Apple is scrambling to address the WiFi connectivity issue within its Leopard operating system. The fix appears set to be included in the bug fixes of the upcoming Mac OS X 10.5.3 release, as noted in the report Successive Mac OS X 10.5.3 builds continue.
Until the software fix ships, all Macs on order with wireless features are being held at Dell's merge center in Austin, Texas. The DOE contracted with Dell Managed Services to handle all of the school system's tech related ordering, including the procurement of Apple desktops, laptops, and servers. Because of the WiFi compatibility problem, ordered units have been on hold for as much as two months waiting for a fix.
Apple apologized for the delay both in an email to faculty obtained by AppleInsider, and in a notice on the Apple product catalog on the Dell Managed Systems website. The company said it was working to resolve the issue as soon as possible so that the pending orders could be delivered.
Schools managed by the DOE can still order new Apple computers and servers through Dell Managed Services, and systems that do not rely on wireless connectivity can be approved for shipping despite the order suspension.
In an apologetic email, an Apple sales representative offered to help compile a list of any orders "for desktops or laptops that you DO NOT plan on using your wireless networks but rather want to have installed using standard wired ethernet hook-up" and to "work with Dell Managed Services to identify these orders and release them for installation now versus waiting for the wireless issue to be resolved."
44 Comments
Hopefully, a bit of power play by a significant customer gets Apple to FINALLY fix this pervasive and extremly annoying bug many insignificant users face.
Hopefully, a bit of power play by a significant customer gets Apple to FINALLY fix this pervasive and extremly annoying bug many insignificant users face.
Ditto....
So what is this bug? My Mac (running 10.5.2) has had no Wi-Fi problems connecting to Actiontec (Verizon FiOS) and Linksys base stations.
I've had no issues with my Leopard iMac or my MB Air.
However, I do notice that file copying to/from my Time Capsule runs at speeds that vary amazingly. (Like, 50k to 5MB per second!) Probably unrelated.
Yeah, nice to see this sort of thing happen rather than they accept delivery and sue Apple 2 years later in a class-action lawsuit. I'm glad someone was on the ball and holding Apple accountable. Now we just have to get a major company to halt shipment on iMacs until they can display the "millions of colors" that were specified when the orders were placed