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Intel to release 802.11n cards before standard is finalized
Intel is going to jump the gun a bit when it comes to 802.11n. The hyped-up next-gen 2.4GHz wireless standard promises speeds double or even triple 802.11g, but has been “in the works” for a long while now. Intel doesn't want to wait any longer, and will release an 802.11n chip for the Centrino package this year:
When Intel releases its Santa Rosa platform in the first half of next year, it will upgrade the wireless chip in that package to 802.11n. But final ratification of the standard, once expected early next year, is now expected to drag on into next year. Nonetheless, Intel will stick to its schedule and join other wireless chipmakers in releasing so-called "draft standard" products that work at the faster speeds delivered by 802.11n...
This could end up coming back to bite Intel in the foot. The WiFi Alliance wants consumers to wait for the standards to be fully ratified, and “official” hardware be released. While the likelihood of the standard changing drastically at this point in the game is small, the chance is still there. Many people could end up with “802.11n” ready laptops that really aren't. This is a first for Intel.
802.11n promises to help bring fast-as-wired speeds to home wireless networking, but still relies on the same 2.4GHz spectrum that b and g rely on, making it just as susceptible to interference and crowding. Being that the biggest problem adoption for G had was backwards compatibility with B, it will be interesting to see how N makes its way.
When Intel releases its Santa Rosa platform in the first half of next year, it will upgrade the wireless chip in that package to 802.11n. But final ratification of the standard, once expected early next year, is now expected to drag on into next year. Nonetheless, Intel will stick to its schedule and join other wireless chipmakers in releasing so-called "draft standard" products that work at the faster speeds delivered by 802.11n...
This could end up coming back to bite Intel in the foot. The WiFi Alliance wants consumers to wait for the standards to be fully ratified, and “official” hardware be released. While the likelihood of the standard changing drastically at this point in the game is small, the chance is still there. Many people could end up with “802.11n” ready laptops that really aren't. This is a first for Intel.
802.11n promises to help bring fast-as-wired speeds to home wireless networking, but still relies on the same 2.4GHz spectrum that b and g rely on, making it just as susceptible to interference and crowding. Being that the biggest problem adoption for G had was backwards compatibility with B, it will be interesting to see how N makes its way.
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