gdgt

it. With the move to the core i# chips, Apple also switched to the Broadcom chipset. So what, you ask? So, they completely removed any and all support for Jumbo Frames at the hardware level. Well is that a big deal? Yes! if you store lots of big file on an external server accessed via ethernet it is. Pulling down big files can take 15% to 25% less time using JF (assuming that your server device suports JF as well). My MacBook and MacMini support jumbo frames. iMac, not so much. Apple will not acknowledge or respond to the issue. I do not currently have an iMac, and I would love to get one, but this is a feature I really want since I work with lots of virtual machines off the network.

I really like the Apple ecosystem, but sometimes the stupid things Apple does leave me scratching my head. Is jumbo frames a feature most people want? Probably not I concede, but it has been there for a long time, and due to selecting a slightly cheaper chip they removed it. Why not just get a Mac Pro you ask? because I don't want to spend an extra $2,500 to get this feature. Well, how about a MacMini? Got one, need more power, want a bigger monitor. How about a MacBook Pro 17" with an external monitor? I thought about it but they removed the feature from the MacBook Pros too, besides I already have a MacBook with JF support. I need to replace my desktop.

Perhaps someone with connections at Apple can figure out why they did this and if they plan to fix it. Until then I'm not buying one.