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Throughout the United States, it is rare to find anyone still connecting to the Internet via a dial-up connection, or even DSL for that matter. With satellite Internet and new mobile broadband, it’s easier than ever to get connected, whether you’re in Atlanta, Boise or Chicago. These new technologies make surfing the web easier than ever no matter where you are in your hometown state. The office, school, your car. Browse the web from all of them!

More and more people have been making the switch from desktop computers to laptops because of the wireless Internet available all over the world. Almost everywhere you go, you can find a wireless network to connect to, making staying in touch that much easier. However, as Internet technology continues to improve, people in the United States are making an even higher-tech switch from laptops to smaller personal computers like netbooks. These have especially taken hold in the business world of major cities like Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Atlanta. The benefits of a netbook are seen in both its compact size and its mobile air card. The mobile air card helps establish an Internet connection even if there is no known Internet network available, whether it is landline or wireless. Netbooks are great for those who do a lot of travel and need instant access to information.

For those who are not ready to give up their precious Macbooks and make the switch to a WiMax and PC-based netbook, the options for instant Internet access remain in the cell phone. Many states with good cell coverage from the national providers have great plans that allow you to purchase a smart phone like an iPhone or Blackberry (or any phone with mobile web capabilities) at a low price with a reasonable monthly plan. These phones work with 4G technologies, or “fourth generation.” It succeeds 3G (third generation) technologies in that it works very similarly, only faster because it is the newer version. Just like a netbook, it allows constant connection where and when you need it. Some even prefer a smart phone and laptop combination because of the very reason that Internet is on your phone. You could be waiting at your local Starbucks for your coffee order, paying for groceries or on the Subway and you can still browse the web with mobile broadband or send a quick e-mail to let someone know you’re on your way over or thinking of them.

States like Georgia and Illinois are working diligently to bring 4G to the homes of those across their states. Already popular in places like New York and California, mobile broadband is certain to become the next big thing in the Internet world because of its ease of connectivity and ability to change the world around the world.

Working from home can be great, unless the only place you have to work is actually your house or apartment. While it might work out for awhile to be getting things done in pajamas from your living room, after awhile, it can start to feel a bit grating. Add an under or unemployed spouse or live-in partner to the mix, and then it starts to feel downright claustrophobic. After all, most people need a bit more space, and if you’re having to share with someone who is less than career-oriented, you might find your own work ethic starting to slip.

For young professionals, aspiring business heads, and anyone who has jumped into the remote work game thanks to the influx of companies that understand wireless internet means working from home is easy, there are plenty of reasons to take a job where you are your own office. And in cities like Chicago, where more and more twenty-somethings are actually making ends meet freelancing in this fashion, there are starting to be various different work spaces set up in cafe environments, as well as countless other establishments boasting numerous Wi-Fi networks or places to plug in.

In a bustling city like Chicago, having a place to go and work means more than just escaping from your apartment. It also means finding a spot that is quiet enough to actually get some work done. After all, if you’re simply fleeing the distractions of your own apartment but walk into a loud and stressful pub, you aren’t going to be any better off. And at the same time, there’s something to be said about the fact that a cafe with free Wi-Fi sometimes isn’t the best choice for anyone with serious work to be done. When a ton of different people are trying to use the same signal, or a cafe doesn’t password-protect its network, the speed of data transfer can slow to an unmanageable crawl.

One solution is to simply stay home, or to rent a work or office space with friends so that you can have a dedicated spot to work. And while this might be a must-do step for some people, most aren’t ready to throw that kind of money down on a second rent, essentially. There is always the option of just going with places where you can plug in, but these are often copy-style places, and aren’t the best working environments. However, if you decide to consider switching your net connection rather than your location, you’ll quickly find that the options present themselves a whole lot sooner.

With WiMax, you do not have to worry about whether or not where you are going has a Wi-Fi network, because your signal literally can be connected to from anywhere. This means that you could be in a bustling cafe where everyone else is fighting over the same connection, but you will be sitting contentedly, surfing the web on something that is fast and reliable. This is because towers and not routers are in charge of how you are able to get online, and this means that your signal area is not a few feet, but dozens and dozens of miles. And for someone who takes working outside of the home seriously, this is a major step in the right direction for productivity and flexibility alike.