Question on labtop and doing paper work?

I know of a couple that have went over.

 

hummmm. guess they have more time or bigger stuff to do than me. I mean I am sure it can be done but I never have.

 

iphone and AT&T is the best deal. Sprint is the techies choice, Verizon supposedly has the biggest network, but basically the BIG 3 all have 3G and are the same in performance across the nation as a whole. The advantage with AT&T is the iPhone. iPhone is a tested and durable phone--it won't break when you drop it from the height of the driver's seat to the ground outside the door, and the screen is huge and high resolution. With a fancy slim protector case, it's even more durable. Besides the extensive phone functions, the iPhone provides, iPod, internet FM radio, games, GPS, and many more functions, making it a venerable computer in the pocket. With a jailbroken iPhone used as a wireless modem, AT&T's $30- monthly charge for unlimited 3G internet access is an unbeatable. You won't need to pay $60- p/mo for the aircard. When the wireless modem ap is in use, phone calls can still be dialed, received, and other aps on the iphone can also be used. I frequently use my iPhone and Mac Powerbook at the same time. By the way, the most durable laptop is made by Apple. My 2004 model is old but has survived falling off the bunk during a quick stop numerous times. It has an aluminum case and durable ports that have outlived the cables attached. I don't like the flimsy plastic laptop cases and cheap power supply and USB ports in equivalent Dell computers, for example. I also like Macs because viruses are a non-issue because OSX preferences system is a strong defense, and because the Mac market share makes them less of a target for vandals.

 

I forgot to mention, another advantage of the iPhone is that AT&T provides FREE wifi at all McDonald's and Starbuck's. If one has a wifi hotspot, an iPhone, and a wifi capable Laptop, there are a number of additional sync operations that become possible due to increased bandwidth. I use my iPhone to survey the possible wifi access while on the road.

 

I noticed that Verizon dropped the overage rates to .05 cents per MB according to my contract. With the new even higher speeds coming out, they might go unlimited for a while at least. Until people abuse it again.

 

Let me say first, that I agree with you that it's difficult to go over the 5 GB allowance. But, I should say: BUT, last February, not only did I go over; I went FIVE GB's over!!! It's a long story, but I was facing a overage charge of $1,200, plus my monthly charge. Verizon made a one-time adjustment, raising my account to a 10 GB allowance, for which I was charge $200, plus they charged me my regular bill of $70. Prior to this occuring I had never gone over, or near, the 5 GB (probably 3.5 at most), and never have since. Here's the difference, though. That month I had discovered the joy of music download from Kazaa, not song, but albums. Why download a song when you can just as easily download the album. Right? Secondly, I wasn't working at the time and was spending 10-12 hrs. a day online, and more.

Bottom line: If you're driving OTR and spending that kind of time online; you need a REAL job. Even if you were to manage 5 hrs a day online, and I don't see how, if you're working, you'll never see usage beyond 2 GB's. Plus, the above charge was at the $0.25/ MB; now that it's $0.05/MB any overage would be negligible.

I was looking at my online billing for that month the other day, it was 14 pages with entries of as much as 1 GB of usage, and many thereabouts. I must've been out of my mind that month. If I can setup up a link to the bill for y'all to see how it's done, I'll do so. It's easy to laugh now, but when I discovered the descrepency in my monthly usage and how much it could cost me---there wasn't ANYTHING funny about THAT!

 

This is from my Verizon bill (notice the $0.25)

1 1/2 days 7,047 MB 1 GB=1,024 MB

View attachment Doc3.pdf

2 days and another 7,179 MB

View attachment Doc4.pdf

1/2 a day, 1/2 a GB

View attachment Doc5.pdf

Now that's an OWWEEEEEE!

 

Another cost saving option for whatever service you go with is Craigslist. I bought a V740 ExpressCard for $40.

 

Yeah you've really gotta watch that. I only download very small stuff on the road, youtube/liveleak video, chapters of comics, single songs, etc. I burned up well over 10gb this last weekend off on the home cable line. I could set my server up to let me log in from the road and download whatever I want onto it at home but lightning makes me nervous. It's already survived two direct strikes on the house and that was while I was there. Won't even see it coming way out here.

 

Used to be with Sprint, but they didn't like my 25gb/mo usage so I went with AT&T for now. At the time I signed up with AT&T they had the 5gb/mo limit but did not charge for going over, that may have changed, but they promised me that if they change that during my 2 yr contract it pwould not apply until contract renewal comes up.

Anyway how do I use 25gb/mo. I have the laptop downloading 2-3 tv shows as I drive throughout the day so that I can watch them at my leisure, on my schedule, when I stop for my break.

With Sprint's 4g network, as more cities get WiMax, and the WiMax being unlimited with the 5gb/mo limitation on the cellular usage I may be able to go back to them if AT&T begins to limit me.