Submitted by: kirkland on Saturday October 28th, 2006 at 10:55 PM EST

Apple Computer Inc. on Thursday released a firmware update for its MacBook line that it claimed fixes the sudden shutdown problem hundreds of owners have recently reported.

The update, said Apple in the alert accompanying the download, "improves the MacBook's internal monitoring system and addresses issues with unexpected shutdowns." Apple recommended that all MacBook users apply the firmware update, even those whose notebooks had previously been repaired under warranty.

Although Apple had earlier acknowledged the shutdown problem -- dubbed "RSS" for "Random Sudden Shutdown" by wags -- prior to Thursday its advice was for customers to return their MacBooks to Apple for repair. The wait, however, stretched into weeks, and stretched Mac users' patience; last week some began organizing a class-action lawsuit against the Cupertino, Calif.-based computer maker.

» Full story @ Information Week