The "Speed" reported by Windows in the Wireless Network Connection Status window is RARELY accurate and should not be used as the measure of how fast the wireless link is running.
 
In reality, this number is only distantly related to the throughput of your wireless connection. What it shows is whatever the wireless adapter's driver tells it to show, which is the highest link rate that the card can link to.  
 
So do not assume that because your other laptop is reporting 150mbps (or other) that that is the actual connection rate.
 
The link rate is also referred to as the PHY (or physical layer) rate, which is the maximum rate that bits will move across the network link.

Windows might report a 150 Mbps speed, but your actual throughput could be anywhere between 25 and 100 Mbps (for example), depending on the 11n router and client card being used.
 
The reasons for the big difference between the "link" and actual rates include the high overhead involved in wireless connections (lots of bits used for communicating information other than the actual data you are trying to send or receive) and data retransmission (due to the inherent unreliability of a wireless connection).
 
Unlike other cards, the Intel 1000 bgn reports the actual link rate that the card is at. This is a dynamic function of the card, and if you understand it, you will grow to like it.  
 
If you verify the link speed“while data is being transferred” you will see the link rate goes up and down as needed and up to 150mbps.This function is dynamic.   Other cards do not report or function this way.

You "must" check the link speed in the Wireless Network Connection Status window “while” data is being transferred. If no data is being transferred the card will revert to a slow link rate, however, it will pick up the speed as needed.
 
To get an accurate measure of the speed of your wireless connection you need to use a method that actually measures the speed that your connection is delivering. However, verifying the connection speed that Windows reports will help you verify that your card is linking at high rates of speed.
 
 
 
In addition, The Intel 1000 bgn, like most 802.11n products will knock your throughput down by up to 80% if you use WEP or WPA/TKIP security. The reason is that the 802.11n spec states that the high throughput rates (link rates above 54 Mbps) can't be enabled if either of those outdated security methods is used. The bottom line is that you can only use WPA2/AES wireless security (or no security at all) if you don't want to throw away lots of speed.
 
The Intel card will only link at rates of up to 150mbps if it is set this way.
 
Go ahead and test your card speed while data is being transferred, you will see the link speed go up to 150mbps (if your router will support it) as needed.
 
I have performed tests on a brand new HP dv6 SE verifying the transfer rate. It is as fast as any other 150mbps 802.11n laptop NIC that supports the IEEE standard.
 
Once your card is set up correctly, and you verify the link speed while data is being transferred, you will see that there is no need to return your laptop or to purchase add-on NIC’s.