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Core 2 Duo MacBook Also Supporting 802.11n?

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Continuing a recent trend, Apple appears to have included another draft 802.11n-compatible wireless card in their recently released Core 2 Duo based MacBook computers. According to ThinkSecret, the wireless chipset is the Atheros AR5008E, apparently the same series as is in the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros. Apple first introduced draft 802.11n compliant chipsets with the Core 2 Duo iMac, however the iMac uses a Broadcom chipset.

Apple has yet to release any Mac OS X drivers to allow the full speed of the devices to be realized. It is currently thought that Apple's iTV will employ 802.11n.
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2006/11/13/core-2-duo-macbook-also-supporting-802-11n/
Though the N card won't run at full speed until Apple makes a firmware update, will they still have the range capabilities that N sports, or will they have normal 802.11g range?
 
Might it just be that chipsets that support just G and no type of N are not as available or offer no cost advantage?
 
Josias said:
Though the N card won't run at full speed until Apple makes a firmware update, will they still have the range capabilities that N sports, or will they have normal 802.11g range?
Click to expand...
Nope, you need full N hardware. (Cards & router)

AndyM said:
Might it just be that chipsets that support just G and no type of N are not as available or offer no cost advantage?
Click to expand...
It's likely.
 
this is so apple can release iTV in Q1 of next year. jobs will say something like:

oh there is one more thing, we've got HD in itunes now. of course HD takes up a lot of bandwidth so iTV ships with 802.11n draft. we'll be selling an adapter for those of you with older macs, but for anyone who bought a mac in the last 6 months -- you've already got it.
 
Does anyone know if Apple actually plans to enable these in the future with an update or are they simply just the card theyre using these days?
 
Allright, so when I get the next AirPort Basestation with N, will I be able to recieve better signal with my G-only CD MacBook?
 
AndyM said:
Might it just be that chipsets that support just G and no type of N are not as available or offer no cost advantage?
Click to expand...

The changes within the chipsets to support "n" are very minimal and the new chips are readily available for about the same price as their a/b/g only counterparts. It makes sense for Apple to put them in - if everything goes OK and 802.11n is ratified without too many changes from its current form, then all the C2D Mac systems can take advantage of it. If for some reason "n" takes longer and goes through more dramatic changes (which is somewhat doubtful), then nothing is really lost.
 
dashiel said:
this is so apple can release iTV in Q1 of next year. jobs will say something like:

oh there is one more thing, we've got HD in itunes now. of course HD takes up a lot of bandwidth so iTV ships with 802.11n draft. we'll be selling an adapter for those of you with older macs, but for anyone who bought a mac in the last 6 months -- you've already got it.
Click to expand...

That's a nice idea. Do you think that the MWSF Keynote will also include a product that vastly increases everyone's ISP bandwidth? Or will we have to spend a day and a half downloading bad movies in HiDef?
 
Josias said:
Allright, so when I get the next AirPort Basestation with N, will I be able to recieve better signal with my G-only CD MacBook?
Click to expand...
No, you'll still need an 'n' wireless card.

AppliedVisual said:
The changes within the chipsets to support "n" are very minimal and the new chips are readily available for about the same price as their a/b/g only counterparts. It makes sense for Apple to put them in - if everything goes OK and 802.11n is ratified without too many changes from its current form, then all the C2D Mac systems can take advantage of it. If for some reason "n" takes longer and goes through more dramatic changes (which is somewhat doubtful), then nothing is really lost.
Click to expand...
I have to agree here. Just as long as no drastic changes are made. :rolleyes:

sartinsauce said:
That's a nice idea. Do you think that the MWSF Keynote will also include a product that vastly increases everyone's ISP bandwidth? Or will we have to spend a day and a half downloading bad movies in HiDef?
Click to expand...
Apple will make your tubes faster how? XD
 
As expected

There are going to be a lot of happy people when Apple enables these cards along with new routers and iTV. Wahoo!:)
 
This was pretty much expected, but good to know, as it does raise another couple of questions...when will the mac mini be upgraded to the draft N spec, and will it also be bumped to C2D

Will we see a new airtunes device and a new airport extreme base station to take advantage of the new technology?

I would expect it may be a good move to upgade the mini before the holiday season, and introduce new airport type products in January.

Sound reasonable enough?
 
AppliedVisual said:
The changes within the chipsets to support "n" are very minimal and the new chips are readily available for about the same price as their a/b/g only counterparts. It makes sense for Apple to put them in - if everything goes OK and 802.11n is ratified without too many changes from its current form, then all the C2D Mac systems can take advantage of it. If for some reason "n" takes longer and goes through more dramatic changes (which is somewhat doubtful), then nothing is really lost.
Click to expand...

My point exactly.

Now let the hundreds of posts about how Apple secretly plans to enable N for all the users!
 
sartinsauce said:
That's a nice idea. Do you think that the MWSF Keynote will also include a product that vastly increases everyone's ISP bandwidth? Or will we have to spend a day and a half downloading bad movies in HiDef?
Click to expand...

Increasing bandwidth of peoples' net connections is between the people and their ISPs. Nothing Apple can really do... For those of us with good internet connections, I say bring on the HD! And for those who are still stuck with crappy internet, all I can say is that I feel for you, really I do... I was stuck with no broadband (other than overpriced and crappy satellite service) until I moved about 8 months ago. But now my 8Mbps connection can download HD content just fine and it costs me less than $30/month. :D
 
Eidorian: Since the base station will have better range, and will be backwards compatible, I know it won't give me same range and speed as with a N card, but since the N base will broadcast better than a G base, won't I get a better range anyway?
 
AppliedVisual said:
Increasing bandwidth of peoples' net connections is between the people and their ISPs. Nothing Apple can really do... For those of us with good internet connections, I say bring on the HD! And for those who are still stuck with crappy internet, all I can say is that I feel for you, really I do... I was stuck with no broadband (other than overpriced and crappy satellite service) until I moved about 8 months ago. But now my 8Mbps connection can download HD content just fine and it costs me less than $30/month. :D
Click to expand...

Yeah, you guys aren't too good at the sarcasm, are you?

Do you really think I expect Apple to do that?

If so, please sign here __________________ to buy this bridge in Brooklyn for $100...
 
Josias said:
Since the base station will have better range, and will be backwards compatible, I know it won't give me same range and speed as with a N card, but since the N base will broadcast better than a G base, won't I get a better range anyway?
Click to expand...

Yes. I have a Belkin Pre-N router that I use with computers with G cards and the range is much better than the G routers I have used. Of course, using N cards would certainly improve the range even more.
 
Josias said:
Eidorian: Since the base station will have better range, and will be backwards compatible, I know it won't give me same range and speed as with a N card, but since the N base will broadcast better than a G base, won't I get a better range anyway?
Click to expand...
NO, you're STILL going to need a N card in your laptop. Depending on how N turns out it might not even operate on the same frequency as G.
 
Fredou51 said:
I thought the first Mac to have a 802.11n compliant chipset was the Mac Pro?

Frederic
Click to expand...

No, there have been no such reports, but it will be easy to upgrade to an N card I should believe.;)

BTW, you have my dream MacPro:D
 
So, I have a pre-N router right now. Will I see any advantages with this card as the macbook is configured currently?
 
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