Why doesn't the MacBook Air have 3G?

Sat, 01/26/2008 - 4:18pm — Seth Weintraub

One thing that stood out from all of the reviews was Ed Baig's comment that Steve Jobs wanted to put 3G access into the Air but ran out of room.

Air does not come with the built-in ability to connect to a speedy wireless data network run by various cellular carriers. Jobs told me last week that Apple considered it but that adding the capability would take up room and restrict consumers to a particular carrier. Through a USB modem, he says, you can still subscribe to wireless broadband with your favorite carrier.

I hate to badmouth Mr. Baig and Mr. Jobs but there is no other way to put it. BS!...

Taking up room? Currently, the latest 3G chips are the size of a fingernail and reside in the smallest of cell phones - let alone computers. If Apple needed to add some space, the added millimeters wouldn't make any discernible difference to the size of the Air. While the argument could be made for the iPhone that the 3G card drains the battery, it is damn near impossible to argue this with a laptop. Also the power and the antenna can be shared with the Wifi - just like in the motherboard design of Sony's latest TZ WITH 3G.

Restricting carriers? Putting a HSDPA chipset in the Air would allow the consumers to choose between Tmobile or AT&T in the US and tons of carrier choices abroad. Just like Dell, HP, Sony, and others have been doing for years. Even an EVDO chip would allow carrier choice between Sprint and Verizon. Besides, SINCE WHEN IS APPLE ABOUT GIVING ITS CUSTOMERS OPERATOR CHOICE?!

Oh, and in case you are thinking cost... The bulk price on 3G chips is $23. Not much when you consider that the starting price on the Air is almost $1800.

So why did Apple leave out the 3G on the MacBook Air? We are looking into it - we have our theories. As for now, I stick with my initial reaction - wait for Rev 2. IF you think you know - vote!

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Comments

Because Apple probably

Sat, 01/26/2008 - 7:44pm — Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Because Apple probably wanted a shared revenue from the monthly wireless bill (like they have on the iPhone now), and AT&T (and possibly other carriers) said "ummm...., not so fast."

Because 3G modems are built

Sun, 01/27/2008 - 1:33pm — Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Because 3G modems are built into every 3G phone. So why build it into the laptop. Bluetooth and/or USB connected.

Why is everyone obsess with

Sat, 01/26/2008 - 9:49pm — Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Why is everyone obsess with 3G connectivity - it is free or you guys pay peanuts for it?

Or is it a case of good to have incase you need it aka ethernet port, CD drive, firewire port.

Or a 1.6ghz speed is too slow - yea, everyone need a fast processor yet takes their own sweet time competing a project.

I agree that the statement

Sun, 01/27/2008 - 2:04am — RoDe (not verified)

I agree that the statement made by Mister Jobs is flawed in every way.

However 3G isn't so hot. Problem with 3G is costs. Not the the chip costs but the roaming costs etc. . A person from Vodafone, who was at my company to tell us about 3G on Mac computers.
Told us that, when you go abroad the costs go from ±€0.50 to €5,00 per MB (or Gb I always forget). This because your using someone else his network. He than showed us a real bill, they had send to a customer after he had been abroad (for 5 days) and happily used his 3G connection, for €1800,-. 3G is OK as long as you stay with in the boarder of your country or state. But for people that go abroad a lot, wifi/ethernet is still the way to go.

I agree that the statement

Sun, 01/27/2008 - 2:04am — RoDe (not verified)

I agree that the statement made by Mister Jobs is flawed in every way.

Doesn't the Air have

Sun, 01/27/2008 - 4:58am — Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Doesn't the Air have bluetooth ? Can't you just connect through your bluetooth phone ? Would it work together with the iPhone ?

3G might not go far in the

Sun, 01/27/2008 - 7:38am — Europe (not verified)

3G might not go far in the US but 3G is very hot over here in Europe - and public wifi is on the way out!

In Austria we have 3G almost everywhere, with real speeds between 1 to 3 MBits and I pay only 15 EUR/month - that means I can surf everywhere I want to and not run after some hotspot! The modem is just a big bother. We won't buy till a 3G version comes out.

Wifi hotspots are difficult to find here (and cost too), and since 3G has become so popular (peolple use it for there PCs too) the number has not increased...

RE: "Why doesn't the MacBook

Sun, 01/27/2008 - 10:12am — Oh Blah Dee Blah Dah (not verified)

RE: "Why doesn't the MacBook Air have 3G?"

Here's an answer even better than Steve Job's: "ALL carriers will be moving to LTE networks within 2 years!"

Apple should NOT be putting sunset technology in its notebooks.

While GSM and CDMA are predominant in the U.S., foreign nations have even more different and incompatible systems. Korea, Japan, and China have carriers with flavors and dialects of cell phone networks that would not work with typical GSM or CDMA networks.

In addition, while "bulk" costs for "3G" chips may be $23, add to that the cost of connectors, assembly, additional internal HEAT, warranty costs for an assumed failure rate, and the true cost balloons much higher.

Finally, many people DON'T need or want "3G" on their notebook, so why should everyone have to pay for "3G" just so a few can use it.

Steve's solution of a USB modem is the most efficient, cost effective, and flexible. Business travellers and tourists can get the appropriate compatible USB modem for the country in which they would primarily use it, and they can buy an additional USB modem for the country to which they travel, if that country has an incompatible network with the primary country.

Numerous friends of mine have to carry different cell phones to use in foreign nations while on business. There is no one true "world cell phone" as of today. Also there is no one true, compatible, universal "3G" today. People would be very upset if they had to buy a second MacBook Air just for travel to a country with an incompatible network.

Question: I want to buy a

Sun, 01/27/2008 - 5:49pm — Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Question: I want to buy a Mac for the very first time but im completely undecided on which one to buy. Here is the case:

Im a philosophy teacher, i basically need a "typing machine" with internet. At the begining, i was really going for the less expensive of macbooks but i was a bit annoyed that i just has 80gb of memory in the hard drive... Im a Bergman fan and i would like to keep my movies in my notebook. Anyway, i thought the shortage of memory was not a real problem: its just a matter of paying an extra 75 dollars for more memory, or, to that matter, buy an external hard drive. I had almost made up my mind when i saw theres something called "combo drive" and something else called "super drive". I have no idea on what are the diferences between both. Then i also saw the comments about the Storage sold for macs on Apple.com...after reading them, it would seem they all actually suck.

The things i usually do, besides the boring stuffs proper of philosophy teachers, is to import movies and music to my actual notebook (Sony Vaio), or from the notebook to an external hard drive. I video conference a lot with my family, friends; use the internet to read news, magazines; use microsoft word intensly; download programs (such as Skype) and store CD ROMS with encyclopedias and dictionarys.

By the way: im switching to Mac because of the virus thing. A student gave me a homework in a pendrive and ruined my pc with a virus. It was the 3rd and last time i get my pc ruined. Note: dont trust students, they watch too much porn on their spare time. Bloody wankers.

So, i would be very greatful if anyone gives me an advise on this. Until now, my option was a basic "combo drive" with an Apple Care Protection Plan and 120GB Hard Drive and 1GB RAM. As any philosophy teacher and Phd student, my actual problem is money...so i cant but something that just has it all, most the pity. What do you experts think?.

Cheers

Ps: I dont know either about whats the deal with the iwork. Does it really worth?

Combo Drive = CD Burner +

Sun, 01/27/2008 - 11:40pm — Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Combo Drive = CD Burner + DVD Reader

Super Drive = CD Burner + DVD Burner

MacBook + AppleCare is a good choice.

about 3G costs: in italy a

Mon, 01/28/2008 - 11:10pm — Anonymous Coward (not verified)

about 3G costs: in italy a company called 3 sell cell phone with unlimited videocalls to other 3 cell phones, and unlimited skype for 20 euros/month....

Apples say that you can add

Tue, 01/29/2008 - 6:38am — Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Apples say that you can add 3G with a USB modem, but several sites have shown that the standard USB 3G modems do not fit into the MacBook Air USB slot. It requires an USB extension cable. You could have convinced me to buy an Air if the 3G modems fit, but this is absurd. To get 3G I have to carry a bluky wired extension cable and a 3G modem, and then all of the portability and convience go out the door.

Some say Apple is waiting

Tue, 01/29/2008 - 3:34pm — Anonymous Coward (not verified)

Some say Apple is waiting for Intel's WiMAX chipset bundle into their new processors.

BUT...WiMAX needs infrastructure in place in terms of providers offering nationwide coverage in the US. So short term that means 3G boys and girls. 3G should be a BTO option. That in fact would make the MBA a much more attractive option if it were built in.