Sprint 3G Device for Both PC Card and ExpressCard
I’m still a fan of USB solutions for my high-speed wireless broadband service, but I have to give Sprint credit. They gained a few points from me today with their new AirCard 402 because it works in both older PC Card slots as well as with newer ExpressCard interfaces. The guts of the EV-DO Rev. A card seem to lie within the smaller ExpressCard/34 hardware, which fits into a locking, PC Card adapter. That gives you two options for how to use the device, which should net you download speeds between 600kbps and 1.4Mbps in Sprint’s coverage areas. The two-ounce card also supports GPS for location awareness applications on your laptop and the device software is included on the device, so you won’t need an optical drive for installation.
I’m still sticking with a USB solution since it works on every device I own, or might purchase in the near future. If you’re sold on the dual-interface device, you can find it for $99 after $150 instant savings and a $50 mail-in rebate from Sprint.
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I actually use a PC card adapter for my EX720, when I have to use the air card with my Toshiba Libretto U105. But for my Fujitsu U810 and my Samsung Q1, I purchased a USB to ExpressCard adapter. I was leary at first, but I found this the Siig USB to Expresscard adapter : http://www.siig.com/ViewProduct.aspx?pn=JU-000012-S1 and it works incredibly well. The adapter did not require any drivers and the card had no trouble working with the UMPCs. I originally bought the EX720 for my MacBook Pro 17″, but now that I am considering smaller alternatives such as the MacBook, or MacBook Air, the adapter will come in handy. Still have a hard time putting down the Libretto though, but the Sony Vaio P may change all that; and the adapter definitely helps toward that direction.