I found this firmware update increased my disk performance by 58% on reads and 15% on writes. Not bad. I'm now averaging 105MB/sec reads on my 13" macbook pro.
I just ordered a new MBP last week and I was saddened when I heard about the reduced SATA speeds. I cannot express how pleased I am to hear about this update!
It will not apply to your MBP. I got mine (a 17) two weeks ago, and the update said so when I tried to install/run it. Yours will not be effected, which I take to mean it was not throttled, and had the update installed at the factory.
I know, I feel your pain. Its been fast, but I thought, "Oh man it will be twice as fast!"
But no.
At least... I think. I do have updates pending. Maybe I should reboot and see if its twice as fast.
An article about the problem that this update solves was posted here several days ago, with much discussion. One assumes that if a portion of the HN audience found the problem relevant to their interests, then they would likewise find the solution relevant.
There are Apple fans here, yes. There is much to discuss about Apple and its products that's relevant to Hacker News. But getting notified about a firmware update that affects a tiny portion of readers isn't. I do not come to Hacker News to get stories about extremely niche hardware issues and fixes. I do not want to see the front page littered with stories of this type.
That "a portion" of HN readers found something relevant means nothing with respect to its appropriateness for HN. All of us have many interests and concerns which are not relevant to HN. When we start loading this site with anything and everything of tangential interest to any reader, the primary value of this site as a source for news about hacking and startups diminishes.
I do not want to see the front page littered with stories of this type.
And I don't want to see every discussion thread littered with people complaining that they don't find the submission relevant to their interests. If you find it inappropriate, flag it. Complaining just turns everything into stupid and wasteful meta-arguments like this one.
The firmware update only applies to the latest model MacBook Pros, not all of them. And this information is easily obtained on the many Apple-centric websites out there. Presumably, most HN readers with a brand new MacBook Pro follow at least one of them. It's practically useless information as far as the larger HN readership is concerned, and exists here only as Apple fan-service.
(I'm a fan, and an MBP owner, but I sure as hell don't want news of minor Apple updates polluting HN.)
I wouldn't have heard about it anywhere else. I don't have time to go to a lot of news sites for each interest. I just check this site a few times a day.
Every article doesn't have to appeal to you, nor should they.
http://sam.bluwiki.com/blog/2009/06/performance-numbers-on-a...