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From: Roger on 28 May 2010 20:04
Anyone know? I'm not even sure if there're already PC laptops that
have this, but I'm guessing there are....

Rog

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From: Fred McKenzie on 28 May 2010 20:45
In article <roger-7B549C.20045728052010(a)freenews.netfront.net>,
Roger <roger(a)roger.net> wrote:

> Anyone know? I'm not even sure if there're already PC laptops that
> have this, but I'm guessing there are....

Rog-

I think 3G technology is changing faster than MacBooks are being updated.

You can already buy USB devices that are actually a 3G cell phone
without the phone, to have access to the internet. I know they are
available from Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.

I got one from Verizon about six months ago, that works fairly well. I
needed second unit, but there was only a newer model available. It
doesn't seem to work as well as the older model, in that it drops the
connection fairly often.

The two that I have are not exactly lightning fast, but are considerably
faster than dial-up! Now the big thing is "4G", even though it won't be
completely rolled out for a while yet.

Fred
From: Davoud on 28 May 2010 21:47
Roger wrote:
> Anyone know? I'm not even sure if there're already PC laptops that
> have this, but I'm guessing there are....
>
> Rog

SWMBO and I find the Verizon MiFi to be more versatile than 3G built
into, and tied to, a single laptop. It translates the 3G data signal
into an 802.11g signal that can be shared by up to five wireless
devices. Supports WPA and hidden SSID. Also available from other
carriers. MiFi is quite small and unobtrusive.

The MiFi service costs $60 per month. Some have said that we are crazy
for paying that. We are aware that the price is a ripoff that reflects
ownership of regulators by the industry, but within that context, we
find the expense to be worthwhile because it gets us Internet access
for multiple devices (some combination iPads, MB Pro's, and iPhones, in
our case) where and when we need it and where and when there is no
other source available.

Davoud

--
I agree with almost everything that you have said and almost everything that
you will say in your entire life.

usenet *at* davidillig dawt cawm
From: VAXman- on 29 May 2010 08:30
In article <fmmck-2A0D1A.20444528052010(a)5ad64b5e.bb.sky.com>, Fred McKenzie <fmmck(a)aol.com> writes:
>In article <roger-7B549C.20045728052010(a)freenews.netfront.net>,
> Roger <roger(a)roger.net> wrote:
>
>> Anyone know? I'm not even sure if there're already PC laptops that
>> have this, but I'm guessing there are....
>
>Rog-
>
>I think 3G technology is changing faster than MacBooks are being updated.
>
>You can already buy USB devices that are actually a 3G cell phone
>without the phone, to have access to the internet. I know they are
>available from Verizon, AT&T and Sprint.

I have a MacBookPro and I use a Sierra WIteless AC597E ExpressCard with
Sprint for my EVDO access.

This card has an external antenna option jack. If you should want to
be or will be using the laptop while in a moving vehicle, you can get
an optional magnetic-base antenna which can be mounted on outside on
the vehicle for better signal.

I've been using EVDO since the very early days using a PCMCIA version
of the EVDO cards.

Also, instead of the MiFi options the carriers are now offering, I got
a cellular ready travel router. The one I selected allows ExpressCard,
USB (:rolleyes:) and ethernet. A great option for the road-warrior. I
often find myself in a hotel with wired-internet access. Using this, I
can setup my own wireless. I used to use my Airport Express but using
this router is more versatile.

If you're interested, I did several blogs (not that I get much time to
blog but this info seemed important to share) on this:

Sprint Sierra Wireless AC597E ExpressCard Mac on OSX 10.4.11 & Ubuntu
http://tmesis.org/Pivot/entry.php?id=4

Tunnel Vision (about how well this works and without external antenna)
http://tmesis.org/Pivot/entry.php?id=19

Configuring EVDO GPS under Ubuntu (discussion of OSX and travel router
here too)
http://tmesis.org/Pivot/entry.php?id=27


>I got one from Verizon about six months ago, that works fairly well. I
>needed second unit, but there was only a newer model available. It
>doesn't seem to work as well as the older model, in that it drops the
>connection fairly often.
>
>The two that I have are not exactly lightning fast, but are considerably
>faster than dial-up! Now the big thing is "4G", even though it won't be
>completely rolled out for a while yet.

4G is still only in the largest of the large cities. I'm hoping it will
soon see light of day along the interstates like 3G is now.


FWIW, On a recent long trek with a 15 seat van full of some of my inter-
national friends, I forgot to pack the cellular ready travel router. No
access to the internet for my passengers? Nope! I had the MBP and EVDO
in use to stream internet radio through my Bose SoundDock in this van.
One of my friends from the south of ol' Blighty is very Mac OSX savvy.
He took the MBP from my wife and setup Ad-Hoc networking which provided
wireless via my MBP/EVDO to several other occupants of the van. One of
travellers was using a Netboot running that software with the four-color
swastika. ;)


I really think that having 3G built-in will leave you pining for a newer
laptop once 4G becomes de jure. Consider the option of an external EVDO
option instead because the technology is ever changing.

--
VAXman- A Bored Certified VMS Kernel Mode Hacker VAXman(at)TMESIS(dot)ORG

And ever since I was a boy I never felt that I belonged Like everything they
did to me Was an experiment to see How I would cope with the illusion In which
direction would I jump Would I do it all the same As the actors in the game Or
would I spit it back at them And not get caught up in their rules And live
according to my own And not be used To find the fundamental truths It was
going to take some time Thirty five summers down the line The wisdom of each
passing year Seems to serve only to confuse Seems to serve only to confuse

From: Jolly Roger on 29 May 2010 12:42
In article <roger-7B549C.20045728052010(a)freenews.netfront.net>,
Roger <roger(a)roger.net> wrote:

> Anyone know? I'm not even sure if there're already PC laptops that
> have this, but I'm guessing there are....
>
> Rog

Why bother when you can pick up a 4G USB dongle and have faster-than-3G
connectivity for cheap?:

<http://www.clear.com/>

--
Send responses to the relevant news group rather than email to me.
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM
filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting
messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google
Groups. Use a real news client if you want me to see your posts.

JR
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