My old Thinkpads and even my first iPad had SIM slots. I kinda miss that as it’d be much more handy now. LTE and the precursors were painful to use at the time.
Those used to be things in the early 2000’s; cellular cards with sims that went into a PCI slot. Surely they still exist?
At least in Finland we had USB cellular data adapters (I belive that’s the full term) back in the 3G/maybe early 4G days. I haven’t checked if they’re still a thing.
(Never had one myself. Got a WiFi dongle instead because the city had a decent municipal WiFi coverage.)
They are. Skype, Signal, Telegram, whatever other million chat apps. The only thing stopping you using the big cell networks is the telcos stopping it to sell their access, and phones. And some of them may allow it for a fee, but I don’t care enough to find out.
RIP Skype
It was decent before Microsoft had to “dogfood” it, rewrite it with their own shitty code, by incompetent programmers.
There are different cellular networks and frequencies in different places so computer manufacturers can’t pick one module and expect it to work everywhere. If you’re paying for service, you’ll want to get the most out of it by having a modem that’s up to date and maximally compatible with the network. So it makes sense to get a plugin device or a WiFi mobile hotspot from your carrier. A WiFi mobile hotspot can additionally be used with other devices.
Also mobile network hardware updates at a decent pace so it’s nice to be able to update those single purpose devices at their own pace independent of your laptop upgrade.
And then carrier and FCC certification are an extra hassle for laptop makers.
Localized parts are really a thing for electronics. (See keyboards)
I know Dell offers optional cell capabilities in some models. Just like the heated steering wheel in a car, this usually is an option you want to get at purchase. Expansion slots can offer the same capabilities.
Something like a removable “mobile chip” for a laptop could address this problem. Framework could probably pull it off, but I don’t know if the market incentives it.
I have a framework laptop. The Wi-Fi chip is its own module on an M.2 slot. LTE modules in this form factor already exist.
Framework already released the specification for the add-ons. So some other folk can also make it if they want.
One thing about having a computer on a mobile connection that’s not as great as you might think: it’s easy for something like a software update to blow through a ton of data and cost a lot of money.
Because most places you’d use it already has free WiFi (home, office, train, coffee shop, etc), and everywhere else you can just tether from the phone, so there’s no point paying a separate bill just for the laptop.
But you can still get a laptop with lte, it’s an option if you need it. My x1 yoga has a sim slot. Or you can get a usb dongle.
You would need a massive pocket
I was gifted a 4g router for my birthday or Christmas or something. It was the better solution for me because one plan gets me internet access on however many devices I attach to it where I would otherwise need a sim card for every tablet and laptop I use.
If you choose to pack a portable monitor+kb+dock combo, you can use your phone as a computer instead with Dex or similar. Seems more practical to me in 2025.
I prefer the laptop-size screen and keyboard vs miniaturized versions of them
There are laptops that come with LTE chips… they’re just not popular. You’re right though, there is the increasing mentality of “always online” that some people just expect to have. I’m not one of them but I can see why the technical argument could be made. Broadband home routers are starting to show up with support for this already and so it’s only a matter of time. As another commenter said, it will drive up the price for artificially no reason…
Pretty sure Linux supports eSims and some older laptops support Sim cards, you can add one to your PC as well. Personally I just use secure ways of communicating but it would def be useful when your traveling.
Because it costs extra for little benefit. LTE was a choice for my notebook. I just set my phone to wifi tether, saved me $200.
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PC with phone capability: this is already very much a thing.
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Desktop OS + mobile formfactor: this can be done, but I’m not sure how it’s any different from what we have right now, especially if you use Android.
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Because it doesn’t fit in my pocket.
There’s a certain vocal tech crowd that is trying to get Apple to put a damn modem in their MacBook Pros, especially since they’ve created their own.
Yes you can hotspot but that’s just one more thing to have to do. There is zero reason not to offer it as an option at this point.
It is an option. Search for cell phone laptop modem and you will find hundreds of cards to install to give you cell phone service.
Literally every internet device has a modem. You just change it from one with a wifi antenna to one with a LTE(cellphone) antenna.
This question was born entirely out of ignorance of the devices existence, not an actual lack of the device existing. I had one in the freaking 90’s.
Does no one remember tablet pcs, which are just low end laptops without a keyboard, that come pretty standard with cell phone service, including iPads???
But that approach you lose wifi.
Though I have 3 laptops with both wifi and cell, 2 old Dells and a newer Lenovo.
I think the complaint here is Apple not even giving the option of both simultaneously.
That’s a fair point, but then I’m just sitting here going “Well don’t but an Apple, duh”. Like you don’t buy a minivan expecting to take it out on the racetrack, so why do so many people insist Apple be what it isn’t?
Apple is like the Nintendo of computers. Are their devices the fastest/top of the line? Not really - at least not at Apples price points. But do they offer a pretty seamless “it just works” performance? Yeah. You buy an Apple if you want that. If you want upgradable hardware or just more customization and features, you… Go elsewhere.
These options for cell and wifi connectivity exist, as you’ve also pointed out. But consumers are overall lazy(yeah, I’ll get yelled at for that, but it’s true - a quick search would have revealed tons of options) and demand solutions just be handed to them. You can’t help those who don’t want to actually learn.
Laptops no longer have extension slots. You used to be able to buy cards for specific purposes and slot them in. Modern laptops have lost this, and most laptops are not self-serviceable, so any cellular modern you get today is going to be an external peripheral.
Where are you finding laptops with integrated cellular chips?
I have 3.
It just has to be chosen as an option at purchase time. Though usually consumer lines don’t have the option.
It’s almost like you’d swap out the WiFi card for a sim/WiFi card… Ffs tech literacy really has died, hasn’t it?
Ye, that’s crap, but seems mostly an Apple issue. If you need a PC with both, you buy a business class machine (which I do anyway, because consumer lines suck).
I know they exist. I was specifically pointing out that lack of feature in a major computing platform.
And I pointed to the iPads, that are keyboardless laptops, that come standard with one from the exact company you criticized. So I really question what you do know.
I’ve got a little netbook from ages ago that takes a 3G SIM, I used it occasionally as phones didn’t really do tethering back then, no real need now I can tether.
