Built-in HSDPA support?

[bourdieu]

I just read that LG is releasing laptops with built in HSDPA-support. http://www.funponsel.com/blog/archives/2006/11/04/lg-to-release-xnote-a1-hsdpa-laptop/

Do you think that there is any chance of MBs or MBPs having this or some simular feature any time soon?

 

[maxp1]

I think Santa Rosa will have optional HSDPA support. From the Reg...

The platform will also support the 3G WAN card developed jointly by Nokia and Intel. The card will support the HSDPA download speed boost technology.

Both Robson and the 3G WAN module are optional, Intel confirmed - neither is a mandated part of the Centino platform.

Apple probably won't include it until there's wide enough coverage of HSDPA, by which time WI-MAX should be a wiser choice.

 

[miniConvert]

Dell, HP and Lenovo also offer integrated HSDPA, amongst others.

HSxPA is likely to dominate mobile data for a few years yet. The infrastructure necessary is being rapidly deployed in Europe, and the added benefits of massive GSM coverage make a good fallback. There's also the benefit of mobile operators already having billing and roaming systems in place.

Apple would be insane, IMHO, not to include 3G (with HSDPA support) as an option in future MacBook Pro's. I do think it's very likely we'll see it, though I'm curious as to why Apple wasn't at the forefront with Dell and the others when they realised the potential of this technology.

 

[bousozoku]

However, in this country, we're not seeing as much coverage of HSDPA as EVDO and Sprint is also combining with computer makers to put their technology into laptop computers.

That's probably the reason we didn't see 3g technology available in the iPhone from the start and why we probably won't see it in Apple machines for a while.

 

[vga4life]

There's too much fragmentation of technology (CDMA/EVDO vs. GSM/UMTS/HSDPA) in the US wireless market for built-ins to be worthwhile here.

Anyhow, the MBP's have an expresscard slot (for an EVDO or HSDPA modem) and both MBP and MB have bluetooth (to tether to your 3G phone - iPhone fails it...). This seems adequate to me.

(I disagree about wimax being a likely successor. The infrastructure is already sunk for 3G cellular technologies.)

 

[miniConvert]

That's probably the reason we didn't see 3g technology available in the iPhone from the start and why we probably won't see it in Apple machines for a while.

Maybe, but there's nothing stopping them having the option of an EV-DO module in some places and a UMTS one in others.

 

[Xeem]

I'd just like to chime in with one more reason that 3G has been slow to spread doesn't make as much sense here is that far more cities in America are completely covered in city-wide 802.11 internet networks than have HSDPA or other 3G services available.

 

[bousozoku]

Maybe, but there's nothing stopping them having the option of an EV-DO module in some places and a UMTS one in others.

It's a possibility but the cost of designing a laptop computer with interchangeable modules is prohibitive.

I believe that Apple are waiting for the dust to settle to see who is the winner.