7 ms·

Nope. It's actually fairly puzzling that there hasn't been a 3g/lte MacBook Air by now.

Jtsummers 13y ago
I 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 ago
  Why 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 ago
    They 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 ago
  LTE 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 ago
    They 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 ago
      They 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 ago
  It's a shame Apple are a US company, since the US is nearly the only country with this problem.
aray 13y ago
They'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.

I 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 ago
Why 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 ago
  They 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 ago
LTE 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 ago
  They 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 ago
    They 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 ago
It's a shame Apple are a US company, since the US is nearly the only country with this problem.

aray 13y ago

They'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.