wireless internet for Laptops?

[DontFeedPhil]

I have a quick and easy question about laptops. Basically Im thinking of getting an Apple Macbook Pro laptop. I am getting wireless internet installed in a couple of days. I already have 10 mbps (I can never remember if its mbps or Kbps but its pretty fast).
So my question is about whether or not there is something someone can get (like a card) so you can get internet anywhere like on an iphone. I mean if Im traveling down the freeway can I get connected? Is it something thats possible but expensive? Whats the deal???

 

[Hermiod]

I have a quick and easy question about laptops. Basically Im thinking of getting an Apple Macbook Pro laptop. I am getting wireless internet installed in a couple of days. I already have 10 mbps (I can never remember if its mbps or Kbps but its pretty fast).
So my question is about whether or not there is something someone can get (like a card) so you can get internet anywhere like on an iphone. I mean if Im traveling down the freeway can I get connected? Is it something thats possible but expensive? Whats the deal???

If the US is anything like the UK then you will easily be able to get a USB stick on a subscription basis from any of your local cellular providers that will do exactly what you want.

It shouldn't be hugely expensive, though prices in the UK are more heavily regulated in order to force them to be cheaper.

 

[Pingfah]

In the UK you can get something called a 3G connection, which is a little USB stick receiver you plug into your laptop which uses the mobile phone network to provide an internet connection.

I'd bet you have something similar wherever you are.

 

[DontFeedPhil]

Yeah we have a 3g network around here for iphones. I was hoping you could do that...

 

[Hermiod]

As a side note, if you have Internet access on your phone it is also usually possible to use tethering via Bluetooth so that your handset acts as a modem for your laptop.

The iPhone currently does not support this but will do by July when the version 3.0 OS is released.

 

[DarkHelmet]

Here in the states, most major carriers that offer 3G internet, like AT&T, Sprint, & Verizon will make you sign a contract for service, either for a year or two. There is also a cap on bandwidth, and overage charges if you go over your cap.

 

[Hermiod]

If the various cellular providers in your area have retail stores near you, I'd suggest going for a walk and asking somebody in each store what sort of deal they can do for you.

In the UK, depending on the length of the contract you enter in to, you can get packages that allow you 5, 10 or 15gb of downloads per month for a monthly fee of between £10 and £25.

They tend not to specify speed as they would with a home ADSL broadband connection as it will always vary due to signal strength.

 

[StolenThunder]

AFAIK, they can be had on a PAYG basis too.

 

[Hermiod]

AFAIK, they can be had on a PAYG basis too.

Yep.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

My laptop has built in wireless capabilities, so as long as there's a network out there, i can get on line.

 

[Hermiod]

My laptop has built in wireless capabilities, so as long as there's a network out there, i can get on line.

That's not what we're talking about. Pretty much any laptop built in the last few years will support wireless networking.

What the OP is asking about is using mobile broadband over the same network as you use for your phone. Effectively you get a USB wireless dongle with a SIM card in it that allows you to access the Internet at relatively high speeds via your providers' cellular network, same as your phone.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

My laptop has built in wireless capabilities, so as long as there's a network out there, i can get on line.

That's not what we're talking about. Pretty much any laptop built in the last few years will support wireless networking.

What the OP is asking about is using mobile broadband over the same network as you use for your phone. Effectively you get a USB wireless dongle with a SIM card in it that allows you to access the Internet at relatively high speeds via your providers' cellular network, same as your phone.

Well ... i guess i should read the thing, and not skim.

 

[Arrqh]

Effectively you get a USB wireless dongle with a SIM card in it that allows you to access the Internet at relatively high speeds via your providers' cellular network, same as your phone.

Well if we're talking about the US/Canada, there may not be a SIM card involved depending on the network

 

[Hermiod]

Effectively you get a USB wireless dongle with a SIM card in it that allows you to access the Internet at relatively high speeds via your providers' cellular network, same as your phone.

Well if we're talking about the US/Canada, there may not be a SIM card involved depending on the network

Okay. I only know about the UK here, I assumed things would be similar.

 

[Arrqh]

Effectively you get a USB wireless dongle with a SIM card in it that allows you to access the Internet at relatively high speeds via your providers' cellular network, same as your phone.

Well if we're talking about the US/Canada, there may not be a SIM card involved depending on the network

Okay. I only know about the UK here, I assumed things would be similar.

I'm just being nitpicky... there's both GSM and CDMA based networks here and the latter doesn't use a SIM card. Which is actually pretty annoying.

 

[FordSVT]

My laptop has built in wireless capabilities, so as long as there's a network out there, i can get on line.

That's not what we're talking about. Pretty much any laptop built in the last few years will support wireless networking.

What the OP is asking about is using mobile broadband over the same network as you use for your phone. Effectively you get a USB wireless dongle with a SIM card in it that allows you to access the Internet at relatively high speeds via your providers' cellular network, same as your phone.

Just out of curiosity, how fast are these connections now? And how stable? Could a person, for example, play an MMORPG or online FPS over such a connection now? I remember I tried one a couple of years ago via a friend and it was so laggy it wasn't worth the time....

 

[BigFoot]

I couldn't tell you what it's like for playing games online, but it's great for surfing the web. It's fast and works really well. I'm not saying I'd wanna download a movie like that, but for surfing the web it works almost as well as regular broadband.

Btw, this is in Europe using a 3G connection.

 

[Hermiod]

Just out of curiosity, how fast are these connections now? And how stable? Could a person, for example, play an MMORPG or online FPS over such a connection now? I remember I tried one a couple of years ago via a friend and it was so laggy it wasn't worth the time....

Expect a relatively slow connection. Maybe 2mbs if you are very lucky.

I wouldn't play a game over such a connection, especially as you're on a fairly strict download limit.

 

[aftermath]

Can't use your iPhone unless you jailbreak it. AT&T may have a tethering plan on the way for iPhones but it'll cost a fortune.

Considering we already pay $20 (original) or $30 (3g) a month already for data thats just a big fuck you really.

 

[FordSVT]

Just out of curiosity, how fast are these connections now? And how stable? Could a person, for example, play an MMORPG or online FPS over such a connection now? I remember I tried one a couple of years ago via a friend and it was so laggy it wasn't worth the time....

Expect a relatively slow connection. Maybe 2mbs if you are very lucky.

I wouldn't play a game over such a connection, especially as you're on a fairly strict download limit.

2mbps would be fine with a correspondingly fast upload rate, but you're probably right that data limits would kill you. One would have to get some sort of unlimited plan. I've seen them advertised, very expensive.