Just to add to this thread. On Friday I went out and bought a brand new Series 7 Samsung, 1080p, AMD 8850m etc with Windows 8 Touch. The laptop comes with the Centrino 6235 wi-fi and as everyone here, from the get go I have had the laptop disconnect from my wi-fi network constantly.
I made sure I had the latest drivers etc and still no difference, a quick search not only brought me here but to many other threads across the internet with the same problem. I have managed to get back to the original Microsoft own Windows 8 drivers (14.8.8.75) and since then (touch wood) I have a reliable connection that doesn't keep dropping.
It is clearly a driver problem and it surprises me that Intel here keep mentioning that it is likely it is now an OEM issue, it isn't. I write on and off for a popular news site so will make an article about this in the next week or so once I have gathered more info as it's very disappointing for those spending a lot of money on a laptop to find that the Wi-Fi connections are dire.