Air card vs wy-fi

This is a good article from Kim Kamando..yes that is her name :)

Is an air card or Wi-Fi better?

QMy friend travels and is going to buy a laptop. He wants to know if an air card or Wi-Fi is better. He's also considering connecting his personal computer to his company's mainframe. This would let him work on blueprints and pricing plans from home. Would the IT department be able to view his personal files?
—Teresa in Houston, listening on KTRH 740 AM

AThe term "air card" has two meanings. It can be a Wi-Fi card. Or, it can be a cellular laptop card. I'm going to assume that you meant the latter.

Cellular cards and Wi-Fi are not either/or gadgets. One isn't necessarily better than the other. Many people rely on both.

A cellular card connects a laptop to a cellular network. That means you can access the Internet wherever there is cellular service.

There are drawbacks to cellular cards. For instance, they can be pricey. Expect to pay $60 or $70 per month for service. And they have a monthly download limit. This is usually five gigabytes. Exceeding the limit will incur high fees.

In comparison, a Wi-Fi card lets you connect at wireless hotspots. The Internet connection is piped in to a wireless access point. Wireless equipment can then use the signal. Wi-Fi has a limited range. You must be within about 100 feet of the wireless access point.

Many hotels and airports provide Wi-Fi. You can also connect at cafes, libraries and other public places. Some Wi-Fi hotspots are free. Others charge for the service. Usually, this is by the hour or day.

Virtually every laptop includes a Wi-Fi card these days. Do not buy a laptop that doesn't have one.

Your friend may want a cellular card in addition to Wi-Fi. It will be handy if he can't find a hotspot. But even a cellular card may not get service in the boondocks.