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data card for laptop ?? can u buy them cheap ?

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Cat72
Cat72 Posts: 2,398 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
Hi
Futher to the great advice on this site I have decided to get a data card for browsing the internet on my new dell laptop ( even more great advice ).
However ( here we go again... ) I have looked into this and most companies want a monthly subscription. O2 do a pay as you go type thing ( using the pay as u go sim cards which u can get free) but their data card is a whopping £200 !!!. Vodaphone do a free datacard but want you to pay £25 per month and 02 will give you a free datacard if you subscribe for £20 per month. However I would prefer to get a data card and surf when I want. I have seen datacards for sale on ebay- is it possable to just buy a datacard and a reasonable price. :confused:
Hope this will help others in the same situation.

Comments

  • geoffW
    geoffW Posts: 184 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    No replies yet? I am interested also.
    Geoff
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What expansion slot have you got? Is it a PCMCIA or an Express Card type. If the later you may find it hard to get a data card to fit your Dell.

    HTH

    :eek:
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
  • inmypocketnottheirs
    inmypocketnottheirs Posts: 4,745 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Hi to both of you!

    I have a vodafone connect gprs card either of you can have for £50. You can buy a sim card (or convert an existing PAYG) and buy a data subscription.

    You will need to go to the vodafone web site and download the software, cos I am not sure where the original box is.

    It works fine, at equivalent to 56k dial up speed.

    First come, first served!

    HTH
    Don't lie, thieve, cheat or steal. The Government do not like the competition.
     The Lord Giveth and the Government Taketh Away.
     I'm sorry, I don't apologise. That's just the way I am. Homer (Simpson)
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    PCMCIA GPRS/GSM Wireless card here for £30.

    Well it is a money saving forum!

    :rolleyes:
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
  • Little_John
    Little_John Posts: 4,033 Forumite
    I would be looking for the newer 3g and EDGE cards for improved speeds myself but they arnt cheap, you can get them free if you sign up for a contract but are usually about £140 for PAYG
  • inmypocketnottheirs
    inmypocketnottheirs Posts: 4,745 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Make that £20 then. A tenner saved is better than a tenner earned!
    Don't lie, thieve, cheat or steal. The Government do not like the competition.
     The Lord Giveth and the Government Taketh Away.
     I'm sorry, I don't apologise. That's just the way I am. Homer (Simpson)
  • fguk
    fguk Posts: 255 Forumite
    100 Posts
    This is the cheapest i could find a Pay As you Go 3g Data card for

    http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/commerce/servlet/gben-pd-ProductDisplay?S=40&PN=MONTHLY&filter_partModel=ORN3GDATACARD

    £129 once you pick the PAYG tariff.
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    inmypocketnottheirs wrote:
    Make that £20 then. A tenner saved is better than a tenner earned!

    :rotfl:

    Presumably your data card is locked to the Vodafone network.

    :eek:
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
  • Little_John
    Little_John Posts: 4,033 Forumite
    You could also if your on a monthly contract when your next upgrade is due you could get a data card as an upgrade and just continue to use your old phone. I know orange do that im not sure aboutthe other networks
  • inmypocketnottheirs
    inmypocketnottheirs Posts: 4,745 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    espresso wrote:
    :rotfl:

    Presumably your data card is locked to the Vodafone network.

    :eek:

    TBH not sure, but I think it can be used with another network but could not guarantee it. Its sat in my desk drawer gathering dust as I now have a 3g 02 card on contract. £18.50 per month + VAT, free card.
    Don't lie, thieve, cheat or steal. The Government do not like the competition.
     The Lord Giveth and the Government Taketh Away.
     I'm sorry, I don't apologise. That's just the way I am. Homer (Simpson)
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