Wifi Vs Mobile Access To Internet

[10years]

Somehow this topic got posted before I had finished. Please ignore the earlier version. This is the first day I have tried posting on a webboard.

I'm in the market for a notebook PC for work/play.

I saw two models that seemed to have the exact same specs but one was more expensive. Perplexed, I finally asked a salesman what the difference was. He said one was only compatible with the A and G WiFi standards, while the other was rated at the N spec, which was multiples faster.

I learned that the newer (but non-Centrino 2) models have an Intel WiFi Pro 4965 feature matching the 811.1 AGN standard, which is part of the Centrino set.

How important/good is it to have the N capability? Are there hotspots in Bangkok that run at that speed?

I imagine that wireless Internet access will be crucial for me because I don't have my own fixed telephone line at my apartment complex.

But I just noticed recent posts describing getting Net access from cellular service providers, so now I'm a little confused. Doesn't True also offer a WiFi Internet service? What are the pros/cons of WiFi and mobile access?

[OriginalPoster]

Somehow this topic got posted before I had finished. Please ignore the earlier version. This is the first day I have tried posting on a webboard.

I'm in the market for a notebook PC for work/play.

I saw two models that seemed to have the exact same specs but one was more expensive. Perplexed, I finally asked a salesman what the difference was. He said one was only compatible with the A and G WiFi standards, while the other was rated at the N spec, which was multiples faster.

I learned that the newer (but non-Centrino 2) models have an Intel WiFi Pro 4965 feature matching the 811.1 AGN standard, which is part of the Centrino set.

How important/good is it to have the N capability? Are there hotspots in Bangkok that run at that speed?

I imagine that wireless Internet access will be crucial for me because I don't have my own fixed telephone line at my apartment complex.

But I just noticed recent posts describing getting Net access from cellular service providers, so now I'm a little confused. Doesn't True also offer a WiFi Internet service? What are the pros/cons of WiFi and mobile access?

Having N capability might be useful if you plan to setup a N router in your home and will be moving data between computers or other devices that are also connected to that router. In that environment, you may appreciate the speed advantage of N. However if all you are doing is connecting to the internet your not going to see a speed advantage with N (though you might get a range advatange) since the bottle neck in Thailand is nearly always going to be the connection speeds offered by the ISP. You won't often find a public wifi connections to the internet in Thailand that exceed the speed capabilities of even 802.11 B.

[Crushdepth]

And most hotspots in Thailand are b or g.

[paveet]

Most hotspots in the world are either b or g. Infact I've never seen any n hotspots :|

I've just setup a draft-N (Linksys WRT160N) network in my home and I must say I'm not impressed with it. The speed increases are tiny and the range increase doesn't really.... exist..

[paveet]

(double post)

Edited September 15, 2008 by paveet