Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/17/dell_acer_80211n_laptops/
Dell and Acer both announced today notebook-oriented add-in cards equipped with a pre-standard version of the 802.11n next-generation Wi-Fi specification. The company's cards provide data transfer rates of up to 270Mbps and 300Mbps, the two firms claimed respectively.
Dell's Wireless 1500 is available now for all XPS and Inspiron notebooks, the PC giant said. The optional extra costs $59. It's based on Draft 1.0 of 802.11n, which has yet to be finalised and formally ratified as a standard. To get the maximum throughput, you need ideal conditions and a compatible base-station - which means one based on Broadcom's Intensi-Fi chipset. With the Wi-Fi Alliance refusing to conduct interoperability tests until 802.11n becomes a true standard, vendor-specific branding is the only way to guarantee compatitibility.
That would seem to rule out Acer's InviLink Nplify 802.11n card, which will ship with its upcoming Ferrari 1000 dual-core notebook. Acer didn't say who's chipset it was using. Neither did Dell, but a Broadcom announcement made the connection. Broadcom didn't confirm Acer as a customer, and the fact it claimed a different maximum speeds suggests the two are not partners.
The Ferrari 1000 will ship sometime in the remainder of Q3, Acer said. Last week, reports from Taiwan suggested the laptop would arrive later this month. ®
Dell could go indirect with Acer buy - analyst (27 February 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/02/27/dell_acer_buy/
Asus guarantees pre-n kit will meet 802.11n standard (3 October 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/03/asus_80211n_guarantee/
Wi-Fi Alliance bows to market need for early 802.11n products (14 September 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/14/wi-fi_alliance_early_802_11n/
Wi-Fi Alliance to certify 802.11n ahead of IEEE standard (29 August 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/29/wi_fi_pre_standard_certification/
Dell exec confirms AMD notebooks for October (9 August 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/09/dell_confirms_amd_notebooks/
Dell pledges free CPU upgrade to waiting XPS 700 buyers (24 July 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/24/dell_xps_700_cpu_upgrade/
Medion preps personalised portable PC (20 July 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/20/medion_preps_personalised_pc/
Intel to add 3G connectivity to next-gen Centrino? (17 July 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/17/intel_to_add_3g_to_centrino/
Acer dual-core Ferrari laptops to debut this month (13 July 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/13/acer_ferrari_1000_5000_ship_date/
Dell probes incendiary laptop incident (28 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/28/dell_probes_fiery_laptop/
Acer unveils 'pure, clean' laptop (28 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/28/acer_white_travelmate/
Dell HSDPA laptops work with any 3G carrier (20 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/20/dell_hsdpa_laptops_not_tied_to_vodafone/
Netgear launches 'pre-n' wireless kit (7 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/07/netgear_rangemax/
Consumers warned off pre-standard 802.11n purchases (2 May 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/02/prestandard_purchase_warning/