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Core 2 Duo MacBook Also Supporting 802.11n?
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It's possible you might see a small difference but until there's a firmware update for the card there really isn't much difference since Apple's driver is using 802.11g.
Soon as the iTV comes out there will be a flurry of firmware updates for all of the C2D Macs.
I believe 802.11N is supposed to be backward compatible with B and G - but it may need to cover more than one frequency range to accomplish this.
http://www.arnnet.com.au/index.php/id;519260321;fp;256;fpid;319049444
Also, now apple can say all C2D macs are N compatable.
I'll bet they aren't updating the mini so people won't be able to use any newer ones instead of an iTV..or something.
So in other news, besides a backlit keyboard and dedicated GPU, why should I get a MBP over a MB?
I'll agree with backwards compatible. I'm still unsure where 802.11n is going to end up for frequency.
N will be backward compatible with B and G. There's too much at steak to leave that as a hole. I know these N committees have been acting like Dilbert managers over this whole thing, but not even they are that stupid.
Delicious steak! I must eat it.
There's nothing preventing backwards compatibility with older standards. Just slap on an A/B/G antenna and chips.
Mmm...chips!
My prediction:
When Apple bring out the 'iTV', it will come with a 'new technology' - AirPort Faster or something. Apple will say yeah, all Core 2 Duo Macs have AirPort Faster. They won't mention it being 802.11n.
When the final draft is made, apple will say "All Core 2 Duo Macs have 802.11n", but if it is incompatible, it will continue to be Apple's own technology.
Oh and the Mac Mini doesn't need to be updated because it sits right next to the iTV and can use gigabit ethernet. (It will be though.)
When Apple bring out the 'iTV', it will come with a 'new technology' - AirPort Faster or something. Apple will say yeah, all Core 2 Duo Macs have AirPort Faster. They won't mention it being 802.11n.
When the final draft is made, apple will say "All Core 2 Duo Macs have 802.11n", but if it is incompatible, it will continue to be Apple's own technology.
Oh and the Mac Mini doesn't need to be updated because it sits right next to the iTV and can use gigabit ethernet. (It will be though.)
Oh yeah perfect. Then every network I want to connect too... I'll have to merely use G. Oh yeah.... I'd love that. Stupid move for Apple fit they did that. The could do that only temporarily until they came out with N equipment.
For the same reason you can buy a cadillac over a chevrolet. Bigger, better built, luxury etc...
Bigger screen (if you want it) and best resolution
Alu case - the luxury touch that has all that pro look
FW800 and express slot
GPU and backlit keyboard (as you mention) but also more processor speed, more ram and hd on stock order (sure, you can max out a macbook ; you can also order leather seats on a chevy !)
Attention to the details (look how the ports are circled)
a little bit thinner
And an iSight with a green light masked in the case
Some people won't even think about a cadillac, others won't settle for less.
I, myself, think a chevrolet will do the job very well for me
It depends of what you want and what you need
so any ideas what speed 802.11n will be? or more pertinantly, what speed are the apple chips capable of?
I am using a Netgear WRN834T "n" router with gigabit ethernet and a 108Mbs wireless card in my present PC laptop, and I definitely noticed a drastic improvement in router performance and speed and multitasking with the "n" router.
That is MY experience with it.
Bigger screen
ExpressCard slot
FW800
Full size DVI-I port that is dual-link capable for using 30" displays.
....Well, I would say the bigger screen and dedicated graphics are the two biggest reasons. For me, I just needed a lot of the features like the FW800, dedicated graphics and the dual-link DVI. It all comes down to what you need and can live with in terms of price and portability. IMO, the 15" MBP is hardly enough bigger in terms of size/weight to really be a portability issue vs. the Macbook. But there's a lot of people that think that extra 0.75lbs and 1" horizontal, 1/2" vertical make all the difference.
what i care: can i swap the built in Airport Express Card of my iBook G4 with th yet-to-be-released 802.11n Airport Card?
i jus upgraded my wireless router from 802.11b to 802.11g!!
i jus upgraded my wireless router from 802.11b to 802.11g!!
And you'll pay about $650 more, when spec both at 2GB/160GB, and factor in the higher cost of AppleCare on the MBP vs the MB.
True, but if you need the extra features, then I guess you spend the money. Like I said, it's whatever you can live with in terms of price and other features.
OK, I signed it with a permanent marker on my screen, how much is the postage to the UK please?
cheers T
PS how do I get this ink off my screen? It doesnt seem to want to wash off
What I'm saying is Apple won't advertise it to be compatible with pre-n equipment, but will use their own term (for new AirPort and iTV). Saying you can connect to them at higher speeds. Seeing as how their new technology IS pre-n it will be able to connect to 3rd party routers etc. When there is a final draft they will advertise it as such. I just don't see them advertising as 'pre-n'.
/
Speeds should be up to 540Mb/s but typically 200Mb/s. (Wikipedia)
I can DEFINITIVELY state that buying one of the current crop of pre-N routers from a reputable company will give longer range EVEN if you have a G-card in your laptop. (It may not be as good as what you would get with an N-card, but it will almost certainly be better than what you have going now.)
I have experienced this myself, as have many others.
I agree that this is the route that Apple is going to take, and why not? I doubt they will advertise it as Pre-n, just advertise it as being faster when connected to a new AirPort base station. It means they'll sell more AirPorts instead of people going out and getting a 3rd party router that they can't guarantee will work. Apple is all about simplifying the user experience, so if you have a Mac with the new wireless chips, you'll be able to get those faster speeds in your own home network. As far as connecting to other networks, it'll probably be a while before any public hotspots move to n, simply because b/g are good enough for the free access, so you're not going to miss out.
Does anyone know of a particular pre-n router that would be compatible with these chipsets if/when Apple decides to enable these chips? My Linksys WRT54G is dying and I need to pick something up and wont be able to wait around for Apple to update the Airport base stations, but want to be able to take advantage of n-speeds with the iTV.
Everyone should remember that your network will only run at the speed of the slowest device on the network, so if your new laptop is a pre-N, you go out and buy a pre-N router, but you have something else running on B, it will slow down everything to that speed. So, while finding a pre-N router might be nice, make sure it will work for you.