Tech for travelling: Because you can only carry so much

By Andrew Lim on 22 February 2008, 4:05pm

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Vodafone USB modem 7.2
We couldn't live without our laptops, but neither could we survive without the Internet, which is why we like to carry a USB data dongle with us at all times. Recently we've been testing out the Vodafone USB modem 7.2, which boasts speeds of up to 7.2Mbps.

During our tests we didn't manage to reach those speeds -- it's more of a theoretical maximum -- but it was certainly fast enough to keep in touch with HQ at all times. USB data dongles come on a monthly contract, like phones, so make sure it's the right package for you -- and be warned that data roaming can be extortionate, so check with your network before using it abroad.

You can pick up a data dongle for as little as £10 a month. Make sure to shop around before settling on any deal, and make sure to ask how much data allowance you get every month and how much it will cost to use it abroad. Alternatively, if the thought of toting dongles around sounds annoying, there are several laptops with built-in data cards, such as the Panasonic Toughbook CF-W7. They let you plug a SIM card straight into them, cutting out the need for an external device.