this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023
1 points (100.0% liked)

Apple

67 readers
5 users here now

A place for Apple news, rumors, and discussions.

founded 11 months ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] soramac@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (14 children)

Wait, if Apple is able to pull off their own cellular modem chip, they might put it into a Mac as well? That would be sick.

[–] Logicalist@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (7 children)

it would, but I don't know if they would do that.

It would be a fair bit of overhead for a function many would not use, and cellular tech makes more sense in a phone, because people are more likely to have that with them than a laptop.

They could have it as an option, but then it would further fragment their laptop line.

Personally, I wouldn't do it if I was them. Almost everyone has a phone, and the network connection can be shared, it's really not a hassle.

[–] SeismicFrog@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I believe you miss the turning of the technological clock… the future is 5G to the home. It’s here now and offers as fast or faster speeds than many traditional broadband plans.

Have an iMac which is designed for someone who “wants it to work out of the box” - a cellular connection makes this useful in places that broadband is tough but cellular is not impossible. Adding their own cellular silicon would cost little and greatly expand use cases for existing models and alter the value prop of the consumer laptop market. Work across devices anywhere.

Add an access point to the device and now your Mom only needs an iMac and an AppleTV - no cable, no broadband, virtual switch/router in the cloud. Just a new cellular bill that is just a bit less than a broadband package and you have a winner. Have an Apple Watch? Buy a bundle - phone, watch, and computer.

[–] Logicalist@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Adding their own cellular silicon would cost little

They're kinda struggling there from the sounds of it.

I think anyone with access to fiber to the curb internet access would be crazy to opt for 5g instead. Unless you really don't care about consistent and reliable internet access. Which so people don't and that's fine. If I only streamed movies, and browsed, I certainly wouldn't.

But the upstream speeds on cellular are garbage. It takes more electricity to run, generates more heat, and it's still half duplex right?

[–] vmbient@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

future is 5G to the home. It’s here now and offers as fast or faster speeds than many traditional broadband plans.

Wired > wireless. Always, no matter how technologically advanced we are. By the time mmwave is available to everyone we'll have 20gbps fiber at home.

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (10 replies)