TwinLori
11-15-2010, 08:05 AM
When down in Desert Hot Springs, the hotel where I was staying at was having trouble with its Internet server, so the wireless WiFi system wouldn't work. At first I was told by the front desk person it was an equipment problem, then the next day I was told it was because there were so many guests with laptops and smartphones that their system didn't have enough bandwidth. Strangely enough, a different front desk person told me to come down to the lobby area and that I'd have better luck with getting the WiFi signal (which didn't work at all in my hotel room clear across the hotel). That seemed to work; along with using the laptop near the pool (which I saw another guest doing).
So, even though I don't travel much or take my laptop with me, it got me thinking about "air cards", which I thought allowed Internet access from anyplace (not just a WiFi hotspot). Are these reliable and worth it?
By the way, I don't own a fancy cell phone with Internet capability. I just have a cheap disposable $25 Tracfone for emergencies -- it makes phone calls (that's it!). Sometimes I'm envious of people with their iPhones and BlackBerry models, but normally I don't NEED one, so haven't sprung for this yet. Heck, I don't even know how to text (and my little phone couldn't do that even if I wanted to)!
So, even though I don't travel much or take my laptop with me, it got me thinking about "air cards", which I thought allowed Internet access from anyplace (not just a WiFi hotspot). Are these reliable and worth it?
By the way, I don't own a fancy cell phone with Internet capability. I just have a cheap disposable $25 Tracfone for emergencies -- it makes phone calls (that's it!). Sometimes I'm envious of people with their iPhones and BlackBerry models, but normally I don't NEED one, so haven't sprung for this yet. Heck, I don't even know how to text (and my little phone couldn't do that even if I wanted to)!