Laptops - Broadband

I keep coming back to the idea of how portable our world has become. Thanks to handheld computers, people can work while sitting in the back of a taxi! With laptop broadband access, they can work that much harder.

Thanks to miniaturization or what we call nanotechnology (thank you, Star Trek!) the computer industry and the cellular industry have been able to team up to produce laptop broadband wireless access for anyone who has the funds to purchase a computer.

Gaining access to wifi networks across the country has made it possible for those who have a laptop broadband Internet connection to travel and work at the same time. No longer does the average employee dash from home office to field office just to use the computer for data transmission.

No, with laptop broadband Internet access, you can work from anywhere at any time and reduce the down time you spend idly waiting at airports for flights. You can now work clear up till takeoff, when Federal Aviation Administration rules require all electronic devices to be shut down until the airplane reaches cruising altitude.

So really the only time a worker would be out of touch in terms of laptop broadband or cellular access would be during a flight. This does not preclude getting work done on the laptop while in flight, however - you just have to wait until you land to transmit your data.

The most difficult choice anyone has to make in terms of access to a wireless network is which company to go with. Laptop broadband cards (also known as PCMCIA cards) are available from almost every cellular provider in the United States and international markets as well.

To make your choice, test laptop broadband cards from at least three different providers. Test the cards in metropolitan as well as rural areas. Sometimes what works in New York City might not have adequate coverage in upstate New York.

In addition, try the Flash test on the laptop broadband card from each provider. This is a way of testing the speed of transmission from each provider and will greatly aid you in making the right choice.

Finally, when choosing your laptop broadband card (and its wireless network provider), the ultimate test is this: customer service. Does your provider explain all aspects of their plans? Can you get a good deal? Is their network available across the country? Do your homework and make an informed choice.