Thinkpads Forum

Hello,

I have a quote in to purchase my loaded W701ds on Monday, I purchased the "Intel Centrino Advanced-N with WiMAX" and an integrated web cam.

I might switch back to the "Intel Centrino Ultimate-N" because I'm not sure WiMAX is supported enough in Long Island/New York to warrant the Advanced-N over the Ultimate-N card.

So questions I had that I couldn't find online:

• Is there WiMAX available in New York City/Long Island? Intel points to "Clear", but they don't show support on Long Island, NY.
• I have ATT Wirless 3G, does the WiMAX card work with the 3G network?
• If I do decide to switch back to the Ultimate-N card, will having the inetgrated web camera remove an antenna like it does in the smaller thinkpads? Or is the W701ds series laptops big enough to cary 3x3 antennas along with the integrated web camera?
• OT - What type of 128GB SSD drives does Lenovo use?

Any information on the topic is appreciated. Thanks.

Here is my W701ds setup currently depending on what I decide with aboves questions:
Processor - Intel Core i7-920XM
Display - 17" WUXGA RGB-LED-BL + 10.6" WXGA LED-BL
Graphics - NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M 128-core 1GB
Memory - 16 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (4 DIMM)
Pointing device - Ultranav + Number Pad + Fingerprint Reader + Pantone Color Sensor + WACOM Digitizer w/ Stylus
Camera - Camera, 2.0 MP
Storage subsystem - Internal RAID - Configured by Lenovo
Hard Drive - Dual 128GB RAID Enabled SSD's, Serial ATA
Optical device - Multi Recorder Optical Drive (12.7mm)
Expansion slots - Compact Flash (PCIe) + Express Card(34mm)
Bluetooth - Bluetooth w/ antenna
WiFi - Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250

I ordered my W701ds recently (5/11) and it appears that Lenovo updated the list of available WiFi adapters since then. I went with "Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250" at the time, which is no longer available as an option. Looks like it was replaced with "Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300".

WiFi adapters currently available on Lenovo web site for W701ds:

ThinkPad b/g/n Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe
Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 [add $40.00]

I guess I should call them and ask to change the order, if it's still possible. Up to 450 Mbps of bandwidth seems to be more attractive than up to 300 Mbps...

Links to Intel web site:

Intel® Centrino® Advanced–N + WiMAX 6250
Intel® Centrino® Ultimate-N 6300 and Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6200

I also noticed that "Bluetooth w/ antenna" option has been replaced with "Integrated Bluetooth PAN 2". And what's "Modem Yes -AMoM"? This option wasn't even available.

I have to wait for my laptop for another month or so and it obsolete already.

WiMax is carrier dependent and they always provide devices to access their network. I think there is more flexibility if you DON'T have it embedded inside your computer.

I think those 2 types of Bluetooth options are the same, just different terminology. They decided to call it PAN personal area network only because it sounds cool.

That modem is something that's always been present. It's just that they updated their database to include it when displaying configuration. Again, more of a marketing thing than technical.