looking for laptop and dongle? anyone help

[robbiebox]

My laptop has just died on me and looking for a new one, want something as cheap as possible that will do the job for poker with preferably a wide screen.

Also want to be a bit more mobile so thinking of ditching the broadband at home and getting a dongle.

Anyone know of best current offers. Online would be good or will be in London on Saturday.

Cheers in advance

[Suited_Jock]

If you don't mind going into a contract you can get a free laptop/dongle for like £30 a month from the carphone warehouse.

[thetank]

I hear a lot of bad things about those though, people getting a signal so slow that it is close to useless, but they're stuck in a 12/18 month contract.

[bragunn]

I wouldnt recommend an Acer. They are cheap, the specs look good - but you need to be able to see the screen for specs to be useful! I sent mine back after 1 day and the replacement after one week.

My sis and bro both have viao's they seem alright.

[Amatay]

Are them dongle things any good?? Do you just plug them into your lappy and bingo you are connected? Is it that simple?

[Moskvich]

Are them dongle things any good?? Do you just plug them into your lappy and bingo you are connected? Is it that simple?

Pretty much that simple, but it seems to make a massive difference where you are, so I'm not sure you could consider them truly mobile. Mine works absolutely fine where I am, but at my mum's house for example, which is near the middle of a pretty big town, it's as Tank says, with a very weak signal and an unbelievably slow connection.

[Robert HM]

PC World in Croydon were doing deals last week, they were slashing prices of laptops in line with the type of mobile cotract you took at the same time. Didn't pay too much attention as I wasn't interested at the time.

[Supernova]

Look at Novatech.com, next day delivery and an extra years warranty if you want it, if you see anything you fancy pm me and I'll ask for a better price for you as we have a corporate account with them, or if you can wait till Monday our acc manager is great, tell him what you want, what you want it to do and he'll sort the cheapest option for you, I'll pass you his phone no.

[Div]

Are them dongle things any good?? Do you just plug them into your lappy and bingo you are connected? Is it that simple?

Pretty much that simple, but it seems to make a massive difference where you are, so I'm not sure you could consider them truly mobile. Mine works absolutely fine where I am, but at my mum's house for example, which is near the middle of a pretty big town, it's as Tank says, with a very weak signal and an unbelievably slow connection.

Can't vouch for all the networks, but T-Mobile definitely has a feature where you can input postcodes on their website and get an indicator of the likely performance in that area.

They also provide free WiFi where available, so if you are sitting in Starbucks, an airport, or other HotSpot, then you can use that instead of the 3G connection.

[StuartHopkin]

I have an EEE1000 and Orange dongle. As stated, it really depends where u are, i only really use it to play poker in the pub and it works fine for that. The occasions i have used the internet though are as others have stated, if you can get a 3g signal then its all good, if it can only pick up a GPRS signal its a waste of time.

Id strongly advise to avoid the packages about at the moment. Many of them will only include a few gig of downloads, billing you for anything over this. The worst bit though is that your paying over the odds for the service. A normal dongle is about £15 a month, PC World will do you one for £45 a month on a 24 month contract and then give you a £400 laptop free? Its a ripoff youve actually just paid £720 quid for it!

[WYSINWYG]

Are them dongle things any good?? Do you just plug them into your lappy and bingo you are connected? Is it that simple?

Pretty much that simple, but it seems to make a massive difference where you are, so I'm not sure you could consider them truly mobile. Mine works absolutely fine where I am, but at my mum's house for example, which is near the middle of a pretty big town, it's as Tank says, with a very weak signal and an unbelievably slow connection.

Can't vouch for all the networks, but T-Mobile definitely has a feature where you can input postcodes on their website and get an indicator of the likely performance in that area.

They also provide free WiFi where available, so if you are sitting in Starbucks, an airport, or other HotSpot, then you can use that instead of the 3G connection.

  Tried this, cost me 30 quid in coffee and muffins

I hear about the 3G etc dongles being slow but are they reliable enough to use for online poker?

[TheChipPrince]

I hear about the 3G etc dongles being slow but are they reliable enough to use for online poker?

I think RED DOG uses one, he may be able to help...

[The_nun]

I called Red yesterday to ask how big his dongle was. After informing his size was quite adequate, but it is the reception that can be doggy with the one I am trialing, I went ahead with T Mobile. Tom rates Vodaphone.



Anyway mine came today 3g, T Mobile trial for 7 days. Now, I will ( if I chose to take it ) be tied in for 18 months @ £15 per month. My line of thought is if I am happy with it to knock BT line rental and Sky on the head. Trying to make cutbacks and with telly being totally crap I thought it may be a good idea. Thoughts or experience anyone?

[AndrewT]

I have a 3G dongle right now and it seems that, unless you know someone with a dongle who can test it in your house, you'll have no idea how well it will work as it's so location dependent.

I'm in London, apparantly enveloped by shit-hot super fast mobile broadband coverage, but I can't connect in a room at the back of the house, but it works fine in the front.

[The_nun]

It came today Andrew for the trial, works fine around my home on it now, as fast if not faster than Sky. Just wondered long term and coverage and any other problems anyone has had before committing.