So should you choose a cell card or phone to connect with your laptop? They both have their pros and cons. Heavy data users should get a card. If you only need occasional laptop connections, choose a phone that allows phone-as-modem use, with a suitable add-on data plan. You'll save money, and may not need a contract for the add-on laptop connection service, so you can turn it on and off when needed.

PC Card Cell Data Modems

Pros: Easy setup, fastest speeds.
Cons: Relatively expensive, often lack voice support.
Good for: Mobile professionals who want the quickest, fastest, and easiest way to get Internet access on the road.
Bad for: Those who want to minimize contract costs and those who simply don't want to carry/maintain a separate gadget.

Options GT Max 3.6 PC Card (AT&T/Cingular)

A PC Card or ExpressCard is the simplest solution if you are planning to use a laptop to connect to the Internet: you just slide the card into the slot, run the provided software, and connect. Mac users may need to find third-party software, although many current cards are supported natively in Mac OS X Tiger. Verizon has a dedicated Mac client, which allows both activation and updates. With AT&T/Cingular and Sprint cards, you need to use a PC to activate your card before it will work on a Mac. The top third-party Mac connection managers for both cards and phones are Smith Micro's QuickLink Mobile and Nova Media's Launch2Net. Nova Media supports a huge number of worldwide GSM-based devices, while Smith Micro supports a more U.S.-focused set of GSM and CDMA cards and phones. EV-DO card users will also find great Mac OS X support at EVDOInfo.com.

Another advantage of buying a card is that they tend to be at the cutting edge of technology: while there are no EV-DO Rev. A phones available yet, there is a wide selection of PC Cards that can communicate over this new high-speed standard. And you can expect to buy HSUPA cards ahead of AT&T/Cingular's rollout later this year, well before any such phones phones.

Novatel Wireless Ovation U720 USB Adapter (Sprint)

Most PC cards don?t allow you to make voice calls, though: you?ll still have to use a separate cell phone for that (unless you have a VoIP service like Skype). And you should be careful when choosing a card: not all cards are compatible with all networks, even for a given technology. Sprint and Verizon use different frequencies for their EV-DO service, as do AT&T and T-Mobile for their GSM-based networks. If you?re not sure, check the carriers' Web sites to see which cards they recommend and sell.

Smartphones as Laptop Modems

Pros: More economical laptop data plans, single device for phone and data.
Cons: Relatively lower speeds, technology lag.
Good for: Those looking to minimize data contract costs, or who only have occasional connection needs.
Bad for: Heavy data users who need the fastest possible connections, or who always want the latest technology.

Data-capable cell phones can be used to connect your laptop to high-speed cellular networks either through a USB cable or wirelessly using Bluetooth.

Sprint's Palm Treo 700wx

The wired solution involves connecting a cable between your laptop and the data port of your cell phone. These cables are widely available from companies like FutureDial and Amazon (look under cell phones>accessories>data connectivity). They typically cost about $20, but make sure you get the right one: the connectors for each manufacturer (and often each model) are different.

Next, you?ll need to get your notebook to talk to the cell phone, and through it, connect to the Internet. It is possible to set this up yourself if you don?t mind getting technical; search on the Web for instructions for your particular phone. If you'd rather have a plug-and-play solution, try a program like the FutureDial Suite, which can set up and initialize a connection with a few mouse clicks. Nova Media and Smith Micro also produce connection utilities for both PC and Mac users that support a wide range of phones and networks.

AT&T/Cingular Samsung BlackJack

If you have a Bluetooth-enabled notebook and cell phone, you can also make the connection wirelessly: Bluetooth includes software (called a profile) that effectively turns your cell phone into a modem. You carrier may provide directions for getting connected on its Web site. If not, try the manufacturer's site or Howard Forums, which is a great source for the required settings: many users experiment and post the settings they come up with. While Bluetooth connections are quick and convenient (no cable to carry or lose), note that Bluetooth 1.x is not capable of keeping up with true EV-DO or HSDPA speeds, you'll lose some throughput as compared to using USB.

But before you subscribe and try to get online, make sure that your cell phone is capable of the same high-speed standard as the cell network. If it's not, you won?t get the maximum bandwidth. For example, if your Verizon handset is a 1xRTT model, the fastest connection you?ll get is 144Kbps, as the phone can?t communicate in the 3G EV-DO standard. Instead, you should choose an EV-DO-enabled phone like the Treo 700p or Motorola Q. Typically, only a few high-end 3G smartphones are available from each carrier, the rest operate at lower speeds.

However you plan to connect, the first move should be to check with your chosen provider's website to see which phones are compatible with tethering, and how much the add-on phone-as-modem data plan costs in addition to the regular unlimited data plan for the phone. Call to confirm if you need to. Most of the companies will offer upgrade deals where you can get a fancy new phone if you sign up for a new contract.