[CarryaBigStick]

I think that is the entertainment pac.

Yuck, yuck.

Seriously, can any of you Linux guys tell me how I can make my Verizon broadband card work with any of the Linux distros without having to jump through a dozen flaming hoops? I've got an old Dell that I'm forced to use on the road (no $ to buy a replacement right now) that may as well be a boat anchor without a functional broadband card...

[freedumb2003]

When I installed Ubuntu, it detected my external broadband card AND a USB wireless device I had.

Try installing Linux with the card installed.

[Nateman]

Try using PCLinux. I've had to tweek things to get Ubuntu to work with wireless but PCLinux worked without any trouble.

[Still Thinking]

Seriously, can any of you Linux guys tell me how I can make my Verizon broadband card work with any of the Linux distros without having to jump through a dozen flaming hoops? I've got an old Dell that I'm forced to use on the road (no $ to buy a replacement right now) that may as well be a boat anchor without a functional broadband card...

By broadband card, I assume you mean a WiFi adapter in a PC card format to fit in a laptop? If that's the case and Linux doesn't like the one you have, it's the adapter's, not the laptop that would need to be changed to get it to work, and those are $15-20. Much cheaper than replacing your laptop. Also, I always get my laptops used off Ebay. They're a lot cheaper if you don't need the latest bleeding edge hardware.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well...did Broadcom choose to write any drivers that will work with any variety of LINUX?

[whd23]

Last year I had the opportunity to get two laptops up and running with Verizon AirCards (the model number escapes me at the moment). The only real "trick" was that in order to activate the card we had to use Verizon's Windows software.

After it has been activated the card appeared to Ubuntu as a USB modem. All you need to do at this point is configure a modem connection to the internet using that device. In Ubuntu you go to System->Preferences->Network Connections then click on the "Mobile Broadband" tab.