Cellular MacBooks

sbi5ar

sbi5ar

sbi5ar

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Will this ever be a reality?

With the increasing speed of data on mobile networks and the roll out of 4G, will we see a "cellular MBP/MBA". I know tethering works a treat and there are dongles, but I just wonder if they would ever consider producing one and if you would ever consider buying one?

Al
 
I'd say that in a few years it is entirely possible that this could happen, as dependence on cloud-based services increases. Could even be a default option rather than a configurable extra. However, nobody truly knows...it's a case of waiting to see.
 
CrispyXUK said:
Don't see the point when you can use your phone as a modem or a usb adaptor
Click to expand...

That's all good and dandy if you have a phone with a massive battery that can tether for long enough periods of time (good luck getting over 4 hours with the majority of devices), and a phone service that allows you to tether - even then, you need a plan that gives you a large enough data allowance. If you're stuck in a contract that doesn't allow the above and your requirements suddenly change, in-built mobile data would be more convenient than an external Mi-Fi device with poor battery life.

This said, dongles are pretty convenient.
 
MiFi does everything needed. Ok you need to carry it around but it has a long battery and doesn't need any drivers.
 
iPhone and personal hotspot does the trick for quick bits, over bluetooth, wifi or USB.

I had to use it for a month whilst waiting for broadband install and did the trick nicely, any long browsing period and I just did it over USB
 
SIM cards were going in Laptops years ago, I don't see why not at some point in the future.
 
I think it's unlikely.

There are bids going on right now to do huge WiFi deployments across major cities - http://www.o2wifi.co.uk/news/article?id=9 as an example, I believe the plan is to wifi zone 1 - and as such, I'm just not sure. If you use your laptop on the move, you can usually - usually - get on a decent wifi connection (all the major coffee shops/airport terminals/train stations/trains/buses/even harvester restaurants for goodness sake !!)


Just my 10 pence :)
 
I doubt it these days, Wifi is widely available - particularly in locations where you tend to settle down. Most everyone has a mobile that will work as a hotspot, and frankly if you are tethering to a mobile then you can plug it in via USB to keep it charged.
 
People readily pony up a lot extra for cellular iPad, so there must be a market for it. It's not always appropriate to use WiFi and there is a big difference between rigging something up in a pinch and having a genuine on going need for a cellular connection.

So no, I don't know why they don't offer it as an option. I'm sure a lot of people would find it immensely useful.
 
it wouldn't surprise me if it had never caught on because the networks and manufacturers couldn't or wouldn't get their **** together.

I'm sure I've sold laptops in the past with sim slots and you could definitely get sim enabled netbooks and vodafone usedto do a reasonable business in pcmcia cards a while back.

It could even be as easy as manufacturers giving it a shot a few years back, it didn't take off because the networks/customers weren't ready and they gave up ahead of time.

There was a macbook pro or maybe even a powerbook that hit ebay a while back with a sim slot so they've definitely considered and then discounted the idea.

Edit: Here we go http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/15/prototype-macbook-pro-with-sim-slot-surfaces-on-ebay-unicorns-a/
 
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