Price Comparison between desktop and laptop networking cards

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Why are the networking cards for the laptops more expensive than the cards
for the desktops?
 
On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 09:01:08 -0700, "E Thornton" <E
Why are the networking cards for the laptops more expensive than the cards
for the desktops?
Click to expand...

There are numerous primary factors.
# The desktop computer product line / market is more mature than the portable
(laptop, notebook, etc) computer product line / market. Market saturation is
higher for desktop computers.
# Portable computers are designed for more hostile environment use. This makes
portable computer design more specialised.
# Portable computers are smaller and lighter in weight, and have less available
power. This too makes their design more specialised.

Producing secondary factors.
# More complex portable computers x less standardised portable computers x
requirements from smaller power/size/weight x requirements for hostile
environment = more expensive to design and produce.
# Less portable computers than desktop computers = less volume related price
reduction.
# More specialised portable computers = less volume related price reduction.
# Less mature product line / market / less market saturation = less volume
related price reduction.

Multiply all factors together, and it's a miracle that portable computers are at
all affordable. Ditto for portable computer accessories like network cards.
 
Thank you, Chuck. You answered my question. I was pretty sure of the answer,
but needed verification.
 
I always thought that it was because of the size or connection type? On
standard desktop PCs, the network adapters all connect to a PCI bus where
the laptops need to use PCMCIA/Cardbus connection. PCMCIA/Cardbus cared
appear to be more "expensive" to build because of the size the internal
components needs to be.
 
I always thought that it was because of the size or connection type? On
standard desktop PCs, the network adapters all connect to a PCI bus where
the laptops need to use PCMCIA/Cardbus connection. PCMCIA/Cardbus cared
appear to be more "expensive" to build because of the size the internal
components needs to be.
Click to expand...

Size, weight, power, lack of sales volume - every one of those factors
contribute.

If I'd bought a laptop 5 years ago, I would have had to buy a network card,
separately, that would plug into the PC slot (PCMCIA slot then). If there was a
problem with the network card, I could pop it out and pop in another one.
Generally with the laptop powered up and in use, because PCMCIA devices are
designed to be hot-swappable (another design feature, and more $$$).

Both the Ethernet and WiFi adapters, on the laptop that I bought last month, are
part of the motherboard (producing a size and power requirement reduction). If
the Ethernet port goes bad, and I absolutely have to use OEM standard equipment,
guess what I would have to replace?
 
Back
Top