Considering how expensive cellphone data rates are in the US, I'm actually happy to not have modems in laptops. They're paperweights to people like me.
Unless you're on Google Fi, a laptop with a modem doesn't make sense for most people. They're very expensive and laptops are rarely used where there isn't Wi-Fi available. And most people can just tether to their phones in those rare situations.
I second that. I am traveling in India right now. For example even the 65$ unlimited is only limited to 50GB high speed (10$ per GB other wise). In India I can buy 50GB additional high speed data for less than 5$. Most have 1-3GB per day limit for high speed per day even for regular plans (not per month), which makes more sense as if you go over by accident you are reset for the next day.
Here in South Africa, one can get unlimited data all hours for about 45 USD, and unlimited from midnight to 7 p.m. for about 13 USD. The speed is limited, though, on these bundles, and throttles after 250 GB and even more after 300, I think.
Where I live 5G line plans can range in price from around 7$ for 50GB to around 22$ for 2TB, there are also plans for several lines with shared data cap. It all depends how competitive the market is - as we have 10 suppliers.
The US isn't the whole world. For example in Poland (EU) cellular data is relatively cheap, there are also "unlimited" plans for like $25-$30 per month. And in many cases you also get additional SIM card sharing the same plan or even the same number. Cut-throat competition makes wonders even in the EU. For us, 5G in the laptop could make sense if the price is reasonable like $150-$200 extra.
... And by "unlimited" in Poland I really mean that. There are offers with no formal bottleneck in the contract and transferring even a few TB per month is not a problem. All for that $25-$30. It's not blazing fast, though, as the base stations are often heavily loaded.
Next door in Germany getting a truly unlimited plan for consumers tends to be way more expensive, more in the €70/month range.
But corporate plans are easily in the €20-30 range yet offer unlimited global roaming.
Big-T tends to cap bandwidths for cheap corporates to counter abuse at home (where I'm least likely to use 5G), but all caps are removed within the EU, which is why I tend to get way better bandwidth on 5G e.g. in France than on the corporate network there...
Too bad that on trains everything just sucks, while planes are still excluded from those data plans.
Those stupid XPS keyboards without function keys need to die a death like the Thinkpad X1s did before them. I'd be buying for my team if Dell pulled their finger out and fixed that.
The XPS laptops have function keys but they are touch and can change the icon from function keys (f1, f2 ... f12) to media control (mute, vol up/down etc). Not the best design but you still have the functionality.
In my country 5G data is dirt cheap ! 2-5 EUR for virtually unlimted 5G data . That would be a huge selling point alongside 1 day battery life for work from home companies.
Most business apps work in browser and trough corporate VPN anyway .
If they position it right they may sell milions.
I am aslo sure that it will be a missed opportunity as they will be hugely expensive WAY OVER cap-ex for any 1000+ employees so no one will even consider it.
Make it 700 EUR laptop with 5G and decent battery and it wil survive. But it will for sure be 1700 EUR and it will collect dust on shelves.
Retail does not buy 1000+ coporations also do not. So .....
Some laptops will come with modems.... Okaaaaay, thanks I guess. Considering you could purchase a computer 10+ years ago with a cellular modem installed, this isn't exactly a big deal. Sure it's 5G but thats just the inevitable march of technology.
Hmm, I got extra SIMs and unlimited global data from my employer, so I got myself a tablet with 5G some years back, because hotel WiFi was usually nightmarishly bad but 5G rather good.
And using the phone as a WiFi hotspot can be a bit of a bother, when WiFi is overcrowded as it often is in my main travel locations (Paris and Brussels).
If 5G modems was an extra €50-100 I'd spring for it any day. Same for 64GB of RAM or 2 extra TB of SSD.
And of course I go for cable (2.5-10Gbit) in any office or home location, because I tend to have lots of data on those 2-4TB NVMEs that needs updates or copying pre and post travel.
Too bad all these vendors just want to duplicate the original fruity cult's extortion for what was pure commodity on x86.
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ballsystemlord - Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - link
Considering how expensive cellphone data rates are in the US, I'm actually happy to not have modems in laptops. They're paperweights to people like me.peterfares - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
Unless you're on Google Fi, a laptop with a modem doesn't make sense for most people.They're very expensive and laptops are rarely used where there isn't Wi-Fi available. And most people can just tether to their phones in those rare situations.
sharath.naik - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
I second that. I am traveling in India right now. For example even the 65$ unlimited is only limited to 50GB high speed (10$ per GB other wise). In India I can buy 50GB additional high speed data for less than 5$. Most have 1-3GB per day limit for high speed per day even for regular plans (not per month), which makes more sense as if you go over by accident you are reset for the next day.Mitch97122 - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
less than 12$ for 140G in FranceGeoffreyA - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
I think Free Mobile has an unlimited plan for about €35, isn't it?RaduR - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
5 EUR unlimted in Romania.GeoffreyA - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
Here in South Africa, one can get unlimited data all hours for about 45 USD, and unlimited from midnight to 7 p.m. for about 13 USD. The speed is limited, though, on these bundles, and throttles after 250 GB and even more after 300, I think.GeoffreyA - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
I should have put the "unlimited" in quotes!Eliadbu - Tuesday, June 25, 2024 - link
Where I live 5G line plans can range in price from around 7$ for 50GB to around 22$ for 2TB, there are also plans for several lines with shared data cap. It all depends how competitive the market is - as we have 10 suppliers.MakaanPL - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
The US isn't the whole world. For example in Poland (EU) cellular data is relatively cheap, there are also "unlimited" plans for like $25-$30 per month. And in many cases you also get additional SIM card sharing the same plan or even the same number. Cut-throat competition makes wonders even in the EU.For us, 5G in the laptop could make sense if the price is reasonable like $150-$200 extra.
MakaanPL - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
... And by "unlimited" in Poland I really mean that. There are offers with no formal bottleneck in the contract and transferring even a few TB per month is not a problem. All for that $25-$30. It's not blazing fast, though, as the base stations are often heavily loaded.abufrejoval - Friday, June 21, 2024 - link
Next door in Germany getting a truly unlimited plan for consumers tends to be way more expensive, more in the €70/month range.But corporate plans are easily in the €20-30 range yet offer unlimited global roaming.
Big-T tends to cap bandwidths for cheap corporates to counter abuse at home (where I'm least likely to use 5G), but all caps are removed within the EU, which is why I tend to get way better bandwidth on 5G e.g. in France than on the corporate network there...
Too bad that on trains everything just sucks, while planes are still excluded from those data plans.
dontlistentome - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
Those stupid XPS keyboards without function keys need to die a death like the Thinkpad X1s did before them.I'd be buying for my team if Dell pulled their finger out and fixed that.
Eliadbu - Tuesday, June 25, 2024 - link
The XPS laptops have function keys but they are touch and can change the icon from function keys (f1, f2 ... f12) to media control (mute, vol up/down etc). Not the best design but you still have the functionality.RaduR - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
In my country 5G data is dirt cheap ! 2-5 EUR for virtually unlimted 5G data . That would be a huge selling point alongside 1 day battery life for work from home companies.Most business apps work in browser and trough corporate VPN anyway .
If they position it right they may sell milions.
I am aslo sure that it will be a missed opportunity as they will be hugely expensive WAY OVER cap-ex for any 1000+ employees so no one will even consider it.
Make it 700 EUR laptop with 5G and decent battery and it wil survive. But it will for sure be 1700 EUR and it will collect dust on shelves.
Retail does not buy 1000+ coporations also do not. So .....
GeoffreyA - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
That is cheap!meacupla - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
This is more of an American (and Canadian) ISPs being unscrupulous problem because they get to run de-facto monopolies in their region.PeachNCream - Wednesday, June 12, 2024 - link
Some laptops will come with modems.... Okaaaaay, thanks I guess. Considering you could purchase a computer 10+ years ago with a cellular modem installed, this isn't exactly a big deal. Sure it's 5G but thats just the inevitable march of technology.abufrejoval - Friday, June 21, 2024 - link
Hmm, I got extra SIMs and unlimited global data from my employer, so I got myself a tablet with 5G some years back, because hotel WiFi was usually nightmarishly bad but 5G rather good.And using the phone as a WiFi hotspot can be a bit of a bother, when WiFi is overcrowded as it often is in my main travel locations (Paris and Brussels).
If 5G modems was an extra €50-100 I'd spring for it any day. Same for 64GB of RAM or 2 extra TB of SSD.
And of course I go for cable (2.5-10Gbit) in any office or home location, because I tend to have lots of data on those 2-4TB NVMEs that needs updates or copying pre and post travel.
Too bad all these vendors just want to duplicate the original fruity cult's extortion for what was pure commodity on x86.