If you ever tried to use a wireless card to connect to the internet, you know what a pain in the laptop it can be.

The card I’ve been using has a small, plastic antenna that tends to fall off at the slightest touch.

Now, Verizon Wireless has come up with a device that makes the wireless card obsolete; the MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot.  It’s a 2 ounce piece of plastic the size of a thick credit card that connects to Verizon’s 3G network and creates your own personal, secure wireless mini-network.

As many as 5 different wireless devices can connect to the internet within about 30 feet of the MiFi.  Your network is password protected, so you control access to it.

The rechargeable battery in the MiFi provides up to 4 hours of active use, and 40 hours of standby time on a single charge.

It’s reasonably priced.  With a 2 year contract, the MiFi is 99 bucks after rebate.  Access is extra; about 40 dollars a month for 250MB of data or 60 dollars for up to 5 gigabytes.  If you don’t want to sign up for a monthly plan, you can pay $15 for 24 hours but you’ll have to pay $150 for the unit.

Because the MiFi interacts with your WiFi-enabled device, there is no software to set up, and it’s Mac-friendly.

To use the MiFi, you just press the power button, wait a few seconds for it to connect to Verizon’s data network, and enter the password listed on the back of the MiFi.  That’s it.

How fast is the connection?  That’s the other reason to use this.

I used the iPhone app called Speed Test to compare the speed of the AT&T 3G network to the MiFi network connected to Verizon’s 3G network.

Let’s say it wasn’t a fair fight. Look at the screen shots. On the left is the AT&T network; on the right, Verizon.  A series of tests confirmed consistently higher speeds for Verizon.

If you need to connect to the internet with your laptop, and you are on the road, the MiFi should be something to consider.