The Importance of Performance

Intel designed Centrino technology to bring about a new era in mobile computing - incorporating fully enabled wireless networking, improved mobile performance, enhanced battery life, and thinner, lighter laptop designs.

Most people will agree that enabling a sleeker, thinner mobile computer system is a good and fun thing. I confess that I can remember the days when a mobile computer meant something so big and heavy that it took a weight lifter to manage it, and I sure am glad those days are gone.

But where the anywhere computing rubber really hits the road, so to speak, is in performance and enhanced battery life.

Performance

With throughput up to 54Mbps at 5GHz (802.11a) and 2.4GHz (802.11g), the Intel PRO/Wireless Network Connection enables fast network performance. (See Chapter 8 for more information about the different flavors of Wi-Fi and their relative speeds.)

In addition, the Intel Wireless Coexistence System helps reduce interference with some other kinds of wireless devices that may be competing with wireless networks.

Users may also engage the Power Save Protocol (PSP), a feature with five different power states, allowing power versus performance choices when in battery mode.

Enhanced Battery Life

The Intel PRO/Wireless Network Connection supports the extended battery life benefits of PSP. In addition, Intel Intelligent Scanning Technology reduces power needs by controlling the frequency of scanning for Wi-Fi access points.