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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:
Suggestions from any of my gentle readers would be appreciated. Advice from the lovely![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fawx_fae even more so[***].
[*] And to send the delicioustawneypup 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!
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:
- 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?
- 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!
- 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!
