Novatel U727 USB Broadband Card Review

Novatel U727 USB Broadband Card

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Summary

What's Good:
The Novatel U727 has a built in microSD slot for extra flash drive-like storage up to 4GB. It also has built-in GPS.

What's Bad:
The USB drive doesn't swivel like other USB aircards. Recipe for disaster and damage. Big minus.

Price:
~~$259.99~~
Free (after rebates)
(at time of review)

Provider:

Reviewed on: 09/25/08

Bottom-Line:
While this card has some nifty features, you could get them in a friendlier format. Unless you're particular to the Novatel U727 check out the Franklin U680. You'll get the same features without the spear sticking out the side of your laptop.

Contents
1. Details
2. Image Gallery
3. Manufacturer's Description
4. Manual
5. Product Specifications

1. Details

As you've probably gathered by now, form factor is important (biased opinion of guy whose damaged his USB aircard). The Ovation U727 sticks out horizontally in the USB drive you plug it into. A friend actually told me that people would ask him if he had a terabyte of flash drive storage. He'd always get a kick out of it and then explain it was an aircard, not a thumb drive (hand drive in this case).

Also packed into this guy here is EVDO Rev. A technology for speeds up to 3.1 Mbps on the downlink and 1.8 on the uplink. I've personally never gotten 1.8 uploading and I don't know anyone who has. Typical speeds look like this.

All in all, the Novatel U727 is free. That's not bad at all.

2. Image Gallery

Novatel Ovation U727 USB Broadband Card

3. Manufacturer's Description

The Novatel Ovation U727 PC/Mac USB Broadband Card for Verizon Wireless lets you connect your PC, Mac or Linux machine to the Internet nationwide on the Verizon Wireless network. With data download speed bursts to 3.1 Mbps and upload speed bursts to 1.8 Mbps, you can get more done faster. And, the Novatel Ovation U727 broadband card offers a first for Verizon Wireless - a built in microSD memory card slot for portable file storage! Plus, there's a built-in GPS receiver.

4. Manual

From Verizon

5. Technical Details
From the Manufacturer

Dimensions - 2.8 in x 1.0 in x 0.5 in
Weight - 1.5 oz
Data Download Speed - EV-DO rev A (Up to 3.1 Mbps Down/1.8 Mbps Up), EV-DO rev 0 (2.4 Mbps Down/153 Kbps Up), 1xRTT
Compatible Carrier - Verizon Wireless
Network Compatibility - CDMA 800, 1900
3G Data Speeds - Yes
Expandable Memory Capacity - Yes, microSD Card Format Slot Turns Broadband Card Into A USB Thumb Drive, 4GB Card Max Size

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