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Apple Customer Survey Suggests Interest in 3G-Enabled MacBook Air
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A big hole in Apple's laptop range
It's seemed to me for quite some time that Apple's lack of embedded 3G/4G radios was odd. Where I work, we buy all of our laptops with internal 3G cards - just in case someone needs to activate it.
With many hotels charging $10 to $15 per day for WiFi - our "road warriors" usually activate it. There's also the very real issue that many conferences experience WiFi "meltdown" - and our people with 3G connections aren't affected. (One exception to note - CES in Las Vegas has a city-wide "3G meltdown" every year....)
Apple seems quite behind the times in regards to 3G/4G support - you're supposed to stick a 3G USB dongle into your "beautiful" Apple, while the "fugly" Dells and HPs have 3G builtin?
My company laptops have Verizon EV-DO Rev A internal cards, and I don't even look for a WiFi link - like my phone, my laptops are always on the net. People around me may be searching for a free hotspot, or paying $10/hour for a connection - but when I wake my Win7 system from sleep it quickly connects to Verizon.
It's seemed to me for quite some time that Apple's lack of embedded 3G/4G radios was odd. Where I work, we buy all of our laptops with internal 3G cards - just in case someone needs to activate it.
With many hotels charging $10 to $15 per day for WiFi - our "road warriors" usually activate it. There's also the very real issue that many conferences experience WiFi "meltdown" - and our people with 3G connections aren't affected. (One exception to note - CES in Las Vegas has a city-wide "3G meltdown" every year....)
Apple seems quite behind the times in regards to 3G/4G support - you're supposed to stick a 3G USB dongle into your "beautiful" Apple, while the "fugly" Dells and HPs have 3G builtin?
My company laptops have Verizon EV-DO Rev A internal cards, and I don't even look for a WiFi link - like my phone, my laptops are always on the net. People around me may be searching for a free hotspot, or paying $10/hour for a connection - but when I wake my Win7 system from sleep it quickly connects to Verizon.
I responded very strongly that I did NOT favor Apple taking the lead in putting a wireless broadband technology into the next version. I would NEVER consider a laptop that had built-in broadband technology. It's just asking to be outdated quicker.
AT&T's History:
2008 - EDGE in most areas
2009 - 3G HSPA in most areas
2010 - 3.5G HSPA+ launched in about 20% of markets
2011 - 3.5G HSPA+ launched in 80% of markets by year's end
2012 - 4G LTE launched in 20% of markets
2013 - 4G LTE launched in 80% of markets by year's end
2014 - 5G (LTE 2.0) coming...
The timeline moves too quickly to commit to even one technology let alone one carrier. The beauty of the industry is USB technology is great for broadband connectivity. This month you can have a Virgin Mobile 3G USB, next month swap it for a 4G Verizon LTE USB, and the month after go to Sprint's WiMax MiFi... when there's competition the consumer wins with their wallet.
I strongly urge Apple to NOT integrate broadband!
AT&T's History:
2008 - EDGE in most areas
2009 - 3G HSPA in most areas
2010 - 3.5G HSPA+ launched in about 20% of markets
2011 - 3.5G HSPA+ launched in 80% of markets by year's end
2012 - 4G LTE launched in 20% of markets
2013 - 4G LTE launched in 80% of markets by year's end
2014 - 5G (LTE 2.0) coming...
The timeline moves too quickly to commit to even one technology let alone one carrier. The beauty of the industry is USB technology is great for broadband connectivity. This month you can have a Virgin Mobile 3G USB, next month swap it for a 4G Verizon LTE USB, and the month after go to Sprint's WiMax MiFi... when there's competition the consumer wins with their wallet.
I strongly urge Apple to NOT integrate broadband!
3G on my computer just doesn't interest me, at all. If I need to reference something I can use my iPhone which I already pay a data plan for. If I need to do some more serious computing, it's not hard to make arrangements to be somewhere with wifi.
Although, I suppose if you fly a lot that it may be convenient because some airports charge insane prices for wifi but still, 3G for anything that needs to be done on a computer (that can't be done on an iPhone) just doesn't seem like it would cut it.
Although, I suppose if you fly a lot that it may be convenient because some airports charge insane prices for wifi but still, 3G for anything that needs to be done on a computer (that can't be done on an iPhone) just doesn't seem like it would cut it.
I don't want a 3g subscription to my MBA, and another for my iPad, and a data plan for my iPhone. If I can't have all of them leverage one 3g subscription, I'll continue to go the 3g+WiFi hotspot route.
Apple send out surveys like this all the time. Most aren't as exciting as hinting so obviously towards new features. Very few get report here on MR or elsewhere. Generally only sent to buyers in the month after purchase who registered. I once got 20+ emails inviting me to answer a survey on the iMac.
No, this wasn't a post-purchase survey like most get. This was clearly a targeted survey from their marketing group unlike the normal surveys they send out automatically with a purchase. There's a reason why it made the news. As soon as I got it I recognized it as unusual.
As much as I generally prefer my Macs, I must say the rate at which Apple is falling behind is repulsive.
How Stupid Can Apple Be?
So clueless they've got to perform a survey to identify that their users want the same connectivity that PC Laptops have had for years?
I'm just shocked at the direction Apples taken. What a bloody farce.
Apples a company of degenerate dolts.
Yes, please!
I totally agree. 2 years ago I bought a Toshiba laptop because there was no MacBook with built-in 3G and matte screen. I hope next time I get more choices.
BTW: Unfortunately the survey does not want to know if we prefer antiglare / matte screens. It's a shame, how customer needs are not satisfied.
I totally agree. 2 years ago I bought a Toshiba laptop because there was no MacBook with built-in 3G and matte screen. I hope next time I get more choices.
BTW: Unfortunately the survey does not want to know if we prefer antiglare / matte screens. It's a shame, how customer needs are not satisfied.
My VAIO's integrated 3G module is completely unlocked so I can choose whatever network I like. It's extremely wrong when some manufactures sell laptops with 3G locked to certain networks.
Oh please make it so! I hate USB dongles that have to be purchased (generally) with a contract. Give me an Air with the convenience of month-to-month 3G service, contract-free, and built in. Nothing to lose, sweet!