What is the deal with the Intel Centrino mobile technolgy.

I am going back to school in the fall, an the school requires a laptop. Of course the minmum specs for the laptop create a $1800+ notebook. One of the req't's is a 1.4 GHz Intel M series Processor with Centrino. There is very littel info out there that descirbes the distinction between the p4-M and the M/Centrino.

I have a couple of questions:

1. Is the (more expensive) Pentium M series (w. Centrino) at 1.3 - 1.6 GHz gonna provide the same performance as the P 4-M at 2 - 2.6 GHz? I read it was a modified chipset, but that the bus speed and the micro-PCMIA slots were the difference. So if its running the same pipeline and instrtuction set at a slower clock speed, is it actually a SLOWER processor than the cheaper P4-M?

2. Is there any reason I would't be able to log into their wireless network - for which they specify XP, with a linux OS?

3. Just to confirm - since the Centrino confims to the 802.11b/g standard there is no reason I couldnt use any ol computer with a Wireless card that confims to the same fro access?

Just tryin to save a few bucks here (esp. since I am givin up a decent paying job for this)

The Pentium M Processor is not a PIII or P4. It was built from the ground up as a mobile processor. Some studies on Cnet.com have said that a 1.3GHz M Processor whoops the crap out of a P4 2.4GHz M. Check out this link below:

http://wireless.ziffdavis.com/articl...,925363,00.asp


That's all I know for now

thanks

that make more sense. now i just have to figure out what i REALLY need

Centrino is really about power management. All the parts are designed to either work w/ less power (processor) or turn off when not used (usb). The whole "wireless" thing about centrino is sort of a scam. Basically, to call your computer a Centrino, it had to come w/ a Wireless Network Card. So you know if you buy a centrino, its wireless.

That said, its not a special wireless card or anything. You should be able to get into the network with any wireless card. I dont know why the place requires it,maybe just to be sure, who knows?

I never listened to those "recommended" purchases. I got by with a P133 for 4 years!!! Granted, once MS Office became absolutely enormous I switched to Linux and told the University where they could stick it.

http://www.pctorque.com has some GREAT deals.

the laptops go up to 3.06Ghz (P4) AND with that, they support hyper threading

excellent deals there, theirs even a model with a built in TV tuner and 4 days for harddrives/cdroms/aux


check it out, I just bought one. (still waiting for it to arrive)

You're better off getting an iBook with Gentoo installed. Trust me.