Mike Benner: AT&T Laptop Connect Saves The Day

AT&T Laptop Connect Saves The Day

Oct 29 by Michael Benner

So my MacBook Pro has been acting strange ever since I got it. Sometimes it would not find a wireless network although I was a) connected with another device and b) positive it was on and c) open. It got to the point I could replicate on demand.

Well, it finally completely died (more on that in another post) and I was in the middle of a project with a tight deadline. Fortunately, I had just purchase and setup my AT&T 3G/Edge internet card. It was a mixed bag for me until the day it was all I had.

The setup of the card is pretty easy on Windows (thanks Parallels) which I needed to do to go online and download the Mac software. Once you figured out that the Mac software was online and you download it, it installs quickly and easily on the Mac.

You can use the Network Tab in System Preferences to manage the (mostly) self explanatory settings. Note, that there is no username and/or password, so leave those blank, and the "phone number" is isp.cingular.

While my house is out of the 3G network (BY LESS THAN A MILE!!!) the Edge network is not the end of the world. It still allowed me to manage SQL using SQL Management Studio (through Parallels and Vista) as well as upload files using Eclipse (with Aptana Plugin) and sync with my SVN Server.

For $60 a month with the traveling that I do and the lack luster cable stability at my house I can't be happier with the AT&T service and the usage on Thursday and Friday paid for itself already. And best of all it works the Mac.