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Mobile Broadband for Laptop

Our Broadband Expert says...

The solution to this problem comes in two simple stages. Initially, you must make sure that the laptop you purchase for your son has an inbuilt wireless USB adapter, thus enabling the laptop to connect with a wireless network at home or at school. Make sure that you use a WEP / WPA encryption key though, as failure to do so may result in other people piggy-backing your connection or even interception of your personal details.

Secondly, if finances allow I recommend that you sign up for a mobile broadband package, allowing your son wireless internet access if coverage is available at Nan’s house! Be wary that this package suffers from low download limits (2GB) and limited broadband speeds (2.8Mb). It is, however, the cheapest in the current marketplace and should be more than adequate for a child to use for schoolwork. 3 Mobile (www.three.co.uk) offers both contract and non-contract ‘pay as you go’ options for this package from £10 per month.

Alternatively, you could sign Nan up to have a broadband connection installed in her house, but I understand the “hassle factor” of getting set-up might be too much for an elderly individual. Still, if Nan is keen to learn, then our beginner’s guide to understanding broadband is here to help.

Here is our comprehensive guide to using wireless broadband, everything you need from choosing the right package all the way through to wireless security.

Laptop deals

Order results by:  SupplierUsage limitMonthly chargeContract lengthDongle/Laptop costs 

		iPad SIM 1GB + Unlimited Wi-Fi		Mobile broadband 1GB + Acer Aspire One D257 Laptop		iPad 2 3G 16GB + 15GB data
Monthly charge		£10.21		£25.00		£25.00
Dongle/Laptop costs		Free		£29.00		£230.95
Usage limit		1GB		1GB		15GB
Speed (up to)		7.2Mb		7.2Mb		7.2Mb
Minimum contract		1 month		24 months		24 months
Laptop summary		-		10.2" Widescreen display Intel Atom N270 Processor (1.6Ghz) Windows XP Home 1GB Memory 160GB SATA hard drive 802.11 b/g WLAN Up to 5 hours battery life (Lithium ION) 3 USB, 3 in 1 memory card reader (SD, SDHC, MMC) 1.3 mega pixel Digital Motion camera		-

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