With the pending release of the 27-in LED Cinema Display, Apple has released a software update to prepare potential buyer’s machines for the new accessory. The LED Cinema Display Software Update 1.0 is available here for all Snow Leopard users. The update, which is around 75 MB, is only compatible with users running 10.6.4. Unfortunately, this limits the display’s compatibility even further. As previously identified, the display’s sole Mini DisplayPort connection eliminates compatibility with many Macs released prior to late 2008.
However, as the software update requires Mac OS X 10.6.4, it may require some users with compatible hardware to update their OS. For instance, if you purchased a unibody MacBook Pro when they first became available in October 2008, but haven’t yet updated to Snow Leopard, you will have to do so before using the new display. Though in some ways this move makes sense, personally it seems a bit heavy handed to me. Though Snow Leopard is an amazing OS–and worth every penny of its $29.99 price tag–forcing 10.5 users to pay a premium on top of the price of the display doesn’t seem entirely ethical.
If a user’s hardware technically supports a certain accessory, their ability to use it shouldn’t be hindered by software. Cutting out Tiger support is an understandable decision, as all of the machines that shipped with Mac OS X 10.4 are already incompatible based on their connectivity. There are, however, a solid base of early unibody users who are still running Leopard though. While the forced update is a lucrative business move for the corporation, I can’t help but reminisce about times when Apple accessories worked on both new and old machines.