Intel vs. Atheros wireless

I'm looking into buying a Fujitsu laptop sometime this spring, and in the couple models I'm interested in, there's one key difference:

Fujitsu's S7010D model has Atheros A/B/G wireless
Fujitsu's S6231 model has Intel/PRO A/B/G wireless

The Intel wireless makes it 'officially' Centrino, which I like, but I'm wondering if there's any huge difference between the two wireless cards. Will I be disappointed with battery life if I *don't* get Centrino?

 

[jamesbond007]

I had a Toshiba that used the Atheros G card. I now have the Inspiron 600m that has an Intel 2200 B card. I had some issues with the G card on several B APs, but I do not experience it at all with the Intel 2200. It may be a B/G compatibility issue with the routers that didn't work, but at any rate, both cards have AWESOME reception. However, I tend to feel the Intel is a bit more 'solid' in terms of reliability and picking up weaker signals.

 

[Tseng]

If you plan to use Linux, then you are better off with Atheros. Because simply more people are working on Atheros Linux driver than Intel.

As for under WinXP, my experience is both Atheros a/b/g and Intel b/g is equally good. Don't know about Intel a.

 

[Tseng]

Check out the LeoG.net, this site has lots of Fujitsu P serise laptop information.

 

[wisdomtooth]

The selling point of the full Centrino kit from Intel (with the Pro2200 wireless adapter) is power management-- It is supposed to manage the wireless signal output to maximize battery life.

Personally I haven't see THAT big a difference though... I have an IBM T41 Thinkpad using IBM's own 802.11b/g adapter and have a colleague who has the same laptop as me but with the Pro2200bg. Our battery life is about the same given the same power management settings.

 

[cirthix]

atheros