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Apple Preps for Thunderbolt Display Release with MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update

Monday September 12, 2011 1:42 pm PDT by Eric Slivka

Apple today released MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 2.1, a 3.99 MB update addressing a pair of issues on the company's latest MacBook Air models. The fixes include enhanced stability for Lion Recovery over the Internet and improvements for Thunderbolt-related issues including compatibility with Apple's forthcoming Apple Thunderbolt Display.
This update includes fixes that enhance the stability of Lion Recovery from an Internet connection, and resolve issues with Apple Thunderbolt Display compatibility and Thunderbolt Target Disk Mode performance on MacBook Air (mid 2011) models.

For more information about Lion Recovery, please visit http://www.apple.com/macosx/recovery/.

The MacBook Air EFI Update will update the EFI firmware on your notebook computer. Your computer's power cord must be connected and plugged into a working power source. When your MacBookAir restarts, a gray screen will appear with a status bar to indicate the progress of the update. It will take several minutes for the update to complete. Do not disturb or shut off the power on your MacBookAir during this update.
We noted last week that the new Apple Thunderbolt Display was beginning to ship to stores in anticipation of a launch in the near future, and today's release to ensure compatibility with the new MacBook Air offers further evidence that a launch for the display is near.

Apple announced the display back in July with a shipping date of "within 60 days", a timeframe that is rapidly approaching. Apple's order page for the $999 display is showing a 2-3 week estimate for new orders, but earlier pre-orders will likely ship sooner than that. We have yet to hear, however, of any pre-orders being prepared for shipment.

Related Roundups: MacBook Air, Apple Display 6K
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Air (Neutral)
[ 94 comments ]


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hefeglass
100 months ago
there is so much misinformation in this thread...i really hope nobody comes here for factual information



^...wow..


.."demi-god"
Rating: 12 Votes
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ksgant
100 months ago
I was looking elsewhere for a high-quality monitor like the 27" display, but all I found were these around $400 monitors that were certainly 27" displays, but were limited to the 1080P resolution of 1920 x 1080 and none at the Apple monitor's 2560 x 1440.

I looked over at Dell and they have 27" IPS monitors that can do 2560 x 1440 but they're like fricken $1200. Again, Dell has lower cost monitors but they're only 1080P ones. What happened to other manufacturers having lower cost hardware yet the same quality as Apple?

Are there any high end 27" monitors with 2560 x 1440 that are under the $999 of Apple? Or is this thing truly a bargain?
Rating: 9 Votes
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scarred
100 months ago

So, TBolt means upgrading your BIOS just to attach a display?

I thought that we'd eliminated that kind of crap in the early 1990's.


1. EFI isn't BIOS.

2. What's so wrong with updating some low level functionality? Anyone who knows anything about computers knows that there are various levels put together to ultimately provide the end user with a nice experience. EFI is one of those layers... I'm glad they have a nice easy way to update it.
Rating: 6 Votes
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Icaras
100 months ago

These displays are definitely a rip off but Apple built this as a luxury machine intended for the rich. Sure it may be 1000$ but people will flock to but it just because its apple. The thunderbolt port is useless as my Windows computer only has USB and many others only have USB.


You're in the wrong thread, sir.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Consultant
100 months ago

The Apple Displays look so nice, but it's hard to justify purchasing a monitor for $1000 when there's Samsung monitors for $300. I have other Apple hardware, but a display seems just like any other display. Can somebody tell me what the big draw is? (besides obvious design aesthetics!)


Thunderbolt
Firewire for non-firewire mac (such as MacBook Air)
High resolution 2560 x 1440 IPS LED LCD
etc.
Rating: 4 Votes
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ksgant
100 months ago

The Apple Displays look so nice, but it's hard to justify purchasing a monitor for $1000 when there's Samsung monitors for $300. I have other Apple hardware, but a display seems just like any other display. Can somebody tell me what the big draw is? (besides obvious design aesthetics!)


Well, as I mentioned in my post above, Samsung 27" monitors are limited to 1080p resolution and aren't IPS while the Apple 27" is 2560 x 1440 IPS monitors. Dell also sells a lower end 27" monitor for 300-400 bucks, but it's only 1080p also. It's 2560 x 1440 monitor is more expensive than Apple's...for the same size.

----------

No, it's over priced.

Defend it all you want, but Apple monitors have always been priced for design and not specs. If someone else made one of these it would be $300 cheaper. It's how Apple rolls


Cool...who? Who makes a 27" 2560 x 1440 IPS monitor for less? I honestly want to know because I'd like to get one. Granted, all I looked at so far was Dell, and they may be overpriced now. But in the past, they were the ones offering the lower cost yet high end alternative to Apple monitors.
Rating: 4 Votes
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catalyst6
100 months ago
For those of you that are interested in having this display work with anything other than Mac products, go buy the 27 Cinema Display now.

That's what I did about 2 hours ago. $899 and free shipping at B&H.

I have a Thunderbolt enabled Macbook Pro, but I would much rather have the version of this that I can use with BOTH my gaming PC and my Macbook Pro.

The Thunderbolt Display is not backwards compatible with mini displayport!
Rating: 4 Votes
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ksgant
100 months ago
Looks like Amazon has a few Dell monitors from last year left over that are going for $850. But you can't get that price on the new Dell's at Dell's site.

Also, the NEC PA271W-BK is going for $1200 at buy.com.

The DoubleSight DS-275W 27in is going for around $800-850 depending on where you buy it. DoubleSight? Anyone heard of them before? Any good?

So, just looking around for high end IPS 27" monitors they range from $800-$1200. Looks like Apple's is smack dab in the middle of the pricing.
Rating: 4 Votes
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milkaxor
100 months ago

That is completely false. The Thunderbolt port is not just an extra port. It's an extra port that is compatible with every other kind of port.

Without this display, my Macbook Air has no ability to connect to my gigabit ethernet. With the Thunderbolt display, it does.

Without this display, my Macbook Air has no ability to connect to my firewire 800 drive. With the Thunderbolt display, it does.

It's not just an extension cord. It's allowing me to use devices/networking that I'm not otherwise able to.


Don't forget the 3 usb ports (one more than your MBA), the 2.1 speaker system, or built-in webcam. This is a great monitor for the price and the fact that I have to connect 2 cables (thunderbolt and optional power) to get all of that is what makes it a true companion hub to any TB-enabled laptop.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Brandon0448
100 months ago
Once there is a way to connect my PC to the thunderbolt display will I consider buying this beast. But at the moment it is not worth it to only be able to connect my MBA to it.
Rating: 3 Votes

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