Two chips for two different audiences. One for the lucky ducks in the USA – WiMAX enabled. For us Aussies, it’s going to launch initially without the WiMAX advantage.
It seems somebody forgot to tell Intel that us fun loving Aussies can often suffer from techno-envy - Australia will not be getting the same Centrino 2 chip at the same time as the one being launched in the US.
As a nation, we usually laugh at suggestions we are the 51st state of America. But at the very least, it would be nice to be rewarded with the same computer chip as our American mates.
The Wimax-enabled Centrino 2 (Montevina) notebook platform will be introduced this year, but it might be a while before Australians get to play with the new wireless function.
An Intel PR spokesperson confirmed for us that the first Centrino 2 systems with Echo Peak (Intel's codename for the new WiMAX/WiFi module) will arrive in the market in the second half of 2008 "depending on each individual OEM’s plans and refresh schedules as well as network availability/readiness." Intel have confirmed to us that the US launch will happen around June of this year, citing network readiness.
The spokesperson also told us that "availability will be primarily focused in the U.S. in 2008 and being other parts of the world in 2009 and beyond depending on network availability/ readiness." So, it could be a long wait before we see the same kind of Centrino 2 chip launched in Australia
Of course, it probably has more to do with the fact that Australia is woefully ill prepared for mass WiMAX usage.
Anybody who’s still waiting to sell off one of their kidneys for the long awaited iPhone will understand the dilemma of the US getting everything tech first. We think some customers may just be tempted to hop over to eBay and buy a notebook with WiMAX, future proofing their investment for the time when WiMAX finally comes into play in Australia.