Netbook Experience

Mobile Broadband has had massive impact on Laptops and Netbooks of all types, no longer are their users limited to being able to access the Internet through Wifi access points in cafe’s and meeting area’s (often at high cost) but now access is possible from anywhere there is a mobile Phone network. In addition as the Data Speeds of networks have improved, it has been possible to do more and more bandwidth intensive functions on our trusty Netbooks, even watch Iplayer whilst out of the move.

In this article I described how to configure the Linux version of the Acer Aspire One to work with the 3 Broad Band Dongle.

So what next for Mobile Broadband, at the moment each user needs a USB Dongle to connect to the Mobile Broadband Network which can be quite limiting, However 3 have recently launched a new device called the MiFi, ( a rebadged version of the Huawei E5830) which takes a Mobile Data Network and turns it into a Wifi signal. This means that a number of your WIFI Enable devices can share the Mobile Data Network with out being physically linked to a cable.For Example whilst you are blogging on your Netbook, a friend could be surfing the Internet on their Laptop and you could also be downloading an album on your Ipod Touch all at the same time sharing the same mobile broadband connection.

The MiFi has a battery installed which means that it’s completely portable, this means that you could install it into a car and turn your car into a secure WIFI Hotspot, or store it in your rucksack to always have the Internet handy. This sounds like a great leap forward.

I’ll be experimenting with the MiFi in the near future to see how well it works it practice.

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