2379-DJU (T41) vs. 2378-FVU (T42)?

[cynic]

Centrino doesn't mean that it is wired into the chip/circuit board. It is also a miniPCI card.

Centrino just means you use 3 Intel parts:
1) Pentium M processor
2) 855 chipset
3) Intel miniPCI wireless card (currently only B or B/G standards available)

It was Intel's way of spreading marketing money to companies. If you used all three parts, then Intel would give you some marketing money and you could use the Centrino logo. If you used only 2 (the chipset and processor) you could only brand it a Pentium M and didn't get marketing money. Most companies did some of both (especially since Intel's wireless cards were so behind everyone else in features like "a" or "g" support or companies like IBM needed to offer Cisco's security protocols only offered on Cisco cards.)

Honestly, the Intel wireless miniPCI cards seem to have less compatibility with wireless basestations (more so in the first version than the recent 2200BG card) The Atheros chipset IBM uses in their wireless card is considered one of the best. I think the power consumption is about the same (I have a friend with the Intel wireless in a T series), but connectivity of my IBM/Philips/Atheros card has always been better.

[andyk]

Both are mini-PCI.

Beware that these mini-PCI cards have to be "from IBM". Otherwise they wouldn't work in a Thinkpad. IBM is marking these cards up by at least 100% from Intel's price...

This link has link to a PowerPoint slide (presumably by Intel) that compares Intel's 802.11.g (in red) with competitors' (in grey). It's on page 9.

http://www.realworldtech.com/forums/ind ... &roomID=11

[XCoalMiner]

Beware that these mini-PCI cards have to be "from IBM". Otherwise they wouldn't work in a Thinkpad. IBM is marking these cards up by at least 100% from Intel's price...

When you say these mini-PCi cards must be from IBM, I believe you are referring to what is described in detail here, about BIOS checking for secret PCI-ID's on bootup, ... I think.

[andyk]

Nice find, XCoalMiner.

I remember reading that 2200BG costs $25 in quantities of 10,000 from Intel (sorry cannot find the link just now).

CDW is selling it for $34.

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/defaul ... edc=592320

Would be something interesting to try...

[andyk]

CantStopNow is right about Banias using less power than Dothan in battery mode. I finally stumbled across this link:

http://support.intel.com/support/proces ... 007981.htm

I like to verify things