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Photos of a Prototype MacBook Pro with Integrated 3G Cellular Data
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What else is there to talk about ? The infinite possibilities of overpaying for something most of us already have access to ?
But I'd love a MBA 11" with 3G and Touchscreen, Apple would sell out overnight, and NEVER be able to keep them in stock, what a way to differentiate the 11 from the 13, it of course would Kill the iPad
I would snatch that up in a heart beat.
I am convinced the main reason Apple didn't release any cellular data modem as soon as they could have (ie. 2G 2+ years before iPhone), was to keep the airwaves free of clutter for his "godlike" iPhone release.
Further it would have taken away from or reduced the "magic" of the iPhone to have its primary feature, data mobility pre-existing on another Apple format unit.
I think it really is that simple.
The sheer number of folks that would have cheerfully added BTO EDGE (2G) to any MacBook or PowerBook is large. Once 3G was available in better chips with low power we could easily have had an upgraded speed.
It would have given Apple 4 more years of cellular antenna, chip and board experience.
This is a strategic decision on the part of Apple not a technical one. Also once Apple decided they were "married" to aluminum closures, the "asthetics" of the needed plastic segment became "necessary" to make it function.
I refer you to the iPhone 1 announcement where Steve sheepishly apologized the asthethics were interrupted by a plastic part (back bottom 15% in black, not silver) to make reception possible. He was literally afraid that detail could impact the release of this otherwise astounding product!
That gives perspective from a variety of directions for those of you short of memory or exposure to details.
Rocketman
Further it would have taken away from or reduced the "magic" of the iPhone to have its primary feature, data mobility pre-existing on another Apple format unit.
I think it really is that simple.
The sheer number of folks that would have cheerfully added BTO EDGE (2G) to any MacBook or PowerBook is large. Once 3G was available in better chips with low power we could easily have had an upgraded speed.
It would have given Apple 4 more years of cellular antenna, chip and board experience.
This is a strategic decision on the part of Apple not a technical one. Also once Apple decided they were "married" to aluminum closures, the "asthetics" of the needed plastic segment became "necessary" to make it function.
I refer you to the iPhone 1 announcement where Steve sheepishly apologized the asthethics were interrupted by a plastic part (back bottom 15% in black, not silver) to make reception possible. He was literally afraid that detail could impact the release of this otherwise astounding product!
That gives perspective from a variety of directions for those of you short of memory or exposure to details.
Rocketman
I am always surprised to see prototypes floating around on EBAY. You'd figure Apple would regulate the devices and not let them out of their grasp, making the one assigned equipment responsible to return it to the company. Someone is goofing up over there.
As for the design... horrid. Looks un-Apple. Interesting to know they were going in that direction back then.
As for the design... horrid. Looks un-Apple. Interesting to know they were going in that direction back then.
Well...that "prototype" is from 2007....so IF Apple puts a 3G option in the upcoming macbook pro....it sure won't look like THAT. First of all, because its ugly and very un-Apple like lol....but secpnd because the upcoming Macbook Pros are strongly rumoured to be doing away with the Optical drive and adopting a more Macbook Air like thinner profile....so even if they wanted to, there probably wouldnt be room on the bezel of the lid for something like that.
Obviously, if they can hide a 3g antennae in an iphone or ipad, they certainly can conceal it in a macbook pro. So i seriously doubt we'd see an external sliding antannae like that.
Personally i think Apple will wait for 4G speeds until they drop it into a macbook pro.
But i guess we will find out in January-ish.
Obviously, if they can hide a 3g antennae in an iphone or ipad, they certainly can conceal it in a macbook pro. So i seriously doubt we'd see an external sliding antannae like that.
Personally i think Apple will wait for 4G speeds until they drop it into a macbook pro.
But i guess we will find out in January-ish.
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But I'd love a MBA 11" with 3G and Touchscreen, Apple would sell out overnight, and NEVER be able to keep them in stock, what a way to differentiate the 11 from the 13, it of course would Kill the iPad
In my mind it would be very logical to add 3G / mobile data connectivity first to these tiniest models, Air 11" and 13". But it's probably easiest to add first to the larger Pro models, more space available. Eventually, I believe, 3G or 4G will be standard on all laptops. I'm close to the point where I leave phone at home and just want something with a large screen and internet connection with me everywhere.
Maybe Apple releases a 3G Unibody MBP soon. The conditions that caused Apple to never release this version have dramatically changed since 2007. Unless Apple only wants that feature to be available for iOS devices.
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I wonder how the cell phone companies will react if this were to go into production. Even though you can buy a card to do the same thing. Including it in the build will bring more users to the cell network. Maybe AT&T will stop being such a pain when it comes to data.
I wonder how the cell phone companies will react if this were to go into production. Even though you can buy a card to do the same thing. Including it in the build will bring more users to the cell network. Maybe AT&T will stop being such a pain when it comes to data.
You know, I've heard that when there's nothing to talk about, sometimes...
I know this is crazy, but...
You don't need to say anything.
Flapping on with criticisms that make no sense doesn't look very good. Doing it for no other reason than having nothing else to say certainly isn't better.
Apple puts an antenna on a MacBook Pro prototype for better 3G reception, and they get crap about it.
Apple hides the antenna in the frame of an iPhone 4 for better design, and they get crap about it.
Apple hides the antenna in the frame of an iPhone 4 for better design, and they get crap about it.
Some would argue that flapping on with criticisms about criticism is worse.
Criticism that makes no sense ? We all know how Apple is very anti-options these days, with BTO configurations being rather limited. If they made a 3G version of the MBA, you'd think they'd want to carry both Wifi and 3G EVDO and HSPA SKUs ? That would cause a lot of fragmentation in the product line and raise production costs, eating into the margins to produce.
So either that's why they don't do it and keep us using our iPhones or other tethering enabled devices (or straight carrier sold 3G modems) or when they do it, we'll be paying for it by increased prices across the line-up.
I'd rather stick to our current solution of carrier provided 3G connectivity. That way, my 2000$ device is not attached to a particular carrier, I can switch whenever the one I'm with doesn't satisfy me anymore and it doesn't leave me with a 2000$ laptop that is now crippled.
I do too but not for that reason. 4G deployment is minimal and even dongle adopters are returning them for 3G dongles. Deployment has another good year to go and if you believe all the noise surrounding the AT&T/T-Mobile deal, AT&T is not really spending nearly as much for network deployments as they could/should given adoption rates. Verizon is doing a bit better but is not trying to buy Sprint or something. The two LTE systems are mutually incompatible with each other.
The lack of low power chip is why iPad doesn't have it, but not why a PowerBook 17" doesn't have it, or a "thicker by virtue of battery" BTO MacBookAir doesn't have it. These are strategic not technical decisions.
I want a BTO iPhone with a double battery option due to long journeys away from power. So far my only option is a horrible battery case/dongle. Apple could just make one 30% thicker and have it still be beautiful and have about double the battery life.
Rocketman
Do people actually use 3G on laptops that often? I've tethered about once for novelty. There are ALWAYS wifi networks to connect to.
Give me a MacBook Air with built-in 3G and no long-term contract (instead, month to month, like the iPad) and I will buy one in a heartbeat!
Mark
Mark
I'm assuming that this machine has been identified as a Macbook Pro due to the presence of an intel chipset, although that can't be confirmed from the pictures. The overall design and internal configuration are actually nearly identical to a Powerbook.
