Once deciding to purchase a mobile Broadband Card for you laptop there are still some choices to be made. The first is: Which Carrier to get?
Since Sprint & Verizon are ordinarily thought about the leaders in this technology, we will limit the argument to these two choices. As far as monthly pricing goes they are exactly the same, .99 a month. However, there is a very leading distinction. Sprint offers truly Unlimited assistance for businesses and a 5Gb limit for individuals, where Verizon has a 5Gb limit per month for all customers. For the casual user this is abundance of data, but for a power user, Sprint clearly is the best option here.
The other factor is coverage. Both carriers are going back and forth with their claims of "more coverage". The best thing to do is check the coverage maps and see who has the most Rev A coverage in the areas you need service. Rev A is the fastest assistance currently available, so go with the carrier that covers you the best, but if it seems equal, Sprint would be the best option since you do not have any usage restrictions.
Now that we have picked a carrier, it is time to decide which card to get. This involves some steps depending on what you plan to use the card for.
If using the card only in your current laptop, then decide what kind of slot your computer has. There are 3 types of slots now in use.
1) Pcmcia or Type ll Card Slot.
This slot is the size of a credit Card and has been around for over 5 years. Most older laptops have this slot. The advantage of using this type of card is that it keeps most of the card inside the laptop, with just about an inch of the card sticking out. You can install this card once and just leave it in the laptop. As these are going away and being supplanted by the smaller express slots, it is probably best to go with one of the options below unless you know you will be staying with the same computer for a few years.
2) ExpressCard Slot.
This is the newer type of card slot that is about half the width of the Pcmcia card. Most of the newer laptops will have this slot. Once again, the advantage here is that most of the card is inside the computer and you can just leave it there without risk of it getting bumped or losing it. ExpressCards vary in price from to 0 with a new agreement.
3) Usb Card Slot.
Every modern computer has a Usb slot. This is the main advantage of a Usb Card - it will work with a new or old laptop, and even desktop computers. If you have an older laptop with a Pcmcia slot, but know you will be upgrading laptops in the next 6-18 months, then get a Usb card so that you won't limit your option of a new laptop. The one minuscule downside to a Usb card is that most of it is external to the computer, production it a bit more to keep track of when transporting your laptop. Usb cards are regularly priced from to 0 with a new agreement.
Other factors to consider:
Mobile Routers.
If you want to use a mobile Router to share your connection, currently you will want to stick with whether the Pcmcia cards like the Novatel S720, with the Kyocera Kr2 router. roughly all the Usb and Express Cards are compatible with the CradlePoint line of routers.
Gps Functionality.
To take advantage of some neat and free Gps functions like looking the nearest restaurant, gas station, mapping your location, and even real time traffic updates, go with a Sierra Wireless Card from Sprint. The Sprint connection owner for these cards allows you to use this assistance at no extra charge.
movable Broadband - How to choose the Right Card