended years before Apple transitioned from PowerPC to Intel hardware, let alone now.

 

Technically speaking, either the EFI firmware or the memory controller hw/sw in the nvidia integrated chipset 9400M might be the cause. Yet from the long history, apples usually demand more than a cheap RAM. So, it might reduce some risks if you buy RAM from a more reputable manufacturer.

Well, I'm getting ones now and let's hope they work out fine.

 

if you wanted a laptop that was "exactly" the same as the old one, why not just get the old one?

*sigh* and you could have at least looked at it for a few seconds before purchasing.

 

There's a reason why they have MBP, the average user will not need a firewire port, and most video cameras use USB now because a lot of people didn't have firewire ports. That's why there is a pro model.

 

It still stinks that a cheapy $500 laptop has firewire and ExpressCard whereas a $1300+ Macbook has neither.

 

Actually I'm pretty sure most PC laptops with Firewire wouldn't satisfy Mac users.

One of the main complaints with the removal of Firewire, is that some Mac users have bought a lot of Firewire equipment besides camcorders, mainly external HDDs. One of the major advantages of Firewire is that it can supply significantly more power than USB, which means that even 3.5" HDDs can be bus-powered through a single Firewire cable, while some even some 2.5" HDDs require 2 USB cables.

In order for power to work, you need a 6-pin Firewire port which is the only type Apple has ever used. PCs laptops that have Firewire however are usually the 4-pin type which does not supply power. Good for camcorders, but useless to all the people complaining their other Firewire peripherals like external HDDs are stranded.

 

I know what you mean about the 6-pin Firewire. However, with an ExpressCard slot, you can buy a 6-pin Firewire ExpressCard, eSATA ExpressCard, and a whole bunch of peripherals. MacBook users are stuck with only 2 USB ports unfortunately.

Newer Macbook users will be saved next year once USB 3.0 gets released, but current owners are stuck.

 

I've got the 2.53 with 4Gb of RAM MBP, no issues what-so-ever..

 

Who is stuck? I will flip mine the minute the 3.0 version is introduced next summer.

 

So I really want to upgrade to 4GB of RAM. Is it safe to do so yet?

 

Yes, sounds like it's fine unless it's defective.

 

What's defective?

 

I thought about that, then realized I have no need for USB 3.0 right now, everything I own that is USB will still work, Yes 3.0 will be better for external drives, but when traveling I won't be bringing those with me, and I will have a desktop that will have USB 3.0. So I guess it depends on who you are, but I think most people won't miss it for a while.
Also, there will be no use for it until 2010.

 

All you need is a cable like this http://www.cwol.com/firewire/firewire-800-1394b-cables.htm#9-4

 

If you are talking about FireWire 800 to FireWire 400 cables those don't help MacBook users who don't have any FireWire at all.

 

I had issues with finding RAM for my machine. I initially got OCZ DDR3 2GB memory for the MBP which gave it a total of 3GB RAM. It was constantly crashing so I returned that memory.

Then I got Crucial DDR3 2x2GB memory for my late 2008 unit, but it wasn't fully compatible, it wasn't crashing as much as the OCZ memory, but I would have to reboot once or twice a day.

I finally was able to switch them for Nanya memory, and had them ever since, fully stble, haven't had to do unexpected reboots.
I'd say stick with Hyundai or Nanya memory. Personally I think it's either a timing or latency compatibility issue, and until Apple releases a new BIOS/firmware for their system for better compatibility, make sure you try the memory first before purchasing or get them directly from Apple (although it's not guaranteed to be fully compatible either).

 

I just upgraded to 4GB with Crucial RAM and haven't had a problem yet. I'll let you know if that changes.