17-inch Macbook Pro users report mixed results with Mac OSX 10.6.7

GADGETEER FOR THE WEALTHY Apple has issued an update to its Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system.

Apple's Mac OSX 10.6.7 update addresses numerous issues on Macbook models launched last year and includes security patches, an updated version of Apple's Safari web browser and, according to some, fixes the latest Macbook Pro 17-inch from crashing under load.

Over the past week, Apple's fanbois have been flooding the firm's message boards with reports that their shiny new 17-inch Macbook Pro laptops have been crashing when put under load. Apple has stayed quiet about the issue and even this software update doesn't seem to work for everyone.

One Macbook Pro user going by the handle of rdotw wrote, "I installed 10.6.7 this morning via Software Update. It was the correct update as it mentioned the Early 2011 machines. I've spent the entire evening trying to do some work in a virtual machine and every single time it has ended up with the machine locking up." Another, posting as Horniasty said, "I have installed the 10.6.7 update and it didn't help".

Other users have reported success with Michael K saying "For the record the patch has resolved lock up issues due to full screen graphics intensive gaming (Dragon Age). Was able to run for hours, cmd-tab out of the game, quit without any issues." He added that the temperatures had dropped from being reported as 99C to 91C. A number of other users also cited temperatures of 99C though it is likely that figure is the upper limit of the monitoring software.

Other users reported success and failure almost in equal measure, though it should be noted that CPUs running at over 90C isn't an optimal operating procedure. Although CPUs can throttle down their operating frequency to reduce heat, such high temperatures tend to suggest that Apple might have been pushing the cooling capabilities of the hipster Macbook Pro design beyond its limits.

Apple has yet to claim that its Mac OSX 10.6.7 fixes the 17-inch 2011 Macbook Pro's faults but it is unlikely that Apple would wait if it could get away by issuing a software fix. The INQUIRER contacted Apple asking whether the update had any effect on the Macbook Pro machines in question, but the firm did not get back to us by press time.

So until Apple comes out with a definitive answer, those who shelled out the best part of two grand on 17-inch Macbook Pro notebooks will have to wait a little longer as they hope for the best with this latest update. µ