E73 vs. N900 for occasional hotspot/JoikuSpot on with prepaid account?

[AnaheimGSXR600]

I'd like to get either an E73 or N900 to occasionally use with a pre-paid account for tethering.

Does anybody have any experience tethering either device with a pre-paid account? Which would you recommend?

Do they both do 3.5G speeds? Is the connection stable? Is one better than the other for proxy/VPN software (I suspect the N900)?

The E73 probably has better battery life, but he N900 has a good web browser.

I have an employer supplied AT&T voice account that I use with an Nokia E72.

[XRISTO]

You might want to wait on the C7 if you're willing to give up a physical keyboard. Just rumors at this point whether Tmo will get it. Looks like a solid build. Stainless steel body, 8 Meg Camera with 720 video recording.10.2 MB 3G, 8 Gigs on-board memory upgradeable to 32, Capacitive AMOLED, A-GPS, Wi-Fi,Fm Radio...


http://europe.nokia.com/find-product...specifications

[rfutscher]

I have both the E73 and N900.

The E73 gets no service where other phones have 1-2 bars.

The E73 does not have an option to force a 3G connection, the N900 does. I have a poor 3G signal. I can use the faster 3.5G signal by forcing the N900 to 3G, where the E73 will only use a 2G signal. I can't do a true speed comparison.

The N900 cost more.

The N900 OVI maps does not have turn by turn directions, the E73 does.

There are more apps available in the OVI store for the E73.

I like the keyboard on the E73 better.

The E73 is thiner.

The N900 is more computer like and the WEB browsing is better.

A USB port doesn't always supply the power needed to charge the battery in the N900. I use a powered USB hub.

I heard the N900 will work with a Zoom 4506 router. I hope to get one so I can put the N900 where there is a stronger signal.

In short I like the features of the E73 as a phone, but the N900 works better for tethering.

[AnaheimGSXR600]

Thanks for your detailed response. Very helpful.

[rfutscher]

Update

I have been using the N900 with the Zoom 4506 router without problems. A new version of the firmware for the Zoom is out and I tried it . I wanted to see if it would work with the E73. No only does it not work with the WE73 but the N900 stopped working. I had to return to the previous version to get the N900 and Zoom working again.

I have both the E73 and N900.
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I heard the N900 will work with a Zoom 4506 router. I hope to get one so I can put the N900 where there is a stronger signal.