PS3 2.40 Firmware Crashing Consoles?

In my excitement over the release of the new Playstation 3 firmware, 2.40, which includes in-game XMB support and trophies, I forgot what I usually recommend to people: don't jump on it (an OS update, a patch, a firmware update) until you see what happens to others who upgrade.

One need only look at the XP SP3 fiasco involving Symantec for a good example.

Reports have surfaced at the Playstation forums of issues while downloading the firmware, console freezes, and reboot issues. One user, noting the number of issues posted on the forum, decided to post the tongue-in-cheek thread, "Is there anyone who downloaded 2.40 update and had no problems?"

Naturally, there are plenty. There are also, it appears, plenty who did have problems. The first post on the thread reporting issues said:

Well, I downloaded version 2.40 put in metal gear solid 4 and i get a black screen forever..i cant even get demos to start..I got my Ps3 on Launch day..So my warrenty is out now..Any advice? I can take a vid if anyone wants.

Not necessary as someone confirmed the report. No word from Sony yet.

Update: Sony has pulled the 2.40 firmware from its update servers. They explained as follows:

As has been reported on many gaming blogs and websites, we have temporarily taken Firmware v2.40 offline. We’ve received a limited number of calls from consumers experiencing an issue with installing the system software update on their PS3. While our consumer services department has seen a low volume of calls on this topic, we are committed to providing the PS3 community with XMB access features delivered in the v2.40 update. We are working diligently to isolate the problem for those few consumers and to identify a solution before we put the firmware back up.

We’ll provide further information as necessary here on the Blog.