The new Ethernet NB card doesn't have options to enable or disable the Link
Beat signal. Some early twisted pair Ethernet hubs didn't use Link Beat
and can't function with transceivers that use it. It's true that some
third-party cards have the option to disable this signal. They're trying
to be compatible with all hubs (pre- and post-10baseT). Apple designed the
cards to be compatible with the true 10baseT specification, which requires
Link Beat.