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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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 Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:29 am Post subject: |
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Funny thing, don't believe everything you read on the internet.
We have been talking with a LOT of peoplb]e at our EVDOinfo.com booth at MacWorld. There are NO Verizon Reps at Macword, they were talking with us and misquoted what were were saying. We have a page that we started that will keep an update on ExpressCard/34 and what the options are for MacBook Pro users (WHEN you can become on over the next 1-2 months). We have talked with tons of users at the show who basically cannot upgrade until there is a native solution (either ExpressCard or USB). Scott is correct, keep your eye out for USB2 EVDO modems, that will solve a TON of problems, not just MacBook Pro.
MacBook Pro and EVDO - EVDOinfo.com
Live at Macworld: EVDO to Upgrade for MacBook Pro - Gizmodo
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Feefer
EVDO User
Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 71
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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| HillCountryHero wrote: | | Did anybody read my post above? Everybody is saying, oh, I'm not buying the new MacBook Pro, because there are no ExpressCard EVDO cards. You can't even get a MacBook Pro yet! You won't be able to get one for another 30 to 45 days! |
No, but you COULD'VE ordered one from Apple the same day Jobs announced them at MacWorld, since Apple started taking pre-orders immediately after the keynote speech (as they always do). The Apple Store was saying the 1st batch would be delivered around 15 Feb 2006. Of course, they said the Intel Macs wouldn't roll until Mid-year 2006 (and clearly delivered ahead of schedule on that). 
So it's not so theoretical at this point (although I won't be an early adopter, especially with a major chip transition like this)....
Chris |
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mcastaldi
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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Scott> You do understand my point. I'm a Macintosh technician by trade. . .have three Macs, etc. so it's not a Windows vs. Mac question. Since I have to lug a laptop around with my every day, I'd rather not have a 15" or 17". I'm quite content with my 12" iBook G4. So my choices for EVDO generally sucked before the MacBook Pro - spend $2k on a current 15" PB. . .spend $1k on a previous-generation 15" which would be no better than my current iBook G4. . .or buy a new Dell laptop. I ended up buying a Dell for $950, which in many areas spanks the current 15" PB.
Someone mentioned that he'd heard from a Verizon rep's uncle's son's cousin that an ExpressCard/34 EVDO card should be available when the MBP starts shipping. I find this to be nearly impossible. If that were true, the card will have had to be in the works for probably 6 months to a year. I'm not sure any of the EVDO card makers (Kyocera, Sierra, etc) work on a product cycle as short as 90 days. Plus, that would also assume that Apple shared preproduction specs with the EVDO card makers. Highly unlikely. To say nothing of the need for universal binary drivers and apps would need to be ready. They'll get here. . .just not soon.
I'm surprised that noone has mentioned what I feel is the most obvious solution - and should have been here all along. Why can't I connect an EVDO-capable phone to my Mac via Bluetooth and use the EVDO phone as a Bluetooth modem??? That would open up a LOT more Macs to EVDO and at least allow speeds of 721Kbps (limits of BT) - and eliminate the expense (and baggage) of a card. If more speed were desired then get a USB dongle or card.
Mike |
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mcastaldi
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 28 Dec 2005
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah. . .I have a Nokia 6230 and Cingular for voice. I've found instructions for getting EDGE speeds on my phone over BT on my iBook, tho I haven't tried it yet. It'd be nice for the same options for EVDO.
Perhaps users' experiences with Verizon's version of the Razr signal a positive step for Verizon's handling of Bluetooth. In the past, they've tended to be notoriously heavy-handed on the capabilities of their phones.
Mike |
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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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| Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 11:12 am Post subject: |
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| jimbob wrote: | | and that when they show up they'll probably have drivers for Windows first. |
Our sites have gained many ears at manufacturers and carriers (yes, they monitor the forums - and even post here under different names). I have the ears of some VPs at one of the carriers and I am explaining how important Mac support is and quick support for USB and ExpressCards. Believe it or not, they are actually listening.
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dbowl
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 10:41 am Post subject: Micheal, any updates to gossip on this subject? |
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I just bought a new Dell XPS and no one at Dell or Sprint has a clue about the problem
| Michael wrote: | I already spoke with that company and it seems unlikely it will happen. They read some statement to me, and I asked for more info, and the company that they co-develop the products with had "mac compatibility" reported by "some users". When I went to the page, it talked about some users reporting cards working with OS 9. So, it was something from years ago, No OS X compatibility.
http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/support/pfaq/apple.php |
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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Apple announced MacBook Pros to be shipping this week.
No ExpressCard/34 solutions available yet.
Interesting, they bumped up the speeds before they even shipped them:
| Quote: | Instead of using the previously announced 1.83 gigahertz Core Duo processor, Apple said the new high-end MacBook will feature a 2.0 Ghz chip, but will remain priced at $2,499. The lower-end $1,999 model will have a 1.83 Ghz chip, instead of the previously announced 1.67 Ghz chip.
Customers may also upgrade to a 2.16 Ghz version.
Some may have to wait before buying one. Apple has said it will need some time to catch up with a backlog of orders. |
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viciouson
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't have a mac but I'm running into the same problem with my dell xps notebook. Actually, an express/54 would probably work out better for me but that's besides the point. I've been scrambling around search engines looking for an adapter to no avail. This is rather dissapointing. Would anybody happen to know of some miracle solution? Or perhapse a somewhat confirmed release date of a good adapter? The best I could do was to find a universal usb reader that had a pcmcia slot. I'm a little skeptical as to if that will actually work. Has any body tried to use one of those successfully? Let's keep this thread alive. Hopefully a solution can be found in a timely manner. Thank you for your time. |
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HillCountryHero
EVDO User
Joined: 11 Jul 2005
Posts: 66
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| Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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I went to my local Apple Store (austin) last night and they had two 2.0ghz MacBooks. The ExpressCard slot is TINY, about half the size or smaller than the current PCIMCIA slot. I wonder if it is an engineering challenge to shrink all the EVDO gear needed for the car inside one of those cards? I hope Apple didn't think different too quickly this time. I'm pro adding the new technologies, but as my MBP is set to arrive in a few weeks, I'm getting nervous that I'll be EVDOless for a year or so, unless I shell out $250 for a KR! and drag that around everywhere I go....
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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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| Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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Although the page below hasn't been updated since last month, there really isn't any new information to report.
MacBook Pro, EVDO, ExpressCard
The page above and this thread on EVDOforums will be updated as new information becomes available. FYI, the CTIA show in Las Vegas takes place the first week in April and they are always showing cool new products there.
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MetroTech88
EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Another option for you would be a USB EVDO modem, still not available, but maybe this will come before the Express Card. |
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MetroTech88
EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry, I just re-read the whole thread, you knew this already. |
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Michael
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 5086
Location: Cary, IL
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| Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe at the CTIA show in Las Vegas during the first week of April - there will be some announcements. This is the place that wireless companies announce new products. (Lets hope!)
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Frisk151
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 02 Feb 2006
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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I ran into the same problem after ordering a Dell XPS 140. I went so far as to purchase the Verizon EVDO card and found out when I plugged it in that it had no ordinary PC card slot. I honestly never thought to look before since it has internal wireless, but I was still pissed. I called Dell up and laid into them. They actually refunded me back $145 rather than me sending the laptop back to them. I'm sure if you are still under the 20 day mark you could get the same.
I purchased this laptop strictly for business travel and had evdo in mind when I purchased it. They offered a USB dongle/converter but I obviously don't want to drag around extra cables or I would have gotten something larger that would accomodate the card anyway.
So, I'm waiting. I may get the KR-1(?) 802.11 wireless router with the port for a EVDO pc card if they don't hurry up.
| viciouson wrote: | | I don't have a mac but I'm running into the same problem with my dell xps notebook. Actually, an express/54 would probably work out better for me but that's besides the point. I've been scrambling around search engines looking for an adapter to no avail. This is rather dissapointing. Would anybody happen to know of some miracle solution? Or perhapse a somewhat confirmed release date of a good adapter? The best I could do was to find a universal usb reader that had a pcmcia slot. I'm a little skeptical as to if that will actually work. Has any body tried to use one of those successfully? Let's keep this thread alive. Hopefully a solution can be found in a timely manner. Thank you for your time. |
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billalex
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Frisk151 wrote: | | ...They offered a USB dongle/converter but I obviously don't want to drag around extra cables or I would have gotten something larger that would accomodate the card anyway... |
I second the post above. The USB/Dongle is a solution that almost everyone on this board is waiting for, outside of an EVDO card that fits in an express card slot that is. Any information on this alleged dongle would be great, although I suspect that the Dell customer service rep was either confused, or offering something completely different, that would not allow our existing PC cards to connect and transfer info over EVDO. |
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