I’m going on holiday with my family and we have 5 laptops between the lot of us. We’d like to connect to the Internet, but buying a 3G card for each computer would jut be too expensive. Is there a way around the problem>?

There are a couple of options you can use. A while ago I used to carry a little hub around and a collection of cables. That way, one computer could get a Wifi connection at a hotel and then share it with all the other computers. It was quite a hassle to carry all that kit around, and there’s a better way today.

I would suggest something like the CradlePoint PHS300 Personal Wi-Fi Hotpot 3G which is on sale from Buy.com at around $100 (including shipping). It’s a piece of kit that connects to a 3G network and provides a Wi Fi connection for all the computers that you would like to connect to the Internet. It even runs on a rechargeable battery, so you can literally carry it around with you, so you can connect your computer down at the beach, or wherever you are out doors. You can connect a USB 3G modem or a phone with tethering capability and the CradlePoint will turn this into your own personal Wi Fi hotpot.