[SATLUG] [OT] Cell phone rant / open source idea

[John Pappas]

On 7/17/07, Alex Bartonek <bartonekdragracing at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> --- country <glenn.toothman at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Another consideration is your notebook/laptop, is it
> > a Fast Buss or regular
> > PCI buss for the card... the fast buss will not
> > allow you to plug in the
> > regular Sprint/ATT/Verizon cards...   you have to
> > purchase a special card
> > for them...
>
> I guess i'll have to bring it in w/me to check it out.

Given my experience with getting this crap to work in Linux, you want
to get any of the Novatel Merlin cards, the others can be made to
work, but I am personally much happier with the Merlins.

Sprint Models:
EX720 - ExpressCard/16 EVDO rev A
S720 - CardBus/32 EVDO rev A
U720 - USB EVDO rev A

I have also gotten my Treos to act as a modem (via BlueTooth), and not
paid anything more than the $15 Power Vision.  Can;t get calls while
online, but if you are choosing one or the other, it seems that phone
as modem trumps modem as phone for both convenience and cost.

John