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Centrino
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"Centrino is not a new
processor or piece of hardware. It is a marketing strategy highlighting
three technologies by Intel" |
 Intel’s innovative “unwired” advertising
campaign, launched on March 12, 2003 promises to change not only how you
work, but where you work. The TV spots show people on the move
using wireless notebook PCs in unexpected places, such as golf course driving
ranges and airports. The clever campaign was created to promote
Intel’s new Centrino Mobile Technology, which enables wireless
capabilities in smaller, lightweight PCs, bringing true mobility to laptop
users.
Here is the real scoop on Centrino:
The Technology:
We are excited about the theory behind
Centrino, but what is it exactly? Centrino is not a new processor, or piece of
actual hardware. It is a combination of three technologies that Intel is
marketing as “Centrino”. It is comprised of these three elements:
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Intel's 855 Chipset
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Intel's Pentium M
Processor |
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Intel's Pro Wireless
2100 / 802.11b
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The combination of these products provide
breakthrough performance and substantially extended battery life for notebooks.
If it does not have all three of these components, it is not
Centrino !
The Connectivity:
 An increasingly popular way to work and play on
the go, hotspots provide wireless LAN service, for free or for a fee, from a
wide variety of public meeting areas, including coffee shops and airport
lounges. There are currently thousands of hotspots worldwide—and new access
points are being added daily.
HOT SPOTS: Public wireless LAN access points (also known
as hotspots) may require registration and the payment of access fees. The number
of public access points is increasing rapidly. You can use your Intel Centrino
mobile technology-based notebook at any hotspot, but locations in Intel's hotspot
finder have been verified by service providers for Intel Centrino mobile
technology. Home wireless connectivity requires the installation of a home
access point, which must be purchased separately. For more information from
Intel
click
here.
These hotspots are becoming very common at
airports and Starbuck coffee shops and usually require subscription to a service
such as T-Mobile at $30/month in addition to your current ISP.
To use these hotspots, your computer must be
configured with Wi-Fi certified technology so you can connect with other
Wi-Fi
certified products. With Intel Centrino mobile technology, you've got the Wi-Fi
certification you need, although any 802.11b compliant wireless LAN product can
connect to a hotspot with the necessary service.
The Reality:
If you are a frequent traveler and a heavy
coffee drinker you are all set. Unless you live in a big city such as New York
or Chicago where Hotspots are more common, you may get frustrated with inconsistency in
the service until more Hotspots are added across the country.
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