For the last year I have used my laptop, a Toshiba Tablet PC, equipped with a broadband access card. I have to say, this combination is the best, the complete package if you will. I tried the WiFi route in numerous hotels, Starbucks, , Peets, , and “hotspots” over the past few years, but either I ended up with my credit card taking a hefty hit or I was at the mercy of what ever hotspot I could find, including anyone’s open access point that might be within range.
Last year, a company I was consulting for, gave me a wireless broadband card from Verizon Wireless, so that they had access to me and I had access to their systems. Since I was mostly between Boston, New York, and Washington D.C, this turned out to be a great improvement over chasing WiFi hotspots. Upon completing that gig, the company, understandably, wanted their card back, which I reluctantly returned.
The experience was good enough (I had a “broadband card” three years ago, but it was dog food - but, things improve) that I decided this was something I really needed, so I started checking around for a replacement. I checked all the cell phone providers including Verizon Wireless, , Nextel, Sprint, and Cingular. They all seem to offer about the same download and upload speeds - 350K>800K download and 60K > 100K upload. Since I also have VoIP, eyeBeam, on my laptop the upload is important for voice quality (I also carry a Nextel Blackberry).
While looking over offerings, I noticed that just about everyone had a card or two that they were offering for free. The next step up was $199 > $300. Hmmm, what created the pricing disparity, I was soon to find that the four major carriers are upgrading the speed of the wireless broadband card networks from uploads of 60K /100K to the newer version with upload speeds at 300K > 400K, but are faced with a stock of older cards. Not wanting to eat the inventory it seems they are giving them away. There is a nice ring to free, but I think in this case, free will turn out to be a little pricey. I tried the Sprint Rev A.system on an AirCard 595, in San Diego last week and was blown away. In a word, this rocks. My upload speed in the service area was consistently in the 350K > 380K range, download varied between 920K > 1400K.
The moral of the story is that wireless broadband cards are ready to take a major leap in speed, if you jump into one, it will pay to go for the high priced spread, you’ll never look back.