SIM Cards in Mac laptops

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Kyanar

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#990566 19-Feb-2014 15:57

gzt:
The networks cannot really tell the difference but maybe some still have T&C's that warn against tethering? I guess some want you to buy data separately for a different device.

They don't need to. Most phone OSs these days ask the network if tethering is OK, and disable the function if not. NZ carriers do not make use of this, but I know Virgin Mobile in Aus disables tethering if you're on prepaid as an example.

Technofreak

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#992554 22-Feb-2014 21:41

sbiddle: I was amazed when I was in the US last year to see the number of people carrying an iPad Mini and an iPhone.

To me it shows Apple have failed miserably when it comes to building an iPhone with a bigger screen as it's clearly what lots of people want. It also shows how smart Apple are because their customers just lap it up and buy 2 products instead of one.

Or how dumb Apple owners are?

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nathan

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#992561 22-Feb-2014 21:45

wasabi2k: Even windows laptops with 3G built in are not THAT common. They tend to have AWFUL drivers and break, a lot in my experience (that was a few years ago). They also appeared to add a decent amount of cost and could not be upgraded.

As has been said - connectivity through wifi/tethering is fairly ubiquitous.

As always - you could always use a dongle - easy to swap out when 4G/LTE or 5G or 6G etc comes out.

pretty much thin & light laptops aren't upgradeable at all. by design

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#992562 22-Feb-2014 21:47

sbiddle: I was amazed when I was in the US last year to see the number of people carrying an iPad Mini and an iPhone.

To me it shows Apple have failed miserably when it comes to building an iPhone with a bigger screen as it's clearly what lots of people want. It also shows how smart Apple are because their customers just lap it up and buy 2 products instead of one.

large form factor iPhone this year

Since I've had my 6" Windows Phone Lumia 1520 since December, I'm now carrying around my 10" Surface or 8" Dell tablet around a lot less. Convergence is much more convenient.

nathan

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#992565 22-Feb-2014 21:50

Dairyxox: I agree with the OP that having a sim slot/ cellular connectivity would be a good idea in a MBA.

Having said that I wouldn't use it, I only want one sim card/ cellular account at once thanks, and tethering works fine for my use.

As for nathans comment about owning the set & ROI. Really? Gadgets are practically toys to some people, there doesn't need to be a return on investment in many cases, macbooks and ipads dont have to be expensive for what you get either (iPhones seems somewhat expensive). I agree that between a smartphone, laptop and tablet at least one device becomes somewhat redundant, but which of these do you give up? I know most geeks have two out of three and look towards the third, even if they don't have a good use case.

Ive found the ipad makes a great 'computer' for the missus. But I like using it too.

ROI? mate who is paying the bill?

Would you rather have that money in the bank earning interest or buying gadgets that are out of date in a year?

Fine if you're a business owner and its your own companies money spending.

And its damn easy to spend someone else's money, just look at our local and central governments.

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#992567 22-Feb-2014 21:51

alasta:
Dairyxox:As for nathans comment about owning the set & ROI. Really? Gadgets are practically toys to some people, there doesn't need to be a return on investment in many cases, macbooks and ipads dont have to be expensive for what you get either (iPhones seems somewhat expensive). I agree that between a smartphone, laptop and tablet at least one device becomes somewhat redundant, but which of these do you give up? I know most geeks have two out of three and look towards the third, even if they don't have a good use case.

The problem for me is that if I spend $1000 on a photographic lens or a set of hifi speakers then I know I'm going to get 10+ years of consistent enjoyment out of it. In contrast if I spend the same money on an iPhone/iPad then I have to deal with all the support issues and by the time it's two years old it's obsolete.

I have a Macbook Pro, iPad and iPhone and would like to get rid of one of them to get my depreciation costs down, but I use all of these devices frequently and I can't really decide which one I could best live without. They all have their strengths as far as I'm concerned.

I think you'll find a 5.5-6" iPhone could replace your iPad and iPhone? Or definitely replace an iPad Mini and iPhone.

Geektastic

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#992595 22-Feb-2014 22:18

tdgeek: A phone is the best option for a phone
A tablet is the best option for a very portable laptop - home, outside, travel
A laptop is the best option for real software - mouse, trackpad, screen size and full OS

I'd expect a full OS on a tablet to be cumbersome, personally

I always thought converging the iPad Air and the Macbook Air would be a good machine.

A screen that could be separated from the keyboard and used like an iPad, because it had the iOS stuff in there, which then became a dumb screen for the main OS bit that lived in the keyboard when docked.

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#992682 23-Feb-2014 10:04

As someone else said, there have been Apple patents / prototypes for MacBooks with SIM acrd slots, but they are unlikely to happen. It's easier to simply plug in a USB data stick, tether, or wi-fi hotspot.

There have also been Apple patents / prototypes for laptops with flippable and removeable displays that mean they can be used as either a laptop or a tablet. Other companies have made such laptops.

Apple registers thousands of patents, most of which never ship in an actual Apple product.

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