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World's Most Overrated Gadgets and Technologies 3
3G
The promise: Near- or actual-broadband speeds anywhere there's a cell phone signal, meaning we no longer have to be in a Wi-Fi hotspot to surf the 'Net at high speeds.
Why it's overrated: 3G in the form of Sprint and Verizon Wireless's EVDO broadband service is fast and reliable when used on a laptop, but it's hard to notice much of a speed upgrade cell phones such as the iPhone or Blackberrys when surfing the Web. That said, downloading music and other content on non-iPhone 3Gs is quicker with 3G than older and slower mobile data networks such as GSM, but try downloading a movie using your 3G mobile broadband card on a laptop and you'll see just how slow it can be.
Bottom line: 3G is an amazing convenience for surfing the Web and e-mailing on your laptop when you're away from home and there's no Wi-Fi hotspot around, but we don't think it's worth the extra money on cell phones yet. So, don't rush out the door to upgrade your old iPhone for a 3G one because you won't notice that much of a speed bump and you'll be paying $10-$20 per month more for your monthly plan. It remains to be seen how the T-Mobile G1, also known as the Google phone, will perform on T-Mobile's recently launched 3G network.
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Comments
7
Subscribe to commentsKrazyKat357Oct 7th 2008 2:56PM
I have had verizon wireless, EVDO for close to two years...if my work did not pay for this service I sure as hell wouldn't.. I travel all over the united states (new town every week) and have to use my laptop all the time in rental car,airport and resturants...this service is terrible....I never once can just go on line...always a problem. Then try getting the person on the helpline to help ...well that is not very helpful to say the least..I have windows vista and the helpline people don't even know the system and cannot help at all...this is truley a rip off...like I said if i were paying for it it would have been cancelled LONG time ago...actually I would not be a verizon user at all...problems with phone service and very high priced bills..lots more options avail. that are more reliable and LOT
MikeOct 7th 2008 3:02PM
This list could not be more wrong. WIFI over rated and 3g speeds? What kind of crack is being smoked by who wrote this. WIFI has changed everything and i certainly never had my WIFI suddenly drop unless i walk too far away from the access point. And 3g speeds are amazing its not designed so you can download movies its made so you can access the internet without slow dial up speeds. I havent even reached past the 3g listing but i know this will just get worse and worse.
lisa FrenchOct 7th 2008 3:26PM
WRONG!!!! I LOVE my 3G iphone. 3G is not overrated, its much faster then 2G
lisa FrenchOct 7th 2008 3:29PM
3G Is NOT overeated. I had the 2G iPhone and Now have the 3G iphone. 3G is so much faster.
DonOct 7th 2008 4:01PM
What with Comcast charging $43 a month service,$75 fee for "hook up" and router fees, I believe I will pay my $1.00 bus fee and get flawless wi-fi at my local Buffalo Wild Wings
Rolan CobbOct 7th 2008 4:47PM
I had the EVDO thing for about six months. It was great and gave me all kinds of speed out here in the country. Then it started having problems. I talked to the tech's and they kept telling me it was "my" problem, they even changed the air card in my notebook. I could get other towers away from my home location when the other tower would not work, but it kept on and on. I finally gave up and went to some sort of a Wi Fi provider. It works great, although it took an outside antenna, (as did the EVDO thing). After we got it going it has never missed a beat. And it's so much less expensive than that EVDO thing. I still wonder what the problem was with the tower that I was connecting to from home. It would be off as much as 6 hours at a time and then suddenly be back. It was not a fade, like something switched it off with a big switch, and then would come back the same way later. Just hope what I have now keeps on like it has for the last month or so. It is wonderful and bad weather hasn't bother it yet. Wonder what will happen when it starts to snow?
LindseyOct 7th 2008 6:50PM
Yeah, well if it wasn't for WiFi I wouldn't be reading this BS article. Morons..... You know what they say about opinions.