" MacBook Pro 17-inch SMC Firmware Update
This SMC Firmware Update adjusts fan behavior in the MacBook Pro 17-inch."

Here's the first MBP 17in owner feedback on it:

"Re: 17" MacBook Pro Firmware Update
I just wanted to let you know that the firmware update significantly decreased the temperature of my 17" MBP. It's now only warm - instead of blisteringly hot - to the touch. The fans are definitely coming on sooner.
-Joseph "

Another MBP 17in owner later wrote:

" ...10.4.7 and the 17" firmware (update) gave me the whine I got rid of. Trying to get rid of it again... Will keep you posted.
-William R. "

" The 10.4.7 Update is recommended for all users and includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the following applications and technologies. It includes fixes for:
- preventing AFP deadlocks and dropped connections
- saving Adobe and Quark documents to AFP mounted volumes
- Bluetooth file transfers, pairing and connecting to a Bluetooth mouse, and syncing to mobile phones
- audio playback in QuickTime, iTunes, Final Cut Pro, and Soundtrack applications
- ensuring icons are spaced correctly when viewed on desktop
- determining the space required to burn folders
- iChat audio and video connectivity, creating chat rooms when using AIM
- importing files into Keynote 3
- PDF workflows when using iCal and iPhoto
- reliable use of Automator actions within workflows
- importing and removing fonts in Font Book
- syncing addresses, bookmarks, calendar events and files to .Mac
- compatibility with third party applications and devices
- previous standalone security updates

For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website:
http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n303771.
For detailed information on Security Updates, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798. "

If you find 10.4.7 fixes or breaks anything (include specifics/versions), let me know. Thanks.
(Note: Tiger updates typically break PL CPU Director (and this one does also) - so if you're using it/need it, you may want to wait for an update that's 10.4.7 compatible.)
Here's the download pages for delta/combo updates for PPC, Intel and Server versions:

• Mac OS X Update 10.4.7 Combo PPC
• Mac OS X Update 10.4.7 PPC
• Mac OS X Update 10.4.7 Combo Intel
• Mac OS X Update 10.4.7 Intel
• Mac OS X Server Update 10.4.7 Combo
• Mac OS X Server Update 10.4.7

FYI: I've had several problem reports on the 10.4.7 update (printers, Airport connection problems, booting/startup problems) but I've not seen any of those problems on a 2003 G5 updated to 10.4.7 tonight (printing OK to local connected printer (i900D), airport networking OK, etc.) - for those that had problems some noted rebooting a few times helped, some cleared caches and removed 3rd party startup items. (for USB device/printer problems after an update, disconnecting/reconnecting the device may help unless there's a driver compat. issue or corrupted file/prefs.) Reinstalling from a "Combo" update is also worth a try, and check with the developer of any 3rd party startup items/haxies you have installed to verify they're compatible with 10.4.7 - if in doubt try removing them.) We're getting another rain soaking tonight (literally flooding here) so I'll have a page with 10.4.7 reports posted tomorrow.

" Mike, I too have tested PD Tweaker for a few minutes this morning. I did not notice a reduction in RAM used by the system Posted by another user. (I asked if he checked that after longer term use, instead of just a few minutes.-Mike)
I will try a longer test tonight after work. (see later comments below) I should mention that I have the 17" Intel iMac 1.83 Ghz with 1.5 GB of RAM, everything else is stock configuration.

What I did notice is a massive improvement in OS X App's when running a Parallels Guest. I have 1.5 GB of RAM with 512 MB for Parallels Guests.
Prior to PD Tweaker, Safari and Mail for example would be extremely slow to respond and were generally slow at rendering Mails and Web Pages. Launching new apps would take abnormally long time to launch. With PD tweaker App's in OS X are fast as normal and launching new apps is only slightly slower than without running Parallels.
(he later wrote)
I did a longer test ~1/2 hour - 45 Minutes and Apps in OS X were still fast to launch. After some more testing it does appear that parallels is using 200 MB less RAM on my system then before PD Tweaker was installed.
Best regards, John M. "

" I've been running PD tweaker all morning. I have a MacBook 2.0Ghz with 1GB ram. I definitely noticed a huge slowdown for the rest of OS X when running Parallels with anywhere between 256 and 412MB of RAM allocated.

PD tweaker seems to have helped immensely. I'm sorry I don't have any quantitative numbers but system responsiveness is much improved while using OS X concurrently with Parallels. XP never seemed to slow down the way OS X did before PD tweaker. It seemed as if Parallels was using an unfair amount of my system resources.
Cheers, Josh "

" Hi Mike, Have played with the PD Tweaker for a few hours. My machine is a MacBook 1.83GHz with 2GB RAM. 640MB assigned to Parallels.
I personally don't notice Parallels getting any faster or slower.
HOWEVER. The amount of RAM left for the system is night and day.
Before the tweak. When Parallels is running only 448MB of RAM is left (free). After the tweak, guess what? 884MB!
That means I can run many more apps along with Parallels.
-Pollux "

A reader replied to his comment:

" Pollux said "640MB assigned to Parallels. I personally don't notice Parallels getting any faster or slower"
This is because he has 640MB assigned to Parallels Desktop.
If he gives only 340MB, he would notice that his VM works a lot faster and more efficient. Parallels recommends not to give more than 512MB (to Desktop).
-Tony "

(Update) Here's another report from July 11th:

" Hi Mike, I have a MacBook 2 GHz with 1 GB of RAM running 10.4.7 with APE 2.0.1. I used Parallels with 512 MB of RAM.
Before installing PD Tweaker, when clicking on the Apple Menu, the system became unresponsive and I had to wait for twenty seconds before having the menu opened. All apps were also unresponsive. After install, I can now switch between opened applications and even open the Apple Menu also quite slow. Besides Parallels opens a warning when you do that.
In all, I can now keep Parallels opened and switch to it without a problem.
-Jean-Claude "

I welcome other reports from anyone using this. (Include system/ram info - thanks)
BTW - There's a recent update to Unsanity's Application Enhancer 2.0.1 which PD Tweaker requires. V2.0.1 fixes two of the "known issues" mentioned at the PD Tweaker page.

• Apple's Final Cut Pro is First NLE to Support Native XDCAM HD Editing
• Unsanity Releases Menu Master 1.4.1
• Apple's 'Get a Mac' ads: Fact or fiction?
• Another MagSafe failure (burned cable)
• Aspyr ships Civilization IV (Universal) for Macs
• Instant Handbrake (for iPod/PSP users)
• ChatFX 1.2.1 (Video effects within iChat)
• Stellarium 0.80a (OS X Version) (reportedly fixes install problem - see notes on install/extra files needed in June 19th news here.)
• The iPod Phone Myth
• Does Blu-ray Disc Have the Edge?

DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives:
• IDE Pioneer DVR-710 (retail boxed DVR-111D) in (Digital Audio) G4/AGP (OS X 10.3.x)
  (Should use Patchburn 3 for 10.3.x iApps burn support.
  Illustrated CD drive install guide here covers G4 towers up to the Digital Audio model.)
  
  Combo DVD(ROM)+CDRW Drives:
• IDE Sony CRX850E in iBook 2002 (G3 w/Radeon 7500) (OS X 10.4)
  (although Tiger has basic iApps burn support for most drives without it, he noted using Patchburn 4.)
  
  Hard Drives:
• IDE (SerialATA onboard) Seagate ST3750640AS (Barracuda 7200.10) 750GB in G5 Tower (OS X 10.4)
• IDE (SerialATA onboard) Seagate ST3160812AS 160GB in G5 Tower (OS X 10.4)
  (although drive had firmware before 3.AAH, he said the RAID config didn't show the (90sec or so) delay after wake from sleep that single drive owners reported with 7200.9 drives with firmware before 3.AAH. See April 21st news page for notes on this.)

You can find full owner reports (latest shown first) by searching the database by drive/brand/interface/mac models (the latest reports are shown first in searches). If you've added a IDE, SCSI, Firewire or USB hard drive, CDRW, tape drive, etc. you can send me a report for adding to the database.