Wireless Laptop ISP's

[Velenne]

I recently bought a laptop and I'd like to get it mobile Internet ready! I'm out an about enough that having the Internet on-hand would be fairly handy. However, after searching Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, Cingular, Boost, and Virgin Mobile, I still havn't found anything for less than 90 bucks a month. (Cingular, for example, offers 100k (that's 100 KILObytes!) for US$30.00/mo!!! That's what, one web page!?)

Does anyone here have any experience with mobile internet from a laptop? What service do you use, or have you heard of an exceptional service?

 

[pensiv]

T-Mobile internet is unlimited data transfer at $30/month, but the PC card itself is $350.

 

[pensiv]

*oops* EN World bunged on me and I double posted.

 

[Velenne]

Ya I've also heard T-Mobile is the way to go. The card is awfully pricey, though and for what I'm using it for, I'm not so sure it's practical anymore.

What about using one's cell phone to dial-up? The lady at AT&T told me I could use my minutes to surf the web via jacking from my cell phone into my laptop's USB drive. Anyone tried that?

 

[pensiv]

you can use your cell phone as a modem if you have the proper connector.

 

[AutoSponge]

you can use your cell phone as a modem if you have the proper connector.

Yes, then you need a normal dial-up ISP. Depending on your plan this may cost more or less than other services. The biggest problem with it is that your dial software doesn't communicate with the phone. Also, disconnects can be very frustrating since you have to manually dial back in every time and wait for your ISP to authenticate you.

 

[pensiv]

yep. It often ends up costing more because you're not only paying for mobile minutes, but ISP access as well.