Technology Is The Answer!

[anarchist_nomad]

I am writing this entry from the Oxford Tube, on my way home after my second day of work in the Imperial College High Energy Physics group.

Day two, and this commute is already getting on my nerves. This morning, I brought my bicycle with me to see how that would help save time on the London end of things. It shaves off somewhere between ten and fifteen minutes. Good. However, the coach this morning was devoid of WiFi. Not so good. I slept instead, but I really could have used the time to be productive[*].

This evening, I ended up waiting nearly forty-five minutes for the coach... despite the fact that it is supposed to run every fifteen minutes at this time of day. Not being known for my patience, this did not make me a happy camper. Now I am on the bus, and the WiFi is working... but just barely. It is slow enough to be akin to breathing through a straw. It was like this yesterday, too. Not the sort of thing that I want to spend an hour and change fighting with for a couple of hours a day, five days a week, for the next year or two.

Obviously, I cannot change the fact that a bus broke down and made me wait tonight. That's fine. It was irksome, but I do not expect it to be a regular occurrence. I am more concerned about the pathetic nature of the WiFi -- I accepted this hellacious commute with the understanding that I could be productive on the long coach ride. Since I cannot expect the bus company to improve their service, I think that the time has come to seriously consider mobile broadband.

That's where the technical question comes in.

I took some time today to research my options. I could get a mobile broadband adapter for my Arkham-3[**] -- either a USB stick or a PCMCIA card -- and have access for about fifteen pounds a month. I could also switch my mobile phone from pay-as-you-go service and get a phone with mobile internet capability. I can get a free phone with enough minutes and texts to suit my needs (plus unlimited internet and e-mail access) for about thirty-five pounds per month. The phone can also interface with my laptop, acting as a mobile modem. These days, I already spend about ten pounds a month on my pay-as-you-go phone, so the total if I purchase a mobile broadband card would be twenty-five quid. Thus, I am leaning toward a new phone -- for the extra ten quid per month, I would get access to e-mail and the net when I am away from my computer, plus possible other perks like a GPS unit.

Still, before I commit to spending thirty-five pounds per month for the next year and a half, I like to shop around and get some advice. Be an informed consumer and all that. So, I was wondering a couple of things:

1. Do any of my dear readers have experience using their mobile phones as an interface for bringing broadband to their laptops. How reliably does it work?
   
   
2. Does anyone have any advice for choosing such a phone from the sea of options? Currently, I am leaning towards a Blackberry Curve 8310. However, I see plenty of other options that would fit my needs, such as a an HTC Touch Pro, a Nokia E61i, or a Blackberry 8800. Recommendations would be welcome!
   
   
3. Does anyone have any suggestions for who the best providers are. Currently, I am leaning toward Vodafone, who will give me five hundred minutes, one hundred texts, and unlimited mobile broadband for thirty-five pounds per month. This suits my needs... but is a bit pricey. A quick scan of other providers did not reveal anything better. Anybody know of any special offers or deals that would save me a pretty penny?

Suggestions from any of my gentle readers would be appreciated. Advice from the lovely fawx_fae even more so[***].

---

[*] And to send the delicious tawneypup an e-mail that I had been planning.

[**] My laptop.

[***] If you are reading this, my dear, please take that as a not-so-subtle hint! Your professional expertise and connections are potentially quite useful here!

Comments

[bammba-m.livejournal.com]

i can offer up no advice that would be of any help.

but i can roll my tongue. so i'm doing that at you from across the globe. nyah!!

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

And the tongue rolling does, indeed, help! Thank you for that, sweetie! *grin*

(Did you know that I cannot roll my tongue? Fourteen years into this relationship, Chesh nevers gets tired of teasing me for that!)

[bammba-m.livejournal.com]

i did NOT know that, but i am somewhat tickled by that knowledge. It's only something like 1 in every 1,000 people that can do it, but there does seem to be a fair number of such people in "smart" social circles.

Just for that, i'm totally rolling my tongue AGAIN at you!!

Ba-ha-ha!!!

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

The Oxford Tube is notoriously shit at punctuality. I've always had bad experiences with it.

Sorry I can;t be more help with mobile internet, but I'm only just starting to consider it myself.

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

By and large, my experiences with the Oxford Tube have been good. Especially in the mornings. Tonight, one of the buses broke down. Hence the long wait. It annoyed me, but I don't expect it to be the norm. Whereas the cruddy internet access seems to be standard. Hence my attempts to navigate a way around their service...

[winewiskeywomen.livejournal.com]

15 quid seems cheap compared to here: 40 bucks for Cricket (limited service areas) and 60 for AT&T...both have a 5 gig/month limit.

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Fifteen quid buys you 3 gig/month, 25 quid buys you 5 GB.

However, for 35 pounds per month, I can have a Blackberry with unlimited mobile internet access which can be used to read my email and surf the web alone or as a modem for my laptop. Plus more texts and minutes than I need (which I currently spend about ten per month for) and a GPS system to boot.

The total cost is ten more per month than I would pay for a 3 GB card for my laptop plus what I already spend on my phone. But I'm thinking that it might be worth it this time, even though I am usually a stingy anti-consumer.

[x-mass.livejournal.com]

before jumping have a look at 3 - they do a deal which gives you a 6 month contract and then mobile broadband as half price add on - so for 17.50 a month you get 300 anytime minutes and a 3g usb dongle

also have a look at the_magician and autopope's journals who both seem to spend lost of time buying shiny mobiles and geek toys

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

This weekend, I plan on taking a stroll through central Oxford, where -- as I am sure you know -- I can easily visit 3, Carphone Warehouse, Orange, Vodafone, Phones4U, and more in the space of about three blocks. :-)

Based on that, I will make a decision... but I was wondering beforehand if any of my friends had advice to offer.

[x-mass.livejournal.com]

htc stuff is pretty cool also a close reading of the_magician's can lead to insights about where symbian phones are heading towards as he's mates with a slew of people working on next generation phone software

[otterylexa.livejournal.com]

I've found the Oxford Tube's wifi working well on a couple of occasions, but more often not.

I went with 3. I got a Nokia 6500 Slide, and a separate USB dongle. I pay £20/mo, 18 mo contract. 300 mins, 300 texts, 3Gb per month.

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Yes, my experience with the Tube's WiFi is pretty much the same. Hence the sudden willingness to spend twenty-five pounds a month on a mobile phone plan! :-)

Thank you for your suggestion -- I will be sure to look into a similar deal when I go a'shopping on Saturday. That's a lot cheaper than what I was expecting to pay -- nearly half the cost!

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Quick question: I presume that the 3 GB / month is via a USB mobile modem, yes? Would it be possible for me to borrow it for one day, later this month? (Some time after I get back from the States on Oct 20)

The 3 Store has the best price I have seen... but I'm told that their network coverage is not as good. I would like to take the modem to London one day, as I go to work, and then back in the evening. To evaluate its coverage on my specific route before I commit to buying one. If it goes well, I will get a contract with 3. If not, I think that I will keep my phone as is and get a 3 GB modem from Vodafone.

Anyway, please let me know if you would be willing to help out with a one day loan of your modem -- thanks!

[otterylexa.livejournal.com]

I'd be happy to lend it to you for a day or two. Drop me a line when you are back to arrange a time to meet.

[anarchist-nomad.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I appreciate that!

I'm back now, though I will be away for the weekend. Any chance that I could swing by your place on Sunday evening to pick it up? I could return it to you Monday or Tuesday evening, whichever you preferred...

Thanks again! Seeing how the 3 reception fares between Oxford and London is going to determine what I end up buying. Getting to test it before committing to an 18 or 24 month contract is much appreciated!