I imagine that it's more like a skunkworks moonshot project. There's a secret lab somewhere, filled with white-coated scientists tasked with answering one question: "Can we put a cellular modem in a laptop?"
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Apple 'Investigating' Macs With Cellular Connectivity
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I imagine that it's more like a skunkworks moonshot project. There's a secret lab somewhere, filled with white-coated scientists tasked with answering one question: "Can we put a cellular modem in a laptop?"
Outside of the Apple universe a SIM card slot is pretty normal on laptops, I have one on my work issued HP laptop.
Must be the fact that it can now be integrated with Apple chips then.
I remember my old ASUS eeepc 901 netbook having a SIM slot about 15+ years ago. Data speed and cost made it impractical for regular use back then, but that probably wouldn’t be an issue today.
I would definitely have paid the extra if my MBP came with a cellular option when I bought it a month ago.
I would definitely have paid the extra if my MBP came with a cellular option when I bought it a month ago.
Is that sarcasm? 😬
The worst experiences I've had with my iPhones are all about tethering. Unstable and annoying to turn on and off, not remotely reliable enough for any serious usage, and most people I know had similar issues and only use it in case of emergency.
Both with an iPhone 8 and a 13, I very often couldn't see the shared network until I turned off wi-fi (really off, not just the stupid "idle" option from the quick menu) and then turned thetering on and was asked if I wanted to use wi-fi.
And then it just randomly disconnects or loses internet connection (even if it's working from the phone) pretty often.
Big whoop. It'll be just another excuse for the cellular providers to charge you yet another monthly fee. It's the reason I don't use the cellular feature on my iPad and instead tether the thing to my phone. The only way this will be useful to the consumer is to get rid of the per-device fees and just charge people for the bandwidth they use.
I’ve just bought a MacBook Air through my carrier for 0% interest at £22 a month for 3 years. I’d love the option of cellular Mac.. would keep things safer than using public WiFi
Guess it depends on your plan. I have unlimited data for my phone with Verizon BUT they limit how much I can use with a computer via tethering unless I pay more.
Cell ability has been on laptops for literally 20yrs. I remember working at Dell in college and selling that ability. Apple is just now considering it. The amount of times I’d have loved to have it to use for work. Apple needs to realize their average client is a DEI commercial of music and video editors but working people.
Same with T-Mobile. I get 40GB tether which is a bit BS and I wonder if there’s a means around that.
**edit**
That was quick. PairVPN
I've been wanting this for years. Cell tethering you're limited to what the carriers give you. I have 50GB w/ Tmobile. But there have been times where my phone connects fine, but my work laptop wouldn't have a reliable tether connection. Super annoying. I even bought a cellular iPad to use for work meetings when I wasn't home because hotspot just wasn't reliable enough in all areas. PC's have had this functionality for a long time. You can custom order it on Dell laptops for example. Hell the first Kindle had 3g built in. Knowing Apple they will jack up the price for that cellular chip though.
you literally have a computer with you...plug it in. If you have your laptop, you likely have a bag with a usb cable.
If you're happy with that current dongle-like situation then you'll buy the next Mac without a cellular option. For people that will want a seamless, hassle-free solution there will be a cellular option - simple as that.
99% of time automatic hotspot is hassle free. This just seems pointless to me. You're right..maybe there a market, but seems incredibly niche. My Mac and iPad within seconds connect to my hotspot if a recognized wifi isn't recognized
I think you can't go beyond the scheme of your needs. What exactly do you base your statement that it will be a niche market for this option? The simplest comparison: check the market for used iPads with and without the cellular option.
They are definitely not "far more mobile".
They're more or less on the same mobility spectrum. You can carry them, but you probably wouldn't carry them without a backpack or a bag. You could even make an argument that in some applications because they have a longer battery, they are even more mobile than iPads.
Only thing that goes against this is the iPad mini. It will fit in my jean’s pocket without much problem. Of course, it can’t do as much as a small Mac could, so it’s a negligible point, but.
I bring my iPad to church to use as a bible and note taking, not my laptop because of the added portability. iPad is already odd in some peoples eyes in church, a laptop would be a whole other level.
So here it's about the iPad looking better and not drawing as much attention, not its portability.
I assume you took the iPad in a bag and did not carry it in your pocket.
I get it, a smaller iPad may fit in a smaller bag, in a one that Macbook may not fit. But as I wrote earlier - they're still on the same spectrum of portability. You can move around with it but you will use a bag or backpack to do it.
For example, a smartphone is much more mobile, it's on a different spectrum. As the guy above wrote, you could also include the iPad mini in this category, because it fits in a larger pocket.
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