New TZ91 available in Japan!

^^^What he said. The point is not to make an easy decision and save time. Sure we can all do that, but I believe this project is worth it for those of us who want to minimize peripherals with the TZ or don't want anything sticking out of the laptop. Besides, tinkering rocks (hence the success of the Asus EEE) I won't even consider USB for reasons already mentioned by Jurisprudence.

Go Intrigger! And thank you.

 

I bought a Vaio TZ170 from USA. If someone need the Sprint WWAN card, send me a message. If someone have the 3G/HSDPA card, (Option card), maybe we can trade??

 

I agree with Jurispundence and monakh.

In my opinion if the japanese WWAN will not be usable in Europe, I will consider another laptop, or wait the next generation of TZ (maybe Sony will understand that is a big plus to have the integrated 3G) . Also for me is essential, always on the move.

Intrigger you are all us!

 

I get the obsession (as someone who has averaged about 1 - 2 laptops a year), but at some point when do you say "I just need something to use."? The WWAN isn't able to be used in the USA, and if it works, it may work in Europe but only where the 3G 2100 band is present. It doesn't appear to have any GSM/EDGE fallback.

I've been using a WWAN card and quite frankly, if I'm worried about the aesthetic and not about connectivity, I've got issues. I would rather be able to connect and do my work or whatever than say "Wow look, nothing sticking out!" As someone who travels often for work, I can say that if someone is going to take the WWAN, they're probably going to take your whole laptop. There are dishonest people in all walks of life all around the world.

The big negative of built-in WWAN is the lack of upgradeability - if something changes or improvement happens and the card doesn't support it, you're SOL. An external solution is more portable.

To each his or her own.

 

I know that I'm a little bit off topic but I report my experience about the OptionGTM378

In Belgium Mobistar has just launched a new plan : The "Internet Everywhere" and they sell with it an Option Globetrotter Icon 7.2 S (limited to europe bandwith) at good price - 119 euros. I knew that there were an GTM378 inside the icon so i bought it and opened it to take the module.

Now the module is in my X61Tablet from Lenovo BUT i've lot of problems with it :

- Not native WWAN module and my laptop refuses to boot (but i can bypass it by loading default bios)
- Lot of problems in windows because Vista seems to have problems in handeling Wan/Lan/wifi -> it creates a double Network : the classic one and and a "none identified network" .. and it crashes all communications ! The only option seems to reboot and cross our fingers !
- GTM378 doesn't support the Sleep mode on my X61T ! If i go to sleep mode, it can't simply awake !

I know that my drivers are made for Mobistar and for Icon 7.2 and not internal device and I'm going to put off the module of my X61T to do tests through USB because for the moment I don't know if my problems come from my provider (sometimes the module works but it's impossible to log on the network) or from the fact that i putted the module internal !

I think that all GTM378 will have specific drivers for each providers ! That's why there is a devlopment kit at 1000 $ !

If you want I can provide my drivers but I think that it'll also install all the "mobistar craps". But If we don't try we can't know...

For me the best way is to keep the module inside (because I prefer all integrated devices) but it has too much collateral troubles and I have several possibilities :

1) Put it back to the Icon 7.2 USB (but it's not what I want)

2) Ask Lenovo for supports by adding the module into bios (I don't think they will do it because they doesn't support WWAN in Europe and the only modules that they supports are from Sprint and Verizon)

3) Buy a Sierra Module sim free compatible with my X61T (because it's a native module) -> I'm pretty sure that it'll be impossible to log on my provider because they only develop applications for the Option and that it's specific to the GTM378 module. If I give it a try .. it'll cost around 200 € ! It's expensive for a test with poor chance of success !

4) Call my provider (Mobistar) to know if it's possible to log on the network with another WWAN card. (First of all I think that they will say t's not possible (because i'll don't have contact with technical department) and second that they don't want to support other devices)

 

As someone who is using a Cingular card in Saudi Arabia of all places I can assure you that HSDPA is HSDPA, so it should work no matter where you are. If you can borrow a card from someone to test this, it might help.

I use my Cingular and Huawei PC cards with both the providers in Saudi. No card was from the ISP/provider.

 

It doesn't require any parameters for connection at all ?

How do you connect to the network ?

 

Just need the APN. I use the Cingy or Huawei software. Alternatively, I have Linksys 3G router for sharing the connection so I can run VoIP and use my Wii (to type this post).

 

It's my first 3G card so i'm bit ignorant about all that thing !

And what about the pin code ?

I know what's my apn .. is it possible to just use windows connection ? (like for wifi) Or specific software are needed ?

InTrigger if you have the "original" Option Drivers is it possible to send me a copy ? (i would like to try without my providers app's).

If it works ( and according to you monakh it'll work yeah) I think that I'll buy a native card for my computer because it's troublesome now

 

I have an unlocked Sierra Wireless PCMCIA card (despite outside Cingular branding) and yes, HSDPA is HSDPA as long as the frequencies you need are supported by the card, it should work with the proper SIM card.

Internal cards are really no different but different parts of the world support different things, so cards may have different variants.

 

Ok so now i'm looking for the holy grail .. a card that is sold apart for 575 $ :'(

(it's the price for the internal sierra module sim free compatible with my lenovo)

 

Bump. Any update, Intrigger?

 

Hi!

What type of HSDPA module is in the TZ91?
Mini-Pci express or other socket?

I plan to buy a TZ, and I have a Novatel Mini-pci-express HSDPA module. Will it work in the TZ?

 

Hey InTrigger !

How's the quest coming ?
We're eagerly awaiting your results...

All best,

--Sam

 

Sorry Guys! I have this month been moving from France ==> UK and have ahd absolutely not ime to follow up with option :-(

Obviously they have not got back to me

So I will call them on the 2nd of Jan

I will keep you guys posted

 

Any news Intrigger?

I don't see any further models of the TZ2xx, is it going to be only this TZ298? I would like to see the new TZ2xx with 64 GB SSD+DVD.

 

BUMP

No update yet? I've given up waiting and ordered the UK TZ32 version....WWAN is gonna work for sure.