The other device of this kind is the Novatel MIFI (Novatel also makes the Overdrive hardware for Sprint). It works similarly, but on 3G GSM networks. I own one as well and I found the Overdrive to be more practical because it has an LCD display that tells you what's going on. Also, MIFI requires you to use a MAC* filter, which is less convenient than a password (*MAC is a unique hardware ID for network devices).
"Easy to connect, easy to use": I have to give that one to Sprint. This is the easiest broadband modem/hotspot to use.
Connectivity
WiMax is still not available in many places, but even in 3G mode, I found that the Overdrive keeps all of its usability. 4G Coverage has been the main complaint that I found on various forums and websites. The good news is that it can only get better overtime. Note that in WiMax mode, Sprint offers "true" unlimited uploads and downloads. However, if you connect in 3G, there's a limit of 5GB in (down) and 300MB (up) that you need to be aware of.
Battery Life
The Overdrive has its own lithium Ion battery and you can charge it with most micro USB phone chargers. We got about 3 hours of battery life, while watching TV shows with Hulu. I consider this to be very good, and the only option to make this longer would be to make the box and the battery bigger.
Storage
There's a MicroSD slot that allows you to create a shared Flash Storage for you and your friend. If you work as a team, it might be handy - I just did not have a use for it at the moment.
VPN
I've heard people having VPN issues with the overdrive, but I have not tried it, so I'm putting it out there: if you need to use VPN, you might want to do further research. I'll post an update if I happen to test that.
GPS
I have not used the GPS at all, because I didn't "need" it on my laptop. What would you have done with GPS? Let me know and I might try if I have time.
Price
As of now, the street price for the Overdrive is $50 (on Amazon) with a new two year contract of $60/month. This is on-par with other wireless broadband offerings.
Conclusion
The Overdrive is an excellent wireless broadband device that is much easier to use than any USB or PC Card modem. It is inherently easier to use because it is a self-contained unit that communicates with WIFI to any other device (Laptop, PSP, iPod Touch…). By doing so, it is also compatible with much more devices than a regular broadband modem could ever be. While WiMax was not "10X" faster for us, it was significantly (4X) faster and it almost felt like "being home". We named the Overdrive a "Best of CES 2010" and after weeks of use, we can confirm this choice.
See the complete review on Ubergizmo.com:
http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2010/03...t-overdrive-review.html
