Apple has released an AirPort Client Update for owners of MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks in the Late 2007 - Late 2008 range, addressing an issue with performance while running on battery power. The software update is free to download and install for all users.

AirPort is Apple’s local area wireless networking product based on the IEEE 802.11 standard (also known as Wi-Fi). AirPort and AirPort Extreme can refer to the protocol (802.11b, and 802.11g and 802.11 Draft-N, respectively), the expansion card or the base station, in common usage. On the Support section of its web site, Apple describes the AirPort Client Update for MacBook and MacBook Pro as follows:

About AirPort Client Update for MacBook and MacBook Pro

This update is recommended for some Intel-based Macintosh computers running Mac OS X v10.5.8 and addresses an issue with AirPort performance while running on battery power. It may only be installed on:

    MacBook (13-inch, Late 2007)
    MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)
    MacBook (13-inch, Late 2008)
    MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008)
    MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008)
    MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008)

Weighing in at approximately 1.7MB, the AirPort Client Update for MacBook and MacBook Pro requires the latest version of Leopard - Mac OS X 10.5.8 and supports languages including Deutsch, English, Français, Español, Italiano, Nederlands, Dansk, Norsk Bokmål, Polski, Português, Português Brasileiro, Pусский, Suomi, Svensk, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

In somewhat related news, Apple has recently introduced a 2TB (terabyte) Time Capsule. The company’s 802.11n router + NAS drive is now available in both 2TB form (for the price of $499), as well as in a 1TB version, which retails for just $299. The latest Time Capsule and AirPort Base Station Firmware Update (version 7.4.2), delivers a series of bug fixes, as well as compatibility updates and security improvements.

Download AirPort Client Update (Free)