Apple’s jumped onto the 802.11n bandwagon like it’s the last trampoline at the playground. We’ve known for some while that they’ve been hiding ‘n’ chips in the newest versions of Macs, and while the ‘b’ and ‘g’ compatibility was easily available from OS X, the ‘n’ functionality would only work under Windows (with a little bit of jury-rigging).
Now, with the AirPort Extreme getting its ‘n’ on, as well as the AppleTV, Macs are finally ready to jump into the fray, using those hidden chips to their fullest potential…almost. In able to do so, you’ll need an extra bit of software: the 802.11n Enabler for Mac. Unfortunately, you can’t snag the enabler just yet; Apple’s 802.11 page says the software is included with the new base station.
One would hope the enabler will be available to users of Macs with compatible machines (which include all Core 2 Duo iMacs except the 17” 1.83GHz model, all Core 2 Duo MacBooks, all Core 2 Duo MacBook Pros, and all Mac Pros with the optional AirPort Extreme card). I note no love for the Mac mini; might we see a new version of that machine around the time the AirPort Extreme and AppleTV finally roll out?
While it would be nice if Mac users could have access to their 802.11n capabilities before Apple drops its new networking hardware, the one problem with Draft N equipment is that there are sometimes interoperability issues with equipment from different vendors. So running out to buy a Linksys or Netgear router with 802.11n is probably not the best move for Mac users yet.
