OK, by definition from Wiki, Qualcomm Gobi is a mobile broadband technology that connects laptops and UMPCs to the Internet via 3G cellular networks around the world. Gobi is the first built-in, 3G modem with the ability to connect you to both EVDO and HSPA cellular networks using a single embedded device.
I just got a non-Gobi HP 2510p laptop with an AT&T HSDPA 3G card, I pulled my activated dataconnect SIM card out of my Merlin card, I slid it in the HP SIM slot, downloaded the AT&T/Cingular software to enable the MC8775, and I'm now traveling with 3G internet. Pretty cool and the built-in antennas do a pretty good job of pulling in a signal.
Now I'm trying to understand the new Gobi featured laptops. I've read about Gobi on the HP website but they don't say much about the hardware, and I've glanced at the HP Mobile Broadband Gobi laptops. Pretty cool and pretty expensive laptops too. I also searched the Lenovo website and I don't see much on Gobi except something about a Qualcomm Gobi Driver Package for Lenovo. So is Gobi a chipset that is built-in to the motherboard? I.E., is it soldered on the mobo? Or is it a daughter-card (like the Sierra Wireless MC8775) that slides into a mini PCI-E slot? Does a Gobi laptop have a SIM slot? Am I wrong to assume that the ThinkPad T400, T500, W500, X200, X200s, X200 Tablet, and X301 are all Gobi enabled when you order the broadband option? Is Gobi built-in on the motherboard already? All you need to do is add the driver?
Since I have AT&T dataconnect service on my SIM, do I need to sign up/activate new service with a Gobi laptop? Or can I put my SIM card in a Gobi laptop and enable the software with a driver like I did on my 2510p? Thanks for any help.
Message edited by: soundxli on 2009-06-11 16:34:11 CDT
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Message edited by: marsilies on 2009-06-11 21:57:56 CDT
From: http://www.crn.com/networking/207001057;jsessionid=2G3EQVQYVMYFM... Raleigh said imbedding wireless connectivity capabilities into notebooks for use on various carrier networks helps VARs and distributors avoid having to stock notebooks with various wireless card configurations. Since one device can unify several different networks, one notebook can be shipped anywhere in the world and still connect.
"You don't have to change notebooks to change carriers or have the chipset replaced," he said.
So the idea is that this single module supports the majority of cell networks in the world. However, manufacturers can lock the module to one specific carrier, and may restrict its interoperability by removing certain parts like the USIM/SIM card slot. For example, the Sony Vaio-P Gobi-equipped laptop in the UK has a SIM-card slot, but the US Verizon-locked version doesn't.
So, when I looked at the Best Buy ad this past weekend, I saw two HP laptops 1153NR Atom Netbook and DV4-1365DX. Both had "embedded Mobile Broadband capability" highlighted in yellow, and showed the laptops with 2 yr plan prices high to low starting with Verizon, AT&T, then Sprint. I was surprised Sprint was so cheap for the DV4 ($399.99) and Verizon was the most expensive ($799.99). I assume the difference is due to 3G coverage area.
Anyway, after doing some searching I found that there is a Gobi 1000 and a Gobi 2000 PCI Express Mini Card module. This is exactly what I wanted to know. I was hoping it was not an actual microchip soldered directly to the MOBO like the ICH chipset (Input/Output Controller Hub) and sure enough it is a daughtercard like the Sierra Wireless MC8775. By the way, the ICH chip in your laptop eventually comes loose from the MOBO due to poor manufacturing practices (and poor heat dissipation) and causes your laptop to freeze (and basically makes your laptop useless forever after). But that's another forum topic...
Now, after reading the Gobi 1000 and 2000 specs, and seeing that only the 2000 supports Windows 7, how will you know which module that new laptop will have? I'm sure that the laptop retailers like Best.Buy, Office.Depot, or Staplez will have no clue which module the laptop has. It's something to consider and ask about or at least research before you make that new laptop purchase with "embedded Mobile Broadband capability".
Message edited by: soundxli on 2009-06-11 16:12:36 CDT
soundxli said:So, when I looked at the Best Buy ad this past weekend, I saw two HP laptops 1153NR Atom Netbook and DV4-1365DX. Both had "embedded Mobile Broadband capability" highlighted in yellow, and showed the laptops with 2 yr plan prices high to low starting with Verizon, AT&T, then Sprint. I was surprised Sprint was so cheap for the DV4 ($399.99) and Verizon was the most expensive ($799.99). I assume the difference is due to 3G coverage area.
I'd say the price difference has more to do the DV4 being a netbook, while the 1153NR is a laptop, with a lot more processing power, 4 times the RAM, a 4" larger screen, big harddrive, etc. The prices for netbooks and laptops without the cards are comparable.
@ marsilies, I was talking specifically about the DV4 priced at 399.99 with Sprint vs. the same DV4 priced at 799.99 with Verizon. The Netbook is $99.99 with Sprint vs the same netbook is $399.99 with Verizon. AT&T is in the middle for both laptops.
soundxli said:@ marsilies, I was talking specifically about the DV4 priced at 399.99 with Sprint vs. the same DV4 priced at 799.99 with Verizon. The Netbook is $99.99 with Sprint vs the same netbook is $399.99 with Verizon. AT&T is in the middle for both laptops. Sounds like the Sprint ones are subsidized by a commitment to a multi-year contract. Are you sure that the more expensive model are actually Verizon-locked, or Verizon just one of the provider options listed?
Best Buy June 7 ad showing two Gobi laptops is attached. It showed prices for both laptops with a 2 year contract for any of the three carriers.
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Looks like the Verizon 1153NR is only $50 off its regular price, and the Verizon DV4 isn't any cheaper than the regular price. I'm still guessing that Verizon isn't subsidizing the price, and that means that the laptop/netbook with Verizon service probably isn't locked to that provider.
FYI Gobi is not soldered to the motherboard and in no way requires you to upgrade to Gobi. Gobi allows you to choose your carrier where as other cards require that you use whatever carrier they are certified for. The connection intenrally is referred to as a MiniPCI interface and is much like the interface on a desk top PCI but obviusly smaller. Swapping the cards is easy although not reccomended and you need to investigate if the interanl antenae supports the new card you want.
ComSpecialist said:FYI Gobi is not soldered to the motherboard and in no way requires you to upgrade to Gobi. The Gobi card itself isn't soldered to the motherboard, but the SIM card slot is. If the motherboard doesn't have a SIM card slot, it limits the carriers the Gobi can use.
Gobi allows you to choose your carrier where as other cards require that you use whatever carrier they are certified for. Gobi supports a lot of different cell frequencies, but it can still be locked to one particular carrier, such as the Sony Viao P in the US is locked to Verizon.
Looks as though Gobi do some real neat touchscreen tablets. Anyone here know anything about these? What kind of weight are they? Where do I get hold of a Gobi laptop / notebook?
amyivey said:I've been checking out gobi.com but I can't see a link to how I can buy a laptop or notebook. Any help? Gobi doesn't make or sell laptops. They make mobile broadband cards to be put into laptops. You'll have to shop around for a laptop and check out its specs if you want to know whether it has a gobi card or not.
amyivey said:Well they have a bunch of tablets on their site at gobi.com. I'm confused... They don't make those, those are tablets that have Gobi cards in them.
It's like buying a Sony digital camera with a Carl Zeiss lens: Carl Zeiss didn't make the camera, Sony did. Carl Zeiss supplied the lens that went into the camera.
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