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MacBook Pro Q&A - Updated November 15, 2008
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Is there an EVDO card that is compatible with the MacBook Pro?
For readers who may not be familiar with the term "EVDO", in an comprehensive description well worth reading in its entirety, WiseGeek notes that the term is an acronym for "'Evolution, Data Only' or 'Evolution, Data Optimized', and is one of two 3G (Third Generation) wireless standards.
The site explains that EVDO is different from traditional wireless networking because:
EVDO instead adopts the same approach used for the Internet [and] breaks data into. . . packets. Each packet is sent independently of all the other packets. This saves bandwidth for use by other devices; when neither party on a phone call is speaking, the connection consumes no bandwidth because there are no packets to send. Or, when a web site is accessed, no bandwidth is used until the site starts sending the web page. . . [It] is as fast as many residential DSL and cable broadband connections currently available in the United States.
Essentially, EVDO is of interest for those who need mobile broadband in the US or Korea, but are not in an area with abundant Wi-Fi hotspots. Please keep in mind that unlike wireless "hotspots", which often are free, using EVDO requires payment of a monthly fee to a wireless provider.
On April 7, 2006, the GigaOm blog reported that "Novatel Wireless is about to introduce a new Express Card version of EVDO modem, probably by next month". Three days later, PC Magazine confirmed that Novatel was developing an ExpressCard/34 EVDO card for Verizon and Sprint.
It took a bit longer than anticipated, but on August 3, 2006, Novatel formally unveiled the V640 ExpressCard/34 EVDO card simply stating that it:
Enables owners of notebooks with ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54 slots to wirelessly connect to the Internet at broadband speeds via Verizon Wireless' national high-speed 3G Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) network.
Mac compatibility was not mentioned in the press release, but later versions of MacOS X 10.4 "Tiger" as well as MacOS X 10.5 "Leopard" included drivers that support the card.
The always superb BareFeats reviewed the V640 ExpressCard/34 EVDO service and was less than thrilled, but since that time Novatel has released subsequent models and Verizon and Sprint have released Mac-compatible EVDO ExpressCard/34 cards as well. Additionally, there are a number of USB 2.0-based EVDO devices that are compatible with MacOS X.
For the latest on EVDO devices -- news, reviews, and opinions from real-world users -- please check out the excellent EVDOInfo.com.
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