These routers may better not be sold to people using them to connect their Windows XP laptop to the internet while driving.

I use it with my verizon evdo usb card and can create a portable wifi spot. It’s only $179 (although I got it on ebay for $100). And there’s a car cigarette adapter for $25 you can buy.

With verizon it’s $59/month up to 5GB and now they don’t require a contract if you buy your own equipment. I use the novatel usb727 which I also got on ebay for $125.

This combination gets you evdo for your laptop, and in your car if you need it for others. The PHS300 is a great product to share your evdo and create an ad-hoc wifi network. I guess you could just use it as a dedicated in car wifi as well but this combo is much more flexible.

So this combo is the same for hardware at retail (usb evdo, and cradlepoint, cigarette adapter combo) about $400, although I got mine thru ebay for $225 without a cigarette adapter and no contract! And for those who have sprint evdo, this works as well you just need a compatible usb card.
Also it has all the security you need, WPA, WPA2, firewall, etc.
Also you’ll get the 1MB and sometimes a bit more when you have full signal strength on evdo-revA with verizon or sprint.

One concern: although the router looks like a pretty rugged device, electronics and heat do not go together well. Leaving a router in your trunk on a hot summer day with temps getting above 140 degrees in the trunk could pose problems.

The company’s warranty coverage on the device will be important. If this was a plain old Linksys WRT54G that I could replace for $50 it is not as big a deal. At $499 a pop the replacement cost is pretty significant. Hopefully the warranty covers free replacement and re-installtion of a new router if necessary.