11-27-2008, 01:27 AM
It depends on the situation and user. For some it works...and definitely for types that only need convenience and a power-on-the-thing-and-surf mentality who just 'want it to work' (thinking corporate execs here).
After speaking with people, I usually recommend for most to strongly consider (if available) a broadband card/dongle that is acceptable to them, aesthetically, so that they can use the 3G service on any other computer they desire too. Most people love the idea of using the service with other devices other than being restricted.
You can always switch the service to another 'card' whenever the end-of-life of your, say Mini-9, computer...but it's inconvenient.
I've had several machines with built-in broadband capabilities (i.e. OQO, Sony VAIO UX-series, etc.)...but I would never activate them and simply would stick with my Sprint Merlin EV-DO ExpressCard to port between all of the other machines that I use (including PCMCIA and USB adapters, as well as a battery-powered EV-DO wireless router). Virtually any machine I desire can be online in minutes...rather than being forced to use only one machine (which may be very limited in power) at any given time.
After speaking with people, I usually recommend for most to strongly consider (if available) a broadband card/dongle that is acceptable to them, aesthetically, so that they can use the 3G service on any other computer they desire too. Most people love the idea of using the service with other devices other than being restricted.
You can always switch the service to another 'card' whenever the end-of-life of your, say Mini-9, computer...but it's inconvenient.
I've had several machines with built-in broadband capabilities (i.e. OQO, Sony VAIO UX-series, etc.)...but I would never activate them and simply would stick with my Sprint Merlin EV-DO ExpressCard to port between all of the other machines that I use (including PCMCIA and USB adapters, as well as a battery-powered EV-DO wireless router). Virtually any machine I desire can be online in minutes...rather than being forced to use only one machine (which may be very limited in power) at any given time.