Despite the Aircard name, the 595U is a USB 2.0 wireless data modem rather than a card. Now that notebooks are a jumble of slots, from PC Card to Express Card/34 to ExpressCard/54, the 595U makes things simple. Every modern notebook has a USB port, and the popular MacBook has only USB ports, making the Aircard 595U a paragon of compatibility. The pocket-sized modem works with Windows and Mac OS X, and it supports EVDO Rev. A for some near-WiFi speeds. Both Sprint and Verizon offer the Aircard 595U, and we look at the Sprint version.

Read our Sierra Wireless Aircard 595U review.