So when the hell are laptops going to have internet connectivity without a hot spot. Moreover, why the hell don’t they????? Imean, if a small iPad can connect to the internet, then why in Sam Hill are laptops stuck only with WiFi unless you have an idiotic hot spot.
Do designers not understand how detestably aggravating this is? It is almost 2020 for goodness sake!
From my understanding it has something to do with legal agreements with the carriers and also with the definitions of the devices and the FCC. Once you put a cellular radio into a laptop a manufacturer makes then ALL their laptops are subject to regulation by the FCC for cellular regulations, or something like that. You can use them by linking to a hotspot without regulation by the FCC, but if you ever dare to add a cellular radio in them, the Federal camel is in the tent. So long as the cellular radio is counted as an add on, you are OK, it is certified separately from your laptops. Build it in, and before you can release each model, the new one has to go through the full FCC certifications. No computer maker wants that. It takes too damn long!