WirelessN

Is the wireless N capability only in the C2D macbooks or is it in the regular Core Duo's too?

 

C2D's only. And hopefully its clear that this is Apples version of pre-n that may or may not work with anyone else's version of pre-n. And while its likely these pre-n units will be firmware upgradable to true N (once the standard is finalized) there is no guarantee.

Also, for very good reasons N is not finalized yet. Most pre-N units are horrible neibours to G and B envrionments.

 

Does that mean activating the N capabilities of a macbook would make it buggy when connecting to a regular G network?

 

connecting via "G" is fine weather you have the upgrade or not. Using laptops with both "G" and "N" at the same time is problematic. The router will basically downgrade every connection to G speed - if I understand it correctly. I'm sure it's more in depth than that, but the firmware upgrade won't hurt either way

 

You should be fine activiting the N capabilities of your MacBook. As long as you only are near a b or g wireless router or access point your MacBook will operate as it always has in b or g mode.

If you get near a pre-N router/access point you may have issues unless it's an Apple pre-n router or the particular manufacturer chose to implement pre-N in a way that is compatable with the way Apple did.

The real issue with most of the pre-N routers/access points is that when operating in N mode they will walk over any b or g network close by, reducing thier speed from a little to almost completely shutting them down. So if you see a lot of wireless networks close by and you by a pre-N router or access point you could have a lot of unhappy neibours (and a desist order from the FCC if they are tech savvy). Course they could do the same thing to your b or g network by getting a pre-N router.

Hope this helps

 

Only in c2d

 

I'd like to beat the dead horse too!

Core 2 Duo's have the wireless n, not Core Duo.