Web n Walk USB Modem / Laptop advice

migwella76

Hi all

Am looking at the web n walk usb modem but it only has 3gb download limit. As I have always had unlimeted net, 3gb is an unknown quantity.

I would mainly use the usb modem whne out and about on business. I tend to use it for sites with text and pictures, forums like this one, emails. I wouldn;t be using it to download music or movies.

How many hours would I be able to use it for?

I would be looking to buy a laptop to use it with. I'm not that fussed about it being the latest dual core processor with 2gig ram. As long as I could use the net and excel I would be ok. Any recommendations. Even 2nd hand and what to look out for. I have looked on ebay but they appear expensive for what you are getting.

patwa_2

Hi. The average page is considered to be around 100-250k (allowing for the odd embedded audio/video stream). So at a stretch you're getting over 12000 pages and in reality probably double that.

If it helps I've never known anyone to exceed 3GB without downloading anything of substance. My mum does e-mail web and the odd Youtube video and never goes over 1GB although she has unlimited internet.

As for laptops. take a look at pricerunner.com under Computers > Laptops > show all laptops and build yourself a system, it'll give you an idea of the price range for a given spec, you can then look at reviews of the systems and find the lowest price, get voucher codes, etc. At least that's the way I go about it when I buy a new laptop.

Hope that helps.

H.

Little_John

How much do you use the net while out an about? 3GB is a fair bit for just browseing and im not sure if you will be happy with the speed, 3G is faster that GPRS but nowhere near the speeds you are used to on adsl/broadband. Rather than getting the modem, get an mda vario 2 its a PDA with a phone 3g connectivity and you can browse the web on it without lugging a laptop arround. if you still want to go for a laptop you can also connect the phone to the laptop and use it as a USB modem.

migwella76

Thank you both for your replies.

Would I need to look at a Web n Walk package on T-Mobile if I was to use the phone connected to the laptop?

What is the difference in speed? Between the usb and the mobile package? Are we talking back to the old 56k modem days?

Well I dont use the net at the mo. In my line of work I tend to have a spare few hours a day, between 3 and 5.

Little_John

Your phone connects using 3G just like the USB modem you intend to buy the speeds are the same for each. I couldnt tell you a download speed but it takes a few minutes for a 1mb file.

patwa_2

GPRS is 384kbps so a little slower the 512k broadband you got a few years ago.

I think 3G is 1.2Mbps - for web browsing and e-mail you won't notice a difference. Very few sites serve data at the max speed of your ADSL connection, the only time you'll notice a real difference is when downloading large files.

H.

Little_John

From someone who actually used GPRS and uses 3G the speeds are nothing like the quoted figures by patwa. GPRS is slow and only just useable if you have plenty of time. 3G is useable.

mobilebroadbandguru

Hiya,

Well if you want a laptop and Mobile Broadband have you seen the offer on the HP store?

They're giving a subsidy on their laptops if you subscribe to T-Mobile's web'n'walk plus or max tariffs.

Also I'd only the Vario option if you're a light / occassional user.

mobilebroadbandguru

Oh sorry and with regards to the 3GB limit. The limit is set to allow the company to provide an 'unlimited' claim. The average user uses about 450MB / month so unless you're downloading a music archive you'll be fine.

mobilebroadbandguru

Finally, then I'll shut-up the service from T-Mobile uses an advanced form of 3G that provides upto 1.8MB/s download speeds (normally about 1-1.4) and upload speeds of 384KB/s. Basically it's much like a fixed line broadband connection. If you're unconvinced drop into a T-Mobile store they'll have a laptop they can demo the service to you on.

migwella76

thanks for the advice all

what is the deal at the hp store?