Of course, this is usually an exciting time for Mac owners as they browse the new features and improvements and work out just how fast they are going to buy the latest operating system.
However, there is a much more critical reason for a possible OS update for Mac users, especially ones suffering with the OS X BSOD superbug problem.
Although DPS Computing managed to discover a temporary solution (which, by the way, still works :)), Mac users (including ourselves) are eager for a permanent solution that doesn’t mean that we have to effectively disable one of our graphics cards just to stop our Macs freezing every 5-10 minutes.
Has this been fixed in Mountain Lion? – well as yet, we’ve not been able to verify this – we would be particularly eager to hear from anyone (via e-mail, website contact form or a comment on this post) if they have previously suffered from the OS X BSOD superbug problem and have upgraded to Mountain Lion and it has fixed it.
However, this raises further questions. If this problem with the nVidia graphics card drivers has been fixed in Mountain Lion, why has a free update not been given to Lion users? After all, it would be unacceptable to effectively charge for what amounts to a critical bug fix, having already paid thousands of pounds for Apple Mac equipment.
Another question is, if this problem with the nVidia graphics card drivers hasn’t been fixed in Mountain Lion, why not? The issue was first reported on Apple’s community support forums approximately 18 months ago, with Apple acknowledging the issue 12 months ago.
Some would argue that the time spent on ‘fixing’ the problem has already been too long, but if there is no fix, free or otherwise, available still, where does that leave Mac users (especially mid 2010 model users) suffering from this catastrophic bug within the nVidia drivers shipped with Lion?
Also, if no fix is released, does this mean that mid-2010 models of Mac computers are incompatible with OS X Lion, despite being previously confirmed as compatible?
There are still many questions to be asked, and more importantly, answers to be given regarding this problem, which many Mac users will now hope, having coped with the issue for at least 18 months, is close to a resolution to allow them to fully utilise their Mac hardware.
View Comments (2)
The BSOD problem still exists in Mountain Lion...
Though it seems to be better than before, meaning the time between BSOD´s is longer.
Still, no final fix in sight... if this is the way Apple takes care of user problems, then i guess I´ll go back to using a PC.. windows 7 is more reliable than my mac these days.
Hi Jamey! Welcome to DPS Computing.
Yes, sadly, it does appear that nothing has changed in Mountain Lion and the same defective driver is in use :(.
I wonder whether another change from Lion ---> Mountain Lion has made the BSOD problem better? Or whether its coincidence? I'll have to have a look into it. Either way, a reduction in the number of BSODs is a good thing I guess!
Yeah, I've got to say that I've found it beyond belief how Apple have dealt with this (or, more accurately, not dealt with this!). It's definitely a black mark for Apple....
It would seem like they are just trying to ride the storm and wait till everyone has bought a new Mac and hence the problem goes away for them without costing the company lots and lots of money in free repairs.
AFAIK (although I haven't specifically tested it myself), the problem doesn't affect newer Macs (2012 onwards running Mountain Lion) - from what people have said to us at least.
I'm finding it hard to believe that there has not been a bigger scandal surrounding this issue!