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4G MacBook
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Lots of reasons why they don't - everything from not having to pay licensing fees to use the cellular chip, to avoiding the complication of having to deal with cellular providers, to not having to fit a sim card slot in somewhere. These are the same reasons you don't see this "feature" from any other manufacturers, or only very rarely in niche products.
They won't ever, in all probability, release a cellular capable laptop model.
The easiest solution is to pair to your phone, and use its cellular capability instead. You don't have to go out and get another data contract, and you don't have to take your phone out of your pocket even after you've set it up once.
It's obvious why the iPad is cellular. But although many of us want a cellular connected Mac, it'll never happen.
Buy a Mi-Fi device. It's all you will ever need to connect all your stuff on the go.
http://consumer.huawei.com/en/mobile-broadband/mobile-wifi/index.htm
http://consumer.huawei.com/en/mobile-broadband/mobile-wifi/index.htm
Sorry, it is not obvious to me why the iPad should be cellular and the MacBook should not be cellular. What is it that I am missing?
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I have mobile broadband modems already, but they are an extra thing to carry around. With a cellular iPad I do not need a MiFi device, however I cannot do all the things I need to do on an iPad and I prefer a bigger screen to work on.
In this regard, a cellular retina MacBook would be perfect.
Because an iPad is an iOS device that is sold in a similar way as iPhones, used in similar ways, and in similar places, has a similar form factor, and has similar use cases.
The MB is a laptop, and regardless of how thin and light it is, given the OS and form factor, it is still going to be used primarily in similar ways and similar places as other laptops, with similar use cases.
I don't disagree with you, per say, I do think there are lots of people who would like to see a cellular laptop from Apple, but I just don't see it happening. IMHO I just don't want to have to deal with another cellular contract, especially when simply pairing up with my phone (or iPad) when I really want to, is just as easy.
Not sure they can stop you now can they? Since iOS7, tethering doesn't use a specific APN so it isn't possible to tell the difference anymore..
Add me to the list wanting a 4G MacBook! every work laptop i've ever had has had a WWAN chip aboard. Dell, Lenovo etc all have it as an option on their enterprise laptops.. Quite surprised Apple don't do this..! They could include the licence costs in a more expensive pricetag for the unit.
As from them wanting you to use your iphone/iPad as a hotspot, battery life is a big issue for them, why make it worse by forcing people to use more batterylife to tether..
Also remember, only certain types of 3G and very few 4G networks allow simultaneous voice and data so you will either miss calls or when you make/take one the data link will fall over. this adds weight to the MiFi idea but i don't really want to carry many more things than I have to.. Also, how many devices can bluetooth support simultaneously anyway? With the Watch, a headset and/or fitbit etc, lots happening on the bluetooth side of a phone these days without needing to use it as a modem.
Glad I'm not the only one.
One of the main reasons I find an iPad so convenient and handy is because it is always on and always connected no matter where I am, without me having to do anything. When I pick up the iPad for example I know all of my emails will be there waiting for me, rather than me connecting to a hotspot and me waiting for them to load into my inbox. I think I would love this same convenience with the new MacBook.
If the cellular surface 3 ran OS X I would be all over it. I will never go back to windows though.
What? I don't get the argument you're trying to make as to why an iPad should have one and a laptop shouldn't.
Having to connect to hotspot means using your phones battery up faster.
There was this one prototype thou..
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/1...macbook-pro-with-integrated-3g-cellular-data/
Guess since it did not launch, it sucked..
Or.. They just decided it was better to sell you an iPhone instead
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/1...macbook-pro-with-integrated-3g-cellular-data/
Guess since it did not launch, it sucked..
Or.. They just decided it was better to sell you an iPhone instead
I would buy an MacBook or MacBook Pro with a BTO Air Card every time. I am a realist though and realize that Apple will never do so leaving me to tether to one of my iPhones.
In my backpack I also carry around a Latitude E7420 with a BTO Air Card that comes in very handy not having to tether.
In my backpack I also carry around a Latitude E7420 with a BTO Air Card that comes in very handy not having to tether.
You don't necessarily need the internet on a laptop. They aren't a window to the internet like iPads are. Most people buy them so they can do writing, work on video, audio, photos, and whatever.
And when you do need to connect to the internet, it's most likely having to be within the local network via wifi/ethernet at a school or company, where you upload and download files from a server.
And when you do need to connect to the internet, it's most likely having to be within the local network via wifi/ethernet at a school or company, where you upload and download files from a server.
In all honesty, I am not sure about the argument I am making either!
I read several times in the past in various about there being particular difficulties with licensing in the traditional PC/Laptop form factor (don't ask me why) that didn't apply to phone and modern tablets for some reason.
This apparently makes its really unattractive to include SIM cards in them. Sorry I can't elaborate more, I know it isn't satisfactory. Maybe something can be found on an Internet search, "Why don't laptops have SIM cards?"
Maybe this article is kind of saying the same thing? (from October 2014)
http://www.fool.com/investing/gener...-corporation-plan-to-put-lte-into-your-p.aspx
But I still want to know, given how convenient an always connected iPad is, if a laptop such as the retina MacBook could ever have a cellular option.
http://www.fool.com/investing/gener...-corporation-plan-to-put-lte-into-your-p.aspx
But I still want to know, given how convenient an always connected iPad is, if a laptop such as the retina MacBook could ever have a cellular option.
Oh nice, thanks. There is clearly interest in this idea. I wonder about the "it will never happen" attitude then?
The rMB is being billed as an ultraportable. Why wouldn't you want it to have independent data connectivity?