Noob needs help to connectto the internet

Every time you visit a webpage, you are downloading data. The mb are the amount of data you are allowed to download for each plan. Once you go over that, you're going to get slaughtered with extra fees.

Since you are using the internet frequently, you should go with an unlimited plan. That will give you peace of mind, and at 4-8 hr/day per month, you could easily go over.

What's the difference between the $60 and $80 unlimited plan?

you are getting something mixed up here.

no sane company in the world is going to charge you $19.99 for 5mb.

do you know how much 5mb is? 5mb = 1 picture + few emails + small video on youtube + few page views on ebay.

thats how much 5MB of data is....are you trying to say that cingular is charging you $19.99 for that? lol......

anyways, those must be their "wireless anywhere" plans...
you know...like when you take your laptop to some remote areas, and can still use internet.

you dont need that.
you need a regular internet...and 99.9999999% of all providers already offer unlimited for as little as $9.99 per month.
the only difference between prices, is the higher the price, the higher the speed. it always stays unlimited.
*sometimes* some providers have a cap on the amount of stuff you download...this is to prevent somebody from downloading movies/games 24/7. but you dont need to worry about hitting the cap...since you said you just surf internet/ebay/etc and it is virtually impossible to go over the "allowed" limit unless you download movies/games/software

i think airforce is on to something.

question #1....do you have a connection @ home (dsl or cable?)

#2.... will this 4-8 hour access be mostly from home?

#3... will you be visiting coffee houses for this purpose too?

if you answered yes to all 3 (hell, even if no to #3) then you're really confused. all you need is a good wireless router and then you can have wifi access within a certain range around your house. enjoy it.

if you're not confused, those cingular rates you put up is for "anywhere internet" aka....if you need to get online in your car, in the middle of nowhere...while walking downt hte street, etc...then indeed you do need that plan. in which case do get the unlimited because ther est of those limits are really low and can easily be crossed.

Wireless phone companies do in fact offer plans like 5MB for $19.99. NO wireless company I have heard of offers unlimited internet for $9.99.

Now, to the OP. If you are just going to use the internet at home then please contact a local ISP. Mine here is called Zoomtown and is from my local phone company. Places like this you can get broadband internet (which is a much faster internet, a must for most people). It only cost about $20-$40 a month depending on the speed you would like. All of which are unlimited download amount. You may also want a dial up (I really advise you not to go this route). This you just plug into your phone jack at your home, get a login from your ISP and you will dial into them and login each time you want on the internet and it will operate as fast as a turtle (SLOW!).

Now, if you will be traveling or using your laptop on the go, or maybe even around the country. I would say you get a wireless card from Cingular and get one of their plans. If you are suing it for browsing the internet 4-8 hours a day you will exceed all of the amount you have listed and you wil have to get the unlimited amount plan. Please be more specific as to where you will like to use the internet and I can help you more.

Chad