If you have an ExpressCard port in your laptop rather than the good old workhorse PC Card, you might be wondering if all the various hardware makers are going wake up and create cards for your early-adopting self. Now some have jumped into the fray, including Verizon Wireless, providing a Novatel V-640 ExpressCard for its EVDO connectivity, and the GearLive crew tested one for our reading pleasure.
The verdict? The reviewers dug the card in their MacBook Pro, lauding its easy setup and real-world download speed of 370kbps which increased to 448kbps as they got closer to downtown Seattle. While not at its theoretical maximum speed of 500kbps, it was still not bad considering that reception wasn’t perfect (no surprise when dealing with Verizon Wireless). Upload speed was somewhat slower at 114kkbps but still acceptable. Looks like quite a bargain at $99 with a two-year contract, but then there’s that $59.99 for unlimited broadband access that might be a bit of a burden. Even so, Gear Live laid a 9/10 rating on the Verizon V640. Looking good.
Verizon V640 EVDO ExpressCard Review: MacBook Pro [Gear Live]