In article , geoff
wrote:


pcs didn't start including ethernet on the logic board until *much*
later and even longer until it was common. they were late on wifi too,
for that matter.


.... because of the more open architecture, allowing the user to install
their CHOICE of ethernet (and other) accessory boards.

first of all, there is no restriction on what add-on cards could be
designed and used with a mac and never has been. the myth that macs
were or are locked down is just that, a myth.

there were numerous ethernet cards for macs which did not have onboard
ethernet, or for those who wanted more than one ethernet port, along
with a wide variety of other cards.

the point you miss is that there is no need to use an add-on card when
something is already built in.

second, pcs were very late to the game with ethernet. macs started to
add ethernet on the logic board 30 years ago while it was still unusual
to find it on a pc even in the 2000s. pcs *had* to install a card and
then configure it appropriately. macs did not.

when pcs did include onboard ethernet, it was mostly 100base-t until
relatively recently, while macs were shipping with gigabit 20 years
ago, including laptops.

pc laptops rarely had ethernet until recently, requiring an external
usb adapter, which is not fast enough to support gigabit, leaving users
stuck with 100base-t. some laptops had pcmcia slots, which was less
clumsy than usb, but that was also not fast enough for gigabit.

third, macs have started to ship with 10gig-e as standard a couple of
years ago, which can also easily be added to any mac made in the last
roughly 7 years, including laptops, and at full 10g speed, putting it
well ahead of pc hardware. it may also work on older macs.

good luck adding 10g-e to a pc, especially a laptop.