Mobile Internet and downloading limits

[Andail]

So I've lacked Internet for the last month or so (hence my low activity here) but last week I ordered mobile internet, so now I'm fit for fight again. It's the kind of connection you get with a USB stick, and then you can be online virtually everywhere.

But now I'm having second thoughts, as I read the small print under the terms and conditions. It said that I have a 5gb downloading allowance. Now, I don't download very much, so at first I didn't consider it a problem. I also don't play any games at the moment, but if I were, would that be possible? How much does playing online count in terms of downloading?
I've searched the web for information on this, and so far I've understood that basically everything, even streaming, counts as downloading, even if you're not saving it anywhere. But what about MMORPG's and stuff?

Has anybody tried this kind of mobile Internet?
Thanks for advice!

[xenogia]

I have the same thing, MMORPGS as long as you aren't getting huge updates is fine.  It is only number crunching.

[Arboris]

Safe from second life MMORPG's bandwidth consumption isn't that bad, only when there are (huge) patches.

Watched a few things on youtube, last.fm or something similar lately? You'de be surprized how fast your data consumption rises with streaming content.

[Anian]

Yeah, I use to have 2gb of download and every month I would exced it by like 4-5gb (so I changed to flat rate, and since then I spend like 30gb) and that was without any online multiplayer games, but I couldn't download a dvd without overstepping the limit. Of course streaming counts, you need to download the info to your pc so it can process it and show it to you, just because you can't find the file, doesn't mean you don't download it.
Well MMORPGs and such shouldn't require that much, you should have all the graphics on your pc (missions, music, models, textures, maps etc.) and just the info of the players positions, trajectory of missles, inventory of other players are checked if they're used. You get refreshed info of all of this things but things like for example a cutscene are just sent as triggers - server tells your pc "start cutscene numb. 102." and your pc does the rest based on the files you have on your hard drive.
Still there's the fact that every time unit you download some content. It depends on the game I suppose, best thing to do would be to try playing for a half an hour an see how much you spent.

5gb is for surfing and downloading documents and maybe an album or two, that's why it goes for laptops. But for perspective - you can't download a dvd with a 5gb limit. You should check out how much does it cost to overstep the 5gb limit (price is usually for every next 1gb or something) and then when you see how much you spend every month, think if you should upgrade or not.

[Darth Mandarb]

Bandwidth caps ... ugh.  I'm going to bite my tongue on this issue because it is [one of] the stupidest "inventions" in modern history and if I get up on my soapbox I'll just get my blood pressure up.

Andail - if you use hulu (which I use daily (can you use hulu if not in the U.S?)) you'll blow through that paltry 5gb in a day!  And be very careful with the overages because they will absolutely rape you with their overage fees (and then when you call them they'll try to justify the cost of bandwidth - which is ridiculous).  Case in point, after Wintermeet last year I used my iPhone's GPS to get Nacho, Lore, Sven and I back to Vienna from Poland.  Those few hours in the car cost me over 600 USD in "bandwidth" charges.  I called them and told them that it is insane and they said "don't care, pay the bill".

Here's an interesting (though long) read on this subject that I have bookmarked for whenever I want to stoke the fire of anguish I have on this matter: Bandwidth Caps Don't Matter

[Layabout]

Hulu isn't available outside the US yet. But it is true that bandwidth limits do suck.

Here in Australia, broadband is pretty expensive unless you want to be stuck with a 2GB download limit. I would use that in 2 or 3 days of normal internet usage. I guess with a crappy infrastructure, free for all broadband without limits could really affect the broadband network, but to charge $130 (aus) for 100GB download is rather absurd.$70 or 80 for an unlimited download quota would be more sensible, with those who don't need that kind of bandwidth, charge less and set limits. It just infuriates me that I do not have the OPTION to get unlimited broadband in this country.

If you are only looking at regular websites, not viewing videos and whatnot, 5gb would be okay I guess. But it's still pretty paltry.

[bicilotti]

I've got a 5Gb pen and I videochat a way bit. Forget emule and torrent and live happily

[Andail]

I've actually already changed to an unlimited (and significantly faster) cable subscription, and cancelled my mobile internet before the 14-days trial period.
Not that I'm a downloading freak, or much of an online player, I just don't enjoy the restrictions.
Thanks for your input everyone!

[monkey0506]

I can actually attest to the absurdity of mobile web caps. I've mentioned it a few times that I work customer support for T-Mobile. I actually had to tell a customer a couple weeks ago that he owes T-Mobile over $1000 USD for a webConnect USB stick that he returned within the 14 day buyer's remorse period. That is, within less than 14 days he had more than doubled the 5 GB limit imposed on the USB stick.

So I would definitely say that unless you're just floating in pools of spare cash that web through a mobile carrier might not be the safest bet at this time. The data phones we offer include unlimited web in the data package (I assume this is the same for most other carriers), but the computer sticks/cards are a trap. Or, as a good friend of mine would say:

[m0ds]

I have 3gb downloading allowance a month on my mobile BB.

I haven't overstepped it once, but that may be down to not downloading movies. I use T-Mobile and with it you get a program that keeps track of all your data useage, so it's easy to limit yourself if necessary.

I still regularly download music & porn, and that still hasn't taken me over the limit.

The service itself is about 80% worth it, but the laptop I got with the deal is a piece of shit, and is already dead and died about 5 days into having it, so if I could go back in time, I wouldn't take the package - not because of the internet side, but because of the laptop that was supposed to run it.

Seriously, so long as you're not downloading movies and playing big online games and stuff, mobile broadband is fine. If you do intend to do one, the other, or both - don't get it. I only got it because there's no way in hell I could have afforded the BT landline installation, at about £120, plus another £100 and maybe another £50 because they're cunts. Good luck dude!

[LimpingFish]

I've had cable broadband for a fair while now. 30gb download cap p/m, and I've only gone over that once (though I don't seem to ever have been billed for it). The fact that it is capped doesn't really bother me.

I'm not that big a downloading freak/tea leaf.