14 DAY TRIAL // With the fast growth of WiMAX-enabled networks, system vendors are beefing up their products to provide users with support for this new wireless technology. Such is the case with Round Rock, Texas-based Dell, which has recently updated the configuration options on three of its laptops, allowing customers to take advantage of WiMAX technology. The three laptops are part of the company's Studio line and include the Studio 15, 17 and XPS 16 models.
WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, which is essentially a wireless technology that allows data to be transmitted through a variety of transmission modes. By comparison to the more popular Wi-Fi standard, WiMAX can provide access to the network on a wider mobile range, enabling users to stay connected within 30 miles. In the past year, a series of efforts have been made to enable WiMAX on a wider scale. These efforts are expected to continue throughout the year, expanding the support for WiMAX in different areas of the world.
The new option enabled by Dell for its Studio 15, 17 and XPS 16 laptops will allow users to choose the Intel 5150 WiMAX/Wireless-N combo card, as an optional upgrade to the default Intel 5100 Wireless-N card. The upgrade option will add an additional $60 to the starting price tag of the system. However, this option will likely be chosen by only a few, considering that WiMAX is currently supported in a few states, including Atlanta, Portland and select areas within the city of Baltimore.
WiMAX is expected to become a standard wireless connection option for almost all computer users. Following this trend, several system vendors are expected to update their products with support for WiMAX, consequently enabling computer users to connect and browse the Internet from almost any place the road may take them.