New MK for CF-53 and 31 coming soon.

I was informed today that an update on the 31 and 53 are just around the corner.

 

Guess I know who is waiting until then to pull the plug...

 

I knew this months ago

Here is an example of one that is already able to be ordered in the 53 MK3 line up:

CF-531SVBZ1M - Description: Windows 7 Professional, Intel Core i7‑3520M 2.9GHz, 14.0" HD LCD, 256GB Solid State Drive, 8GB (4+4), NO Wi‑Fi, NO Bluetooth, Insertable SmartCard Reader, **Special Federal Model**, DVD Super MULTI Drive, TPM 1.2, Toughbook Preferred

Not sure on the CF-31's yet

 

Can you or anyone decipher this model#?

CF-53SULCLRM

 

I have looked every where but no luck. This must be a MK3 because it does not show up in the config ?

 

Yea, me too!

 

Here you are:

Win8, Intel Core i5-3340M 2.70GHz, vPro, 14.0 inch HD Touch, 500GB(7200rpm), 4GB, Intel WiFi a/b/g/n, TPM, Bluetooth, Dual Pass (Upper:WWAN/Lower:GPS), 4G LTE Multi Carrier, GPS, Emissive Backlit Keyboard, Multi-drive, Toughbook Preferred

MSRP: $3309

This guy is fairly loaded! It will have GOBI 4000 which is FINALLY 4G LTE capable. The carrier specific cards (AKA MC7700 & MC7750) ones do NOT have license agreements with Micro$oft for Win8. Yes, they will work, but you'll never see it from the factory and it CANNOT be retrofitted! The 4G GOBI 4k chip must be used instead as these previous 4G cards are going EOL.

 

GOBI 4000 is LTE capable, but still only for one carrier, no? As I understand, the upcoming GOBI 5000 is the one that can use any LTE carrier. I hope I am wrong on this as I really could use a true GOBI card at work to avoid locking into one carrier again (past mistake with Sprint) and we want/need 4G LTE. Hell, I want it for myeslf too, but that is a story for another day when I have the $$$.

 

As of now the only 2 that have LTE are Verizon and AT&T. Sprint is lame. Yes, they have LTE, but failed to get on the list for GOBI chips... Therefor I'm pretty sure for SPRINT it'll only be 3G...

However, this is just what my gut tells me. It would be awesome if the 4k cards would support Sprints lame 4G LTE network too.

Time will tell

 

More specifically, what I meant to ask was if the 4K cards are tied to a particular carrier for LTE i.e. can one single card suppport Verizon or AT&T or maybe even Sprint? Or do I have to pick one I want for LTE support and drop to 3G if I decide to switch to a different carrier? Everything I have seen with cards for other brands of laptops makes it look like LTE will be carrier specific.

 

No, not at all!