I have good news for MacBook Pro users who are lamenting the loss of their PC Card slot and haven’t been able to connect to the Internet via EDGE and GPRS using their ExpressCard slot.
nova media today unveiled launch2net version 1.4.9 with support of the Novatel Merlin XU870 wireless ExpressCard modem. This ExpressCard allows mobile Internet connections with up to 3.6
Mbit/s in all HSPDA networks around the world as well as 3G UMTS, EDGE and GPRS connections.
Here’s what the PR person has to say…
“MacBook Pro users can finally use a wireless HSDPA ExpressCard modem”,
states Jan Fuellemann, PR spokesperson at nova media. “It is the most
convenient way to establish a mobile internet connection and MacBook Pro
users are not left in the dark any more.”
I haven’t tried this in my MacBook Pro yet, but I’m anxious to hear field reports from anyone that has. If it works, this could solve a lot of problems for me…
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Looks like support for MacBook Pro owners is actually available free from NovaTel themselves, so I'm not sure what the nova media flak means by "finally use." Finally use some expensive software in addition to the manufacturer's free drivers? Oh, thank goodness!
http://www.novatelwireless.com/support/merlin-xu870-apple.html
I'm so glad you posted this comment Will. Have you used NovaTel's bundled driver? Does it work well for Mac users? If anyone has more info about this, please post.
Not yet -- I actually sold the MacBook Pro I bought at WWDC because (a) I'm waiting for the newer chips, and because I made an executive decision that my monster minions have to make Delicious Library 2 run fast on PowerBooks, which means we aren't allowed to own MacBooks until we ship DL2. Including me. :(
Used the Novatel Merlin XU870 without launch2net, though the driver seems very unstable. Often causes the machine to lock up, especially when it is searching for networks. Yet works quite well and is very fast with UMTS/HSDPA.
I have used the launch2net with my mobile phone and it is an excellent product. Solves a lot of headaches without having to search for modem scripts, etc. If your phone already works with your mac, so much the better, but I found launch2net was worth it to me just because I don't have the time to mess around with these gadgets that should simply just work the first time.
Speaking of time, I don't know how I found enough to post this comment - but if you are on the move alot, I can recommend both products!!