One of my biggest fantasies is to have a job that allows me to work from anywhere, and to have the technology to do it. Having an internet connection wherever I go is a major component in this fantasy.
Finding a free wireless internet connection is difficult and inconsistent…mostly I end up sitting in a lot of Starbucks because I have T-Mobile for my phone, which allows me to access their hotspots. At the very least, I am confined to a coffee shop if there is no Starbucks.
I could get myself a Verizon wireless broadband card, but I am not sold on adding another $60 to my monthly charges, and I wouldn’t be able to use their service on my phone, so I would end up paying over $90 a month for internet access.
But…if I had wireless in my car, I could use it to access the internet through both my phone and my laptop (or any other device, for that matter). Problem solved?
I first encountered the concept of a wireless router for the car when I rented a Prius from Avis. Their Avis Connect system combines a 3G cellular modem with a wifi router. Connections can be made up to 100 feet away, with speeds of 600 to 800 kilobits per second. In a very smart move, the company includes both a cigarette lighter adapter and a standard home outlet adapter, so you aren’t confined to the car. I love this router, and used it very successfully to get on the internet from my laptop, and had service during most of my trip from San Francisco to Palm Springs.
So, it is with much interest that I learned about Chrysler’s announcement that they will offer wireless hotspot service in all of their 2009 models. The service will be called UConnect Web, and is being provided by the same company that Avis uses, AutoNet Mobile. The router is expected to cost $449, with service running at $29 a month.
I can think of many uses for a mobile wireless router, such as being able to go somewhere beautiful and do some work, or as a great way to get wireless for business meetings, when not everyone has a Starbucks connection.
It may seem like having wireless in your car would encourage more driving miles, and thus be less sustainable. My take on it is that any technology that allows people more freedom to work where they want also frees them from having to make a commute to a far-off city center. Instead of being chained to their home or local coffee shop, they can go to their local park, or wherever they choose.
Not to mention the fact that this type of technology does not have to be tied to a car. You could just as easily put it on a bike or motorcycle.
I’m writing this as I’m travelling on the 405 Freeway North in Long Beach, with my wife, Cori, currently piloting us back to NorCal.
For good or bad, the current technology that I am using is some sort of statement on what is possible with gadgets these days. Gadgets currently being used are:
Toyota Prius: rented from Avis, for about $600/week. I’m really happy with the Prius. The main reason I rented it was to show my wife that it’s a lot more than just a car that look like an egg. We have been able to average about 40 MPG (It cost us $40 in gas to drive the 500 miles to Palm Desert from Clayton) , and the ride is nice and comfortable.The Prius also holds 5 people very comfortably, an, with the seats folded down, can hold almost an SUV load of stuff.
AutoNet mobile wireless router: also rented from Avis for $10 a day. This is what is allowing me to be online in the car whilst my wife drives. It works pretty well, once you get a conection going. We seem to have some trouble connecting each time, and I’m not sure why, but I discovered that if you reboot the laptop, the local wireless network shows right up.I can see where one of these things could come in extremely handy for a road warrior, since it comes with adapters for a cigarette lighter and a wall outlet, so you could conceivably bring it into your hotel room when you are done driving.
MacBook Pro, 15″: Do I really need to sayanything about how great this thing is? I didn’t think so.
Laptop Desk by Laptopdesk.net: You can’t really use the Mac without something to keep the family jewels from getting fried, and the LaptopDesk is the way to go. I didn’t really like it when I first saw it, because I thought it was too heavy, but it has really grown on me. It spans your lap, so you don’t have to keep your knees together, keeps you cool, and it turns into a ergonomic riser stand when you are sitting at a desk. All this for only $30.
375-Watt power inverter by Tripp-Lite: Gotta have something to keep the Mac powered up. This one seems to work well enough.
Heavy-duty 3-way splitter for my cigarette lighter: Need this to power the inverter and the AutoNet router. Got it in a truck stop. I love truck stops. They are like Radio Shacks on steroids. with food. and CB radios. and convenently located for people who love food and CB radios.
One little hitch, and this has to do with my lack of experience with the Prius, I think, is that I couldn’t figure out how to power the modem up with the car parked and locked up. This would be really cool when parked really close to your roadside in-n-out burger and wanting to get your internet fix.
OK….that’s it…..one thing about writing while you are driving is that is can make you queasy…..so I’ll end by saying that during the time I wrote thi, we haev driven from Long Beach to Van Nuys, and averaged 38.7 MPG with excellent wireless service.
