5 ms·
Hello cellphone in a stick. Every single thinkpad I owned (grand total of 2) has a sim card slot. I guess macs don't?
by TrainedMonkey 13y ago
Hello cellphone in a stick. Every single thinkpad I owned (grand total of 2) has a sim card slot. I guess macs don't?
- kennywinker 13y agoNope. It's actually fairly puzzling that there hasn't been a 3g/lte MacBook Air by now.
- Jtsummers 13y agoI think, in the US at least, part of the problem would have been Verizon/Sprint. Now with everyone going to LTE and using SIM cards for that it seems more viable (fewer network restrictions).
- jonknee 13y agoWhy is that a problem? Apple ships millions of 3G/LTE devices a quarter, they can certainly figure it out in the laptop form factor. Worst case and it doesn't support every network--still way better than not supporting any network. The bigger issue is probably not having OS X architected to play nice when you're paying by the byte.
- Jtsummers 13y agoThey shipped different models to handle different carriers and only recently are they shipping unified models for multiple carriers. As I said in another reply, that's bad UX for a device that's not quite at commodity level prices. You could always get a dongle or pair it up (still options), which prevents the computer from becoming obsoleted by changing network affiliations or protocols.
- jonknee 13y ago> which prevents the computer from becoming obsoleted by changing network affiliations or protocols. Which would never be the case... Right now no Macs come with any mobile data and I somehow still manage to find them useful. If my MacBook had come with 3G it wouldn't be obsolete now that LTE is the rage, the worst thing that could happen is I would tether with another device like I do now. I also have a Chromebook and I have to say it's nice not to even think about it--you're just online.
- r00fus 13y agoLTE penetration is still a huge issue. Then there's the question of band support (different carriers use different LTE bands - not all mobile data devices support all bands). There're two reasons why LTE isn't a panacea to cell standards bifurcation and modern cell phones still require fall-back data radios that support EVDO, HSPA, etc.
- ulfw 13y agoThey can make it work in an iPad, why would all your arguments be any different in a Macbook? For a $130 premium option no less!
- Jtsummers 13y agoThey can now. Before we had (and on iPhone still have?) different models to handle different carriers. That's not a good UX for customers, especially as computers are still not at the commodity level that phones and tablets are (refresh purchases are 3+ years apart).
- kalleboo 13y agoIt's a shame Apple are a US company, since the US is nearly the only country with this problem.
- aray 13y agoThey've been prototyped apparently. http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/3g-macbook-pro-auction-pulled-magsafe-antenna-detailed/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/3g-macbook-pro-auction-pu...
- AsymetricCom 13y ago>fairly puzzling Apple and telecom? I think the picture is pretty clear.
- venantius 13y agoI think the idea is more "cell-network based router in a stick", with extra hackability.
- icebraining 13y agoSo a rugged, hackable MiFi router? Could be useful, particularly as a communal hotspot.
- driverdan 13y agoWhy would you want to use a SIM card slot in a laptop? What if you want to use other devices? You'll have to power on your laptop in order to use them.
- w1ntermute 13y agoFor the same reason you'd want a SIM card slot in your tablet. But for some reason, I don't see anyone saying that iPads with LTE are a bad idea.
- interpol_p 13y agoI've always thought iPads with 3G/LTE were a bit redundant. Why not just tether to your phone? It takes a few seconds (which is a bit of a hassle) but you avoid paying an entirely separate monthly fee.
- Arelius 13y agoIt's not an entirely separate fee. On my plan it's $10 extra a month. Which is well worth it to not have to go through either the hassle of tethering a phone, or worry about killing two batteries at once.
- interpol_p 13y agoI would consider the extra $10/month far too much for the benefit of using my existing data on a different device (I pay $15/month for my entire phone service). A once-off fee for the SIM card is something I could handle, though.
- Arelius 13y agoI do think certain providers to allow this. Just not all.
- recursive 13y agoI've never seen tethering function successfully on my phone. That would be my reason if I did it.