Centrino = Specific Intel Motherboard Chipset (not sure what that is atm) + Intel Pro Wireless + Pentium M Processor

Centrino is not a processor, nor is it wireless. It is the whole package. If you order a laptop without one of those items it is NOT a centrino laptop.

If you want wireless just get a dell truemobile card or an intel pro wireless card.

This can be purchased through the notebook accessories and there is online guide to help you get it installed yourself. Like putting a pci card in a regular pc just a lot smaller.

Message Edited by greenmonster on 05-05-2004 12:56 AM

I think you've misunderstood Intel's advertising campaign. Their campaign has been horribly misleading in that way. But the thing is to have wifi internet access - you need to be at a hot spot. There are other wireless Internet solutions - like you can actually browse the web on your computer by connecting it in a special way to your cell phone - and then using your cell phone's data service. But this is very expensive - so is not normally a good solution - though you will have Internet access anywhere where your cell phone has coverage. Some cities have special wireless internet providers - but it really varies city by city. I hope this clarifies things a bit for you.

In order to have the "Centrino" technology, you need these three components: Intel Pentium M CPU, Intel 855 Chipset, and Intel PRO Wireless Card (number doesn't matter). So, no, you can't have a P4 Centrino. You can, however purchase a wireless card, if that is your problem. Linksys has every type of card you can imagine. I believe, though, that your 5100 has an expansion slot on the bottom that allows for a TrueMobile MiniPCI card. You might be able to pirchase one of these directly from Dell.

$70 is way too much. The Truemobile 1150 is just an Orinoco Silver card with Dell labels on it. Orinoco Silvers for for about $30 on Ebay - so that would be a much much better deal.

I just ordered a truemobile 1150 for my 5100, and it is rockin. I was using a pcmcia wireless card but it was getting waaaaay too hot for some reason under linux. So, the truemobile 1150 was my choice, even though it is marketed for the latitude. If you want to get a good minipci card for your 5100, go with the 1150. best $70 you'll ever spend.

terrygarcia, what kind of wireless device do you own? You write "I have my laptop wireless now, but it only works at home wireless." Do you have a PCMCIA card that you put into the slot. If so, give us the type of that card or any other device that you use to access the internet via your DSL connection. As far as I understand from your post, your laptop should already be equipped with wireless network.

Well, I wanted it immediately. I paid for overnight express shipping. Yeah I coulda ebay'd it. But, I've had bad experiences with sellers not exactly giving you what you paid for..and err, it's a orinoco gold, I believe... :-P