subject: Choosing the Best Dongles for Laptops [print this page] Choosing the Best Dongles for Laptops Choosing the Best Dongles for Laptops
The explosion in mobile broadband has meant that many people have come across the phrase 'dongles for laptops'. But what exactly is a dongle and how does one choose the correct one for you and your circumstances? With all the major networks now offering mobile broadband via a dongle for your laptop what is the difference between each offer and the dongles themselves. With every dongle comes some sort of commitment whether it be money upfront or a contract. The consumer needs to know what the parameters are before deciding which dongle and which package to go with.
The basic dongles for laptops are capable of connecting your laptop to the internet and allow you to get broadband on the move. There is often very little difference between the dongles themselves and where there is a choice more often than not it is only a choice between a basic one and an advanced one that doubles up as a memory stick. Even then if you are looking for aesthetic qualities they all mostly look the same. The Three network have a few different designs to choose from but the rest are very similar to each other.
The research you need to do before you choose will mainly be based around two facts. One is the coverage in the area you wish to predominantly get online whilst on the move and the other is the type of contract you want to be on.
The 3G network, which is what you will need to get the best out of your dongle, is currently covering over 90% of the country. This will be of little consolation if you happen to live in the 7% that isn't covered and the network strength in your area will also play a factor in your satisfaction with your chosen service.
The main categories of contract are ranged from long term contracts, typically 12, 18 or 24 months, monthly contracts that require a notice period to discontinue and pay as you go which does what it says on the tin. The difference in these contracts will be predominantly the data usage allowances (how much data you can download in any given month) and the cost to you for each month you use the service. if you connect only sporadically to the internet via your laptop then paying for what you use when you use it via a pay as you go set up is probably for you, whereas if you know you will connect frequently and consistently over the course of a year then maybe you need a contract of 12, 18 or 24 months. The monthly contracts can be a good middle ground if you do not want to be tied in to a provider for a long time but beware that although these are one month contracts they usually require a notice period to quit the service which can mean that a minimum period of use would be 1 month plus the notice period which is usually 30 days.
The amount of use you will get out of your chosen package will depend largely on what type of internet usage you engage in. If you only really check emails and surf the net then your usage will be much less than someone that streams videos and downloads music online. When purchasing a package it is always best to use caution when estimating how much you will need each month. You can always add more later but paying for data usage that you never use is an expense that is unnecessary.
As with all purchases one should always read the small print and although the terms and conditions associated with any purchase are boring they do form a legal contract between you and your provider, read them, you only have to do it once and then you can make informed decisions based on them.
