MacBook Pro video problem (ATI X1600)

[z-mac]

I know someone who owns a MacBook Pro and is having what appears to be a well-known problem with the video card in this model. Does anyone know if Apple has commented or suggested a fix?

I've been researching the matter and it seems to me as though it's a problem with the ATI driver for both OS X and Windows. I've heard that Linux runs without suffering from the problem, which -- if true -- suggests persuasively that it is a problem in the driver.