Cable Internet WiFi Vs. Wireless Broadband?

[meblumen]

I have to admit I'm a bit embarrassed to ask this but I am in the process of making some computing decisions and need to know. Right now I have a cable internet connection with a wireless router. Although I do most of my computing at home and at work, there are times I'm out and about where it would be nice to have internet access without having to pay a cafe for it. Now I see on TV all of these phone companies advertising wireless broadband and people with these express cards in their laptops. I'm assuming they are using some sort of 3G network but don't really know. I'm also confused about the speed differences between regular wi-fi and connecting on some sort of wireless broadband network and the availability of such a network. Any assistance including web links would be great (my google search confused me more than helped).

[glc]

It all depends on the speeds the Wi-fi provider is allowing. I've stayed in hotels where I get close to cable speeds, but also had some real slowpokes. 3G is generally about the same speed as a basic DSL package. It probably will not be anywhere near the speeds you are getting with your cable. With an expresscard, if you are outside the 3G coverage, you will probably get dialup speeds or slightly better.

Wireless broadband with an expresscard is in the $40 to $60 a month range - for that kind of money I personally will hunt down hotspots instead. There are quite a few freebies out there - Panera Bread comes to mind first. Quite a few public libraries have free Wi-fi too.