Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Hi, Just wondering if any of you have experience with wireless internet service for a laptop/notebook. Something that can be used anywhere. When we travel(which we are doing more often) we end up paying a huge fee at check out or we end up spending way too much time being able to get a connection. The service would be something like the internet service we have for our cell phone right? Am I nuts? Well, maybe don't answer that one DH usually does some office work online so I'm thinking I might surprise him with this. Our cell phone service is Verizon, our internet service at the office is AT&T and our home internet is Comcast. Thoughts?
Originally Posted By peeaanuut a quick look at verizons website and they have a few devices. It depends on what you have available on the laptop. Usually one of the USB devices works. Through Verizon your best bet is something that is REV A compatible so that you can get the higher speeds. They have devices that start at $50 with a 2 year contract and free after rebate all the way up to $199 with a 2 year and $149 after rebate. It also looks like they offer 2 plans. 50mb a month for $39.99 or 5 GB for $59.99. Both have a per MB charge if you go over your allowance. I would choose the larger package but thats just me. lol Go to the verizon wireless website and choose broadband and go from there. Remember, REV A devices get you faster speeds but are more expensive. Good luck!!!
Originally Posted By X-san Peeaanuut, have you ever considered starting up a website to help technophobes (such as myself lol)? You seem to have a broad range of knowledge about all this stuff, as well as an ability to explain the basics all the way up to the high-end details.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 peeaanuut, thank you! I am a technophone (love that X-san)and was unsure how or whether I should post my rambling question. You not only answered my question with great detail and advice, you also didn't make me feel like an idiot
Originally Posted By peeaanuut <<Peeaanuut, have you ever considered starting up a website to help technophobes (such as myself lol)?>> I have thought about it. It would probably be a blog style where people send in their questions and I try to answer them. The problem is that there is so much my way is better on the internet that it gets frustrating at times. In this case I would probably been flamed because someone things AT&T is better than Verizon or whatever. But I figured I would tell you about Verizon because that is who you said you already have. I hope it helps. let us know what way you go and if it ended up working to fit your needs. =)
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Hi, The Verizon website wasn't recognizing our home address or office as a valid address >: so I swung by our fav. Verizon store while I was out running errands. Super nice guy talked me through the rest of my lameo questions. I'm bringing him the laptop tomorrow and he is going to install the software and get it all set up. 3 weeks early for DH's birthday but I think I'll just surprise him with it tomorrow. YAY! I thinking we also need cake
Originally Posted By ecdc amazedncal2, I think you'll like the Verizon service. My only advice would be to really *really* monitor your usage. Cell phone companies have found that data brings in huge revenue, but it's also a giant drain on their networks, so they've struggled with how to make it work. peeaanuut is exactly right; Verizon chargs .49 cents for every megabyte you go over 5 gigabytes per month. That's over $500.00 for one gigabyte of overages. You can easily monitor your data usage at www.verizonwireless.com or directly from your computer if you have the latest software version.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Thank you ecdc! The Verizon guy suggested that I sign up for the bigger plan because the overage charges were $.99 a minute! I wasn't sure what to do, not sure of how much we will be using, not sure if he was scamming me (although he said we could always downgrade). Your advice is super helpful, I'll go for the 5GB plan for now
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 Wait, maybe he said .99 a gigabyte and I just didn't know what he was talking about. I was glad that he said it can be used with other laptops, who knew? He said not to use it for downloads or things like itunes if it's not necessary. I think this is all working out
Originally Posted By peeaanuut 99 cents a meg was right. its rediculous. its 49 cents a meg on the larger package. And I agree, media usage will chew up your bandwidth like nothing else. No itunes, no utube, no streaming media if you can avoid it.
Originally Posted By Coconut Telegraph If you are wanting to play games on the "anywhere" connection, you may wan't to stick to "pay as you go" LAN access. Think about it, $50 a month... do you pay more than $600 a year now for pay as you go access? If not, it isn't that sensible to change. If you just want to surf, then you really don't need your stream to scream. So, go cheap. Anywhere access is very over-rated IMHO.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I didn't go to Verizon today. Grandson came over instead I'm going to call and make sure the guy who was helping me out will be there when I do go in. Good customer service is appreciated I'd love for DH to be able to do some work while we are on our spur of the moment vacations without fighting for the service. Means more spur of the moment vacations!
Originally Posted By peeaanuut <<Anywhere access is very over-rated IMHO.>> It all depends on how you use your computer/online time. Everyones situation is different.
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 I got it! After almost a month of waiting it was close enough to my husbands birthday to go ahead and set up the Verizon wireless for his laptop computer. I went back to the first Verizon agent who had "walked" me through it and he even installed the software on both of our laptops! I had intended to not tell DH until we got to the "dreaded" Reno hotel where he usually spends 1/2 hour trying to connect, but then I realized that if the software was on the laptop, he would see it before then. Last night I put his laptop computer out in the backyard and put the wireless thingamajig on top with a bow It wasn't the surprise I wanted but it was nice enough. He was REALLY happy and said that he had been thinking about that internet hookup in Reno and had thought that maybe it was time we looked into something like this and now it was already taken care of I went for the larger "package" and the guy showed me how to check our usage and I can downsize. I look at the money spent as time and frustration saved. Thank you again for your advice and encouragement ps, I know that you know that "laptop" is a computer but just writing my "husbands laptop" was looking suggestive >:
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun We tried the Verizon Broadband but returned it before the 30 day trial was up. The devise was free - they had it for $50 with a $50 rebate. We used it for about 3 weeks and found it wasn't much quicker than our dial up. For the $60 a month it would have cost here,it didn't seem worth it to us. I did like the go anywhere concept, but realistically we probably wouldn't leave the house/yard. We are currently going through our local phone company for wireless and it works in our yard and on the porch as well as in the house for $38 a month. And it's much quicker. I also think at Verizon they tell you'll need the larger package and to change it down later if you want to. I think they hope no one will remember to lower it. In the 3 weeks we had it, we didn't come close to the lower ammount allowed. Hope you have better luck, but at least you have 30 days to check it out before you are locked into your 2 years. Keep us posted!!
Originally Posted By amazedncal2 At home we have Comcast Broadband with an AirPort Extreme, at the office we have AT&T DSL with a router. We will only be using the Verizon wireless for away from home use (although it is giving us broadband speeds) which is becoming more and more often as we get older. DH is also excited to have this to use when we stay our daughters house as their internet is NEVER working and he can't connect to work. He also plans to take it with us when "we" go shopping. When he's had enough he can go out to the car and check sports and such. I guess this is what happens when the kids are grown, we buy stuff for ourselves I agree that they suggest the larger package as a "come on" but I didn't feel that it was pushed on me by any means. I also look at it as saving DH from nearly having a stroke every time he can't connect to the internet while I am cooling my heels waiting to get on with our day. Maybe he'll live longer
