Cellular radio In laptop

[Multipass]

One of the best purchases I have made is getting the iPad Mini with cellular radio built in. It costs me $10 per month extra but it is so much nicer than having to set my phone as a hotspot, which kills the battery quickly.

I'm just curious why these super thin and light Apple laptops don't come with a cellular option? The MB, MBA, and even MBP 13" are made for portability, and everything is becoming cloud-based, so wouldn't it make sense to have a 4G radio inside so you're always connected?

 

[motrek]

One of the best purchases I have made is getting the iPad Mini with cellular radio built in. It costs me $10 per month extra but it is so much nicer than having to set my phone as a hotspot, which kills the battery quickly.

I'm just curious why these super thin and light Apple laptops don't come with a cellular option? The MB, MBA, and even MBP 13" are made for portability, and everything is becoming cloud-based, so wouldn't it make sense to have a 4G radio inside so you're always connected?

Dunno.

Connect your phone via USB so it won't lose charge while acting as an internet connection?

 

[Multipass]

Dunno.

Connect your phone via USB so it won't lose charge while acting as an internet connection?

That's really silly.


I'm wondering why Apple doesn't offer the same type of cellular radio in its laptops that it offers in the iPad.

 

[motrek]

That's really silly.


I'm wondering why Apple doesn't offer the same type of cellular radio in its laptops that it offers in the iPad.

Right, and I said I don't know.

What's really silly? Connecting the phone via USB? Why?

 

[Multipass]

What's really silly? Connecting the phone via USB? Why?

Lol...

 

[motrek]

Lol...

???

I do this all the time. Works great.

 

[Multipass]

???

I do this all the time. Works great.

Yeah, it's awesome.

 

[motrek]

Yeah, it's awesome.

You complained about the phone battery running down quickly when using it as a hotspot. I gave you a solution. If it's breaking your back (or your fashion sense) to plug in one single cable then I can't help you.

 

[Multipass]

You complained about the phone battery running down quickly when using it as a hotspot. I gave you a solution. If it's breaking your back (or your fashion sense) to plug in one single cable then I can't help you.

I didn't ask you for a solution or for your (nasty and condescending) help.

 

[motrek]

I didn't ask you for a solution or for your (nasty and condescending) help.

You complained about something in your original post. I offered a solution, which is one that I use myself every few days and find nice and convenient. I thought I was being helpful. You replied with two posts that were literally just laughing and sarcasm. You're clearly the one who's being a d*** in this "conversation."

 

[redheeler]

They simply don't put cellular data capabilities in laptops. The assumption is that you're always around a WiFi network or you tether to your phone.

If you wanted a way to get around this problem motrek has kindly suggested one.

 

[Multipass]

They simply don't put cellular data capabilities in laptops. The assumption is that you're always around a WiFi network or you tether to your phone.

Your reasoning doesn't make sense since they put the cellular radio in iPads.

 

[xylitol]

In addition to longstanding wi-fi problems on OS X, we would experience persistent cellular connection issues...

 

[Multipass]

You complained about something in your original post. I offered a solution, which is one that I use myself every few days and find nice and convenient. I thought I was being helpful. You replied with two posts that were literally just laughing and sarcasm. You're clearly the one who's being a d*** in this "conversation."

I asked a question, you did not know the answer.

I wasn't looking for a solution, certainly not one from 15 years ago. I'm explained how I loved the cellular feature in my iPad, so it is very silly for you to recommend me using a cable to attach to my phone when my question is about offering an internal cellular radio.

You bringing up my hurting back or my fashion sense is nothing but condescension, making you the 4 letter word that you called me.

 

[redheeler]

Your reasoning doesn't make sense since they put the cellular radio in iPads.

iPads are expected to be used during travel when out of range of WiFi networks. The same is not true for laptops.

Luckily the tethering feature was built in to overcome this with the same data plan you have on your phone.

 

[motrek]

I asked a question, you did not know the answer.

I wasn't looking for a solution, certainly not one from 15 years ago. I'm explained how I loved the cellular feature in my iPad, so it is very silly for you to recommend me using a cable to attach to my phone when my question is about offering an internal cellular radio.

You bringing up my hurting back or my fashion sense is nothing but condescension, making you the 4 letter word that you called me.

Right, I didn't know the answer but there's no rule on this forum that prevents me from trying to be helpful or commenting on other content contained in a post that isn't a question.

If you didn't want anybody talking about your phone battery life then you shouldn't have brought it up.

 

[Multipass]

iPads are expected to be used during travel when out of range of WiFi networks. The same is not true for laptops.

That's simply not true. The MBA and MB are most certainly made to be used while on the go and outside of WiFi networks.

iPads are probably used at home more than anywhere else, on average.

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Right, I didn't know the answer but there's no rule on this forum that prevents me from trying to be helpful or commenting on other content contained in a post that isn't a question.

If you didn't want anybody talking about your phone battery life then you shouldn't have brought it up.

All you do is argue. You brought nothing to this thread other than nasty insults and condescension. I'm reporting you for trolling and for your obscene insult.

 

[motrek]

...
All you do is argue. You brought nothing to this thread other than nasty insults and condescension. I'm reporting you for trolling and for your obscene insult.

Good. I'm eager to see how that goes for you, considering I was trying to offer helpful advice from the outset and all you did was laugh at me.

 

[redheeler]

That's simply not true. The MBA and MB are most certainly made to be used while on the go and outside of WiFi networks.

On the go yes, but in range of WiFi networks. Keep in mind that laptops and tablets have slightly different typical usage cases (I'm not suggesting yours is typical).

iPads are probably used at home more than anywhere else, on average.

The same true for laptops.

 

[Rigby]

I agree with the OP (and we're not the only ones ). I'd buy that in a second if it was available. Many other laptop brands offer cellular radio modules as an option.

 

[Multipass]

The same true for laptops.

Then why not put a cellular radio in like they do with iPads?

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I agree with the OP (and we're not the only ones ). I'd buy that in a second if it was available. Many other laptop brands offer cellular radio modules as an option.

What? You don't want to run cables to phones every time you pull out your laptop!?!? You must have a hurt back or dress funny!

I bet if someone asked how to get their WiFi connection working, motrek would tell them to run an ethernet cable

 

[motrek]

...
What? You don't want to run cables to phones every time you pull out your laptop!?!? You must have a hurt back or dress funny!

I bet if someone asked how to get their WiFi connection working, motrek would tell them to run an ethernet cable

What's the progress on the trolling complaint?

 

[redheeler]

Then why not put a cellular radio in like they do with iPads?

Like I mentioned before, it doesn't fit the typical usage case.

Maybe it should be offered as a BTO option for MBAs, although having to make the necessary design changes to accommodate the radio/antennas, an external antenna band, and a SIM card slot probably isn't worth it for only a small group of non-typical potential buyers who refuse to tether to their smartphone or don't have one with a good data plan (if the data plan is an issue they're better off buying a better data plan than paying for an expensive cellular option anyway).

 

[motrek]

Like I mentioned before, it doesn't fit the typical usage case.

Maybe it should be offered as a BTO option for MBAs, although having to make the necessary design changes to accommodate the radio/antennas, an external antenna band, and a SIM card slot probably isn't worth it for only a small group of non-typical potential buyers who refuse to tether to their smartphone or don't have one with a good data plan.

There are a million reasons why Apple might not want to add this feature to their laptops. I don't know the actual reasons but it's probably a combination of some/all of these:

- Maybe there's no good spot for the necessary antennas in the rear hinge, or there would be EMF conflict with the antennas that are already there.

- The chips necessary for cell communication take up a small but non-trivial amount of space and maybe there isn't enough space on the MBA's already-pretty-dense motherboard.

- Maybe there's a software/IP component to the cell stack that Apple would have to license, and they clearly wouldn't want to license it for every copy of OS X, nor would they want to have two different versions of OS X floating around, one for cell communications and one not.

- Adding a one-off feature like this increases manufacturing and distribution complexity. Two different versions of the motherboard, different unibodies (one with a SIM tray, one without), different FCC/EU certifications necessary, etc. Clearly Apple can do this because they do it with the iPad, but if they don't expect many people to buy a cell-enabled laptop, then it might not be worth the extra cost and complexity.

- Maybe they (or the cell service providers) think that if the laptops don't have cell capability then people will be more likely to buy iPhones and tethering plans.

Anyway, it's all kind of pointless to speculate.

 

[Multipass]

Like I mentioned before, it doesn't fit the typical usage case.

Typical usage of the iPad is in the home and other places with WiFi.

Maybe it should be offered as a BTO option for MBAs, although having to make the necessary design changes to accommodate the radio/antennas, an external antenna band, and a SIM card slot probably isn't worth it for only a small group of non-typical potential buyers who refuse to tether to their smartphone or don't have one with a good data plan (if the data plan is an issue they're better off buying a better data plan than paying for an expensive cellular option anyway).

It would be worth it as much as it's worth it for the iPad.

All of those 4G iPads that they sell to the evil people who don't want to tether, the horror!

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Anyway, it's all kind of pointless to speculate.

Then why are you? I asked if anyone knew, you clearly don't, yet you are still here...