I’m writing this post sitting in a train, connected to the internet via UMTS. The device is a Huawai E220 HSDPA modem connected via USB. Guess who is the winner?
Procedure to get the device running on Fedora (first time usage):
- Plug in the device on any USB port
- Enter the PIN in the pop-up
- Enjoy mobile Internet connection
Steps: 3
Time: approx. 5sec.
Procedure on Windows XP (first time usage):
- Decide on what USB port you will plug in the device an memorize it, because subsequently it will only work on that USB port
- Plug in the device
- A virtual CDROM drive gets mounted, a window with some drivers is appearing
- Install the driver
- reboot your notebook
- Finding and starting the previously installed software
- Getting a pop-up asking for the PIN
- Enjoy mobile Internet connection
Steps: 8
Time: approx 10min
[update]
Procedure on Windows 7 (first time usage):
- Decide on what USB port you will plug in the device an memorize it, because subsequently it will only work on that USB port
- Plug in the device
- A virtual CDROM drive gets mounted, a window with some drivers is appearing
- When autorun.inf is enabled, the driver installs automatically (on enterprise systems mostly disabled). if not enabled, read some documentation what to do
- Finding and starting the previously installed software
- Getting a pop-up asking for the PIN
- Enjoy mobile Internet connection
Steps: 7
Time: Between 5min and 30min (depending on your Windows 7 knowledge)
[/update]
For the subsequent usage on Fedora proceed as it is the first time usage.
On Windows (XP and 7) you need to remember which port you plugged in the device when you installed it. Otherwise you need to uninstall the drivers, reboot and install the drivers again and reboot again. [update]On Windows 7 you do not need a reboot.[/update]
Having fun? With Fedora yes 🙂 With Windows? Not really…
Which version of Windows?
I was urged using it with XP. I do not know about w7
Windows XP is no longer supported software, so the comparison is grossly misrepresented. Get Windows 7 and test, or test with Fedora Core 1.
You may read http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?LN=en-gb&C2=1173
Windows XP is supported until 08/04/2014. Lots of business customers still rely on XP.
Anyway: I’ll try this on a notebook with Windows7. I guess it will be the same result….
I’ll keep you posted…
Thanks,
Luc
Forgot to mention: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows
Market share Win XP/Win7 53% vs 22% (October 2010)
Yes, XP is supported until 2014 for security patches only. You aren’t comparing apples and apples here was the point that I was making. I expect the distribution you are testing is Fedora 14 which is brand new, it can’t be compared to XP fairly.
Thanks for testing with 7. I look forward to the results, good or bad.
With Windows 7 it is less painfull: The driver is automatically installed and no reboot is needed. It is still bound to a particular USB port.
From the usability point of view, Fedora is still the winner.
Thanks for giving it an apples to apples test. If you would update your article to reflect your new results, it would benefit your readers.
Fewt,
The comparison between F1{2,3,4} and Windows XP was kind of a comparison between different kind of apples, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apple_cultivars
Why? XP is still a commonly used OS (is was pre-installed on my netbook) while Fedora 1 completely disappeared.
However, I’ll update my posting to be more accurate.
Thanks,
Luc
I’ve been using my E1550 seamlessly with Fedora for a while now: it puts Windows to shame. What I have noticed is that if it can’t get signal sometimes NetworkManager appears to drop the device, or it times outs. It’d be good if automatically reconnected, or held the connection and waited until it could get signal again.
Hi Jonathan,
I completely agree with you regarding Windows, it is a shame.
Regarding Network Manager: My observation was if the signal-lost was not for too long time the connection was recovered after getting a signal again (approx 5min).
I do not know if it would be technically possible to freeze a TCP/IP connection for longer time, but of course it would be great.
It binds to a particular USB port?
I cannot express in this medium how astonished I am by that.
Hi Matt,
On Windows XP it is really bound to a particular USB port. A workmate was installing the stuff when the modem was plugged in to a USB port on the docking station, he had a lot of fun on a business trip removing the drivers and reinstall the whole stuff.
This fact was holding me back for quite some time to even try it on Linux, I was sure it will be impossible. Actually the contrary is true.
I do not know if also applies to Windows 7.
On Fedora 12, 13 and 14 it is just “Plug and Work”.
Cheers,
Luc
Tested with Windows 7: Its still binding to a particular USB port…