Good Performance But What About Those Durability Issues?

The Sprint Mobile Broadband Card Novatel Wireless Merlin s720 is a wireless network card used in conjunction with your laptop that allows you to access the internet over a wireless network called CDMA – Code Division Multiple Access.


System Requirements:

The Wireless Merlin s720 fits into your laptops PC Card slot (Type II slot). Most, if not all recently bought laptops will have this type of slot. If unsure, check with your laptops manufacturer.

You will need windows 2000 or XP operating system. If unsure, or your laptop is not running one of these operating systems was your laptop purchased in the 90s? The same goes for hardware requirements. If your laptop does not meet memory or CPU hardware requirements for this device, again, your laptop must have been purchased in when people pegged their pants. You need to look into buying a new laptop not a wireless connection device.


Installation:

Installation is simple and much like any computer related device it comes with the installation CD and instructions. If you have experience installing any computer related devices in the past this shouldn’t be an issue. Even if you have no experience installing computer related hardware (such as a printer) then give it a shot and follow the directions. You will feel like you accomplished something. A couple hints, do not insert the wireless card into your laptops pc card slot until the software is installed.


Ease of Use:

I think the device is easy to use. Once the software is installed you can launch the sprint air card connection software from an icon placed on your laptops desktop during the install process. I recommend reading the information that comes with the air card on the connection manager portion. The basic connection function on the connection manager is self explanatory. To connection, you hit GO. Once connected it tells you, you are connected. To disconnect you hit stop, once disconnected it will tell you disconnected. I don’t want to keep boring you with this, you get the point. Some of the more advanced functions in the connection manager are not as self explanatory and are for more advanced users or for those who have read the manual. Such as troubleshooting, some additional advanced settings, etc.

In summery, view the wireless cards connection manager (software) as a central point for utilizing the device.


Performance:

You will never achieve broadband speed or reliably with a wireless device such as with your home wired cable broadband connection. However, if you travel or live in major U.S. this card offers a good reliable substitute. It will be much faster than dial up connection for you.

Think of your cell phone compared to your home phone. How often do you have home phone performance issues compared to your cell phone? Same thing applies here. If you are in a back room with no windows expect performance to be impacted negatively.


Durability:

Here is my main issue with wireless air card devices and this one is no exception. Many users are not careful with these devices and they break quickly. Users will often carry around their laptops without removing the air card device. This will leave open the possibility of damaging not only the air card but the card slot in the laptop.

If you drop the laptop on the air card or carry around your laptop in a laptop bag with the air card still inserted this can cause the air card to break and damage the internal hardware of the laptop. In other words, it is highly recommenced to remove the air card device when transporting the laptop or not using the wireless device.

Another issue is when you force the air card into the pc card slot of the laptop. This can damage the internal pins of the laptop. This is my main complaint with the sprint wireless s720. The metal portion at the end of this device becomes raised over time and use. Thus, if this portion of the card is raised enough the air card no longer fits properly into the card slot. It will jam 90% of the way in and users will try to force it. If you have this issue check for this and contact sprint to replace the card before you damage your laptop.

And last but not least the wireless card has a antenna. If you are not careful with this part of the card it could snap off. Again, if you use caution this shouldn’t be a problem. But put the antenna down when not in use.


conclusion:

I would recommend this wireless card to anyone who needs internet access who travels frequently to major cities in the untied states. I would not recommend this card to someone who does not travel and lives outside of a major city. The air cards performance is based on signal strength. Like a cell phone, if you are in a area with poor signal strength it wont work.

The card is easy to setup and use. You will have to use proper care and caution with this device to avoid damaging the device itself and more importantly your expensive laptop.

My only major issue with the card I noted above under durability. If you are aware of this issue and take care of your card it will help avoid the issue.