Mobile broadband?

[shin_dr]

I'd like to get my laptop going again. The local stuff out here isn't much help beyond token Windows/antivirus updates.

I was hopeful when I heard about NetZero's new gizmo, but they don't seem to cover AZ at all. Actually I'm mostly hoping that it gets some of these other ones to drop their prices.

Verizon is really expensive and in practice I'd be online even less (to stay under the bandwidth)

AT&T seems to pose a similar problem.

That leaves Virgin Mobile, at least as far as I'm aware. Even there the 'unlimited' card isn't as good a deal as it was a couple years ago. I really should have jumped on it then, actually.

On similar grounds I'd like to some of my other devices going (game systems etc.) but that looks like I'd need more hardware, or at least a crossover cable.

TLDR any experience or advice?

[AYHJA]

If you are in a good coverage area, Sprint rocks hard. Where are you exactly?

[shin_dr]

I believe Virgin's service runs on Sprint's network.

[5829]

Sprint owns Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Nextel and Assurance.
I think that only Sprint proper will offer 4G - don't know about data caps for Sprint.
Boost and Virgin are prepaid, and prepaid service is unofficially not as good as contract service.

[shin_dr]

I noticed T-Mobile is putting out a similar service:
http://www.tmonews.com/2012/05/t-mobile ... and-plans/


It's just, I'll probably only have one batch of high volume (clear out the backlog LOL), but then I might go months where I wouldn't even need 100 MB.

[AYHJA]

Bro, if you are in a good coverage area, buying a smartphone with 4G, hell, even a good solid 3G connection will pay for itself in a month...When I am home, and getting 4G w/my Sprint phone, its as fast if not faster than what we get on Comcast...Your bill with the unlimted plan should be no more than 100 each month, which will more than pay for itself if you're using your phone to get online...I have an EVO 4G and an EVO 3D, and they even have the other phone I have, the Galaxy Nexus, on Sprint as well...And of the upper end, new HTC phones should make you happy...

I think AT&T/T-Mobile are improving their service, but nothing can compare to Sprint if you can get it...Verizon is fast, but you're going to pay for every MB...

[shin_dr]

Virgin showed off a 4G hotspot the other day but they still don't seem to offer much 4G coverage, at least not yet. I started getting better signal the other day so I may hold off or see if I can find another model for cheap.

I have no CCs and I've been trying to put off a debit, although GreenDot looks decent.

[shin_dr]

Sprint/Virgin changed their broadband offers. Probably could give it a shot for a couple months but it's no longer the pay as you go aspect I wanted.

I'm thinking T-mobile at the moment, although I may end up tabling this for a while again.

[AYHJA]

T-Mobile...Def. has stepped up here lately...I'd pick them over AT&T now I think...