Whether you are a novice computer-user or you just don’t have time to read up on the latest technological releases, it can be difficult to keep track of what’s out there. If you are looking for a new computer, laptop or tablet, it’s important to know what’s available to make sure you choose the device that best suits your needs.

Being connected has become incredibly important. Many people now couldn’t imagine a life without regular access to the internet. Less than two decades ago, people wouldn’t care if they couldn’t check their emails, there was no Facebook status to update, no Twitter feeds, and you wouldn’t Google something – you would look it up in a book.

Being connected had become incredibly important. We want to be connected to a world of knowledge. We are used to being able to tell friends on the other side of the world that we are thinking of making a sandwich. But now we have that connection, we want to make it as fast as possible. So if you want wireless broadband, do you choose 3G or 4G?

The titles refer to the generation of technology each belongs to, so 3G is Third Generation, and 4G is Fourth Generation. The main difference between each technology, to the layman, is speed. 4G claims faster speeds than 3G, making it more desirable to those using the internet regularly.

Technically 3G speeds can reach 3Mbps (Megabits per second), but average speeds are usually 1Mbps or lower. This means one million bits of data are being transferred per second. At this speed it would take one or two minutes to download a four-minute MP3 file. However, 4G speeds are much faster than this, so depending on the coverage in your area, that four-minute MP3 file would also download much faster.

One of the reasons such speeds can be achieved is the fact that 4G technology only uses packet switching, whereas 3G still uses a combination of circuit switching and packet switching. By only using packet switching, 4G becomes much more efficient, and so becomes much faster.

As long as you have sufficient coverage in your area, the speeds you receive from your 4G mobile broadband device can be as fast as fixed-line ADSL. Wherever you go, whether you’re on the beach or on the train, you can have super-fast internet. Just do a little bit of research, and you should be able to a find deal that works for you.

 


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