Has there been problems with the firmware update that you have heard about?
That is what I like to wait to find out.
There have been software updates that users, to my recollection, on this very forum were complaining had caused problems. Apple subsequently released another update; after the new update was applied the problem caused by the one a short time before it stopped manifesting.
I usually apply updates pretty quickly; especially, if they are referred to as being critical or security updates. But, at the same time, I at least read an update's description. If my machine is obviously not manifesting the issue that an update's description says it is supposed to resolve, such as the Keyboard Firmware Update 1.0, I do not just apply the update anyway.
Software manufacturers virtually ALWAYS release software, update or not, with some "issues" present. That is why we see language in the update description like "...fixes..." such and such or increases "...stability..."
If software manufacturers were willing to, or possibly capable of, release a PERFECT update, then, the frequency of updates would be far less. If you do not believe me look at the version history of any software and you will see each successive update being described as "fixes" a litany of stuff over the previous update.
And why do you think software manufacturers need to BETA test? I am confident most of them will tell you that it is because they consider it impossible, or at least too costly in terms of manpower, to pinpoint most issues before release by any other means. So they get average users to test their software for issues free of charge, but BETA testing has obviously not yet become a cure all for software issues; not even close.
If I am going to apply an update at all, and, again, I do apply most updates, I prefer to wait and see IF all the users who rush to apply updates immediately run into problems. I have found that practice worthwhile unless the update is explicitly referred to as critical or security related. For instance, when 10.5.3 is made available I will try to read what it is supposed to do thoroughly, but I will very likely end up applying such an update pretty quickly.
I don't like to do a whole lot of thinking about what updates to apply, but I also realize the danger in behaving like a "lemming" or blindly applying every single update the software manufacturer throws at me. The majority of the time I should probably install the update, but I do not feel that it is in my best interest to do every single thing Apple says anymore than I feel it is in my best interest to do every thing that most common PC operating system company says. That is why I turn to a number of different forums for advice as well as reading what the manufacturer says.
And I am far more reluctant and careful when it comes to firmware updates.
Incidentally, the very fact of my making the Firmware Restoration CD makes it clear to me that I will probably be applying the recent EFI firmware update at some point. I am preparing for any potential problems I might encounter. But, again, I think I can safely wait a bit to see if other user's report issues and to give myself time to find good descriptive documentation about it, hopefully, from Apple.
