Posted by maddieNJ on 5/27/08 1:43pm
Msg #248878

Wireless/Air card for laptop

I am starting to look into this for my laptop. AT&T (who I use for my wireless) charges $60 a month with a 2 year contract. Ouch! Hard to justify. Anyone use a different carrier with a less expensive plan or even a month to month plan?

Reply by Loretta on 5/27/08 1:46pm
Msg #248881

I pay a little more than that for Verizon wireless but you can get a Linksys card and pull up to any coffeehouse or other business that does not have a "block" and log onto the web (if you are in a good location). I am not renewing my 2 year contract. I bought a Linksys adapter and will use that. I'm lucky I can do that here. It was $49, one time price.

Reply by ME/NJ on 5/27/08 1:47pm
Msg #248883

Not worth the cost in NJ lack of volume

Plus not many(if not all) counties in NJ take e- signings yet.

Reply by Loretta on 5/27/08 1:51pm
Msg #248887

Re: Not worth the cost in NJ lack of volume

Go to Staples and buy the Linksys adapter. A one time fee for the adapter is better than the $70 monthly fee for the wireless card.

Reply by maddieNJ on 5/27/08 1:58pm
Msg #248891

Re: Not worth the cost in NJ lack of volume

I have a wireless card in my laptop, but for areas that don't have wireless I'd like to be able to connect.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 5/27/08 2:04pm
Msg #248893

My laptop also has a wireless card

But, like the others have mentioned, it is not cost effective for me to have a paid wireless adapter. The couple of times I needed wireless, I went to a Mcdonalds and for 2.95 I connected there, or the local library for free.

Reply by Gary_CA on 5/27/08 3:47pm
Msg #248910

I pay $15 / month

to add the TETHERING feature to my PDA. I've done this for a while now and it works nicely.

Much of what I have to do on the web I can do directly from the smart phone (currently a Blackberry which I am liking much more that the Treo and Motorola Q it replaces, but they both worked fine as air cards too.) when I can't do whatever I need to do on the itty bitty screen, I plug the PDA into the computer with a USB cable and it acts as a modem to put the computer on, same as an air card, same speed as an air card.

Works great for me. Pretty high speed internet wherever there's a cell signal. And my email in my shirt pocket.

Reply by John_NorCal on 5/27/08 9:46pm
Msg #248944

Gary, who is your carrier? n/m

Reply by Gary_CA on 5/27/08 10:44pm
Msg #248948

Verizon n/m

Reply by Katherine Home Loan Notary on 5/28/08 12:19am
Msg #248957

Hi maddieNJ! Not too long ago, I contemplated the same thing. I didn't want to pay the monthly fee, nor did I want a 2 year contract. I gave in and bought the internet usb with the 2 year contract, and I've had so much more business than I would have. Yes, I'm paying the monthly service charge, but it's a tax right off anyway for my business. I use Verizon Wireless and I've had great reception in San Diego, CA. I pay a little less monthly ($50) and it's worked out great so far. No complaints, but then again, I live in the greater San Diego area where cell phone reception is never bad. I was approved as an e-Sign notary and I'm so glad that I got my laptop and internet card, it's helped business a lot. I hope this helps!