“Apple Computer issued a software update Thursday to fix a problem that caused hundreds of newer MacBook laptops to shut down suddenly — but one longtime industry analyst suspects Apple’s solution might force the computers to run more slowly,” Jon Fortt blogs for Business 2.0.
Fortt reports, “Rob Enderle, principal analyst with Enderle Group, said that based on user comments in Apple’s online support forums he suspects the laptops have been shutting down because of overheating problems with the main logic board and ‘heat sink,’ a device that’s meant to cool the machine. ‘What they appear to be doing is doing a firmware update to step down the processor,’ Enderle said. ‘If you can step down the processor, say, 5 or 10 percent, you can lower heat dramatically.'”
Fortt reports, “But if indeed Apple is doing that, another result is decreased laptop performance. Enderle likened it to throttling back a V8 engine to make it behave like a V6. It won’t get as hot, but it won’t go as fast either. ‘It would be really good to see if we can find someone who’s gotten the problem and measure the performance before and after the firmware update,’ Enderle said. Unless support forum users are misinformed about the logic board and heat sink being the issue, ‘the only way you can fix a problem like this without physically taking the machine apart is to step down the processor.'”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Darkness” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Anyone who uses Rob Enderle, principal analyst (and only analyst, unless, for some reason, you count his wife Mary) with Enderle Group, as an expert in basically anything except the act of talking out of one’s ass is seriously unwise. You’d get sounder advice asking Rob Glaser how to finish a marathon than you would asking Rob Enderle what a specific Mac firmware update accomplishes. Our sources tell us that the firmware update issued by Apple yesterday does not step down the MacBook processor, it corrects an issue with the MacBook’s temperature sensor that caused some MacBooks to shut down too early when protecting against thermal damage.
If Rob Enderle isn’t on a mission to spoof the term “tech analyst” in an effort to expose the total lack of qualifications necessary to become one, he should be.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple releases MacBook SMC Firmware Update 1.1, addresses issues with random shutdowns – October 26, 2006
What is Apple doing about MacBooks suffering from ‘Random Shutdown Syndrome?’ – October 21, 2006
Apple to repair ‘random shutdown MacBooks’ free of charge – September 08, 2006
Enderle: ‘4th quarter will be Apple’s hardest since the first iPod Christmas’ – September 18, 2006
Enderle spouts some incredible nonsense about Apple iPod+iTunes – July 07, 2006
Enderle: If Apple can’t double market share it will abandon Macs – May 02, 2006
Big surprise: Enderle was wrong about Apple’s holiday quarter Mac sales – January 19, 2006
Tech pundit Enderle: ‘Microsoft wrote the first Mac OS’ – September 28, 2005
Tech Pundit Enderle: ‘fourth quarter should be ugly for Apple’ – August 09, 2005
Enderle: ‘Surveys indicate demand for Apple’s products is dropping like a rock’ due to Intel switch – August 01, 2005
Tech Pundit Enderle: ‘This year will be more difficult for Apple Computer’ and iMacs in earthquakes – January 24, 2005
Since when did Enderle become an expert in firmware? He’s not an engineer for Apple, is he?
Enderle is a complete tool. He has 0% evidence for his conjecture. There are so many things this update could be doing thathis idle speculation is just that. Its also grossly irresponsible to make owners fear their laptops are being forced to run slower, when as one poster points out, the fans could just be sped up or set to run more frequently.
Almost every observation Enderle has to make about Apple products is laughable. Do you remember the one about the iMac when it came out? He said that he would be wary of owning one – especially if he lived in San Francisco – in case an earthquake caused it to fall off a table and break the screen.
And he gets paid to write this stuff! Unreal!
Reason #1,037,265 why I read MDN:
If Rob Enderle isn’t on a mission to spoof the term “tech analyst” in an effort to expose the total lack of qualifications necessary to become one, he should be.
The sad thing is that the mainstream media quotes him ALL THE TIME!!! My 3 year old cousin knows more than he does.
MDN, please stop posting stuff from Enderle. It’s a waste of time to even read the headline. You already know he’s a tool so stop giving him free publicity.
Yeh, I don’t understand why big media companies seem to quote him all the time, he knows jack sh*t about Macs, spouting out this nonsense is irresponsible, could Apple not sue him and put him out of business, he’d suit a job in BestBuy selling Zunes to schmucks.
Was it Mary who worried about the iMacs tipping over in the event of an earthquake all those years ago?
Or is my memory not serving me well?
Gavron,
Here’s what I did:
1. I clicked the MacDailyNews related articles link to “Tech Pundit Enderle: ‘This year will be more difficult for Apple Computer’ and iMacs in earthquakes” – January 24, 2005
2. Then I read the article and found that it was Rob Enderle who wrote for DesignTechnica, “I live in California, earthquake country, and the old iMac was one of the most stable products in its class, the new one places the weight too high and relies on a base that is too narrow making it likely that it would fall. Falling glass can be a huge hazard in a home late at night when you are trying to get the kids and family to safety during an earthquake.”
Hope this helps.
Ah, so Enderle is now using the same principles of responsible analysis as Republican commentators who just “put the question out there” when they have no proof or corroborating evidence of any sort.
MDN needs to post items like this about Enderle in an effort to counter his disinformation campaign.
MW: anti. Anti-Enderle. (How does it know?!)
Correct MDN Headline:
“Enderle brainware steps down brain speed to stop random shutdowns”
This is analysis? “What they appear to be doing is doing a firmware update to step down the processor,” Enderle said.
“It would be really good to see if we can find someone who’s gotten the problem and measure the performance before and after the firmware update,” Enderle said.
ok – so he has no clue if what he is asserting is fact or not. Instead, he wants someone ELSE to do the research necessary to prove his point, AFTER he makes it…
Gee, let me try… “It appears everything Enderle has ever said is untrue. It would be really good to see if we can find someone who’s actually read what he’s written to see if any of it is true.”
Wow! That was fun, how about… “It appears gravity doesn’t exist. It would be really good to see if we can find someone who’s actually studied gravity to see if it does.”
Rob Enderle is supposed to be the Principle Analyst for the Enderle Group – Just what did he Analyze here? Anyone who pays this man is a fool. (It would be really good to see if we can find someone who disagrees with me).
Rob is a market analyst, as in if he spreads FUD about Apple and their Macs then his client, Dell, will benefit.
I can’t believe writers pay him for this bullshit. They should be charging him advertising rates instead.
I too thought you should stop posting anything that falls out of the face of Mr. Mustache, but I have to admit the responses you get are the best. I laugh my Enderle off. Then you have to go and add a blob (pardon the pun) of Rob Glaser to it and you have a full fledged comedy sketch. I’m conflicted but I’m laughing – Thanks!!
My 2 cents –
“But if indeed Apple is doing that, another result is decreased laptop performance. Enderle likened it to throttling back a V8 engine to make it behave like a V6.”
On this point he is an expert. Microsoft OS Bloatware + AntiVirus + AntiMalware + AntiAdware + AntiSpyware + etc. The V8 then becomes a 1 hp Briggs and Stratton.
Yeah Rob. That is exactly what Apple has done. They’ve slowed the porcessor down. There can be no other possible answer. douce bag. Sounds like something Microsoft would force the box assemblers to do.
porcessor? ‘the hell is that? Sorry all!
PROCESSOR
I updated both the MacBooks I have and noticed no performance slow down whatsoever. Additionally, his argument is moot because my MacBook that did shut down randomly (the other never did) shut down several times while the Mac was cool. It has nothing to do with heat and I suspect everything to do with the heat sensor mechanism (as in, it thought the MacBook was over heated when it was in fact at room temperature or slightly below).
I like the term Fortt reports. Fortt retorts. Fartt departs. There, fixed it!
I live in tornado country, and now I feel stupid for buying an iMac. All that glass and PVC flying around while I’m…..flying around.
I guess Enderle graduated from the Mainstream Media School Of BS with a BS in BS. “Let’s take something that has happened, think about what could happen, throw in some bad results, and then act like it’s a fact until someone disproves it.” Should change his name to “Rob Endefacts.”
If you wanna have some laughs, go re-read this crap from the “other” Enderle Group analyst:
http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/36515.html
and then contrast, two years later with this:
http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/mossbergs_fall_computer_buyers_guide_apple_imac_the_best/
Seems Simple,
thanks!
From the historical articles referenced concerning about the original iMac and the G5 iMac, Mr. Enderle seems extraordinarily afraid of things being unstable… Perhaps that reveals something deeper about Mr. Enderle?
I need a real man. A man that uses a Mac. My husband is such a tool…..
Why not check it out yourself with this free app.
Will show frequency, voltage and temp.
http://www.coolbook.se/CoolBook.html
I secretly love Macs….
What a load!