And what problem does that solve? When I carry my work laptop it's only on trips that i need access to the corporate software while away. It's too bulky to break out during the day to surf the net. The OP already said they dont want to do personal stuff on the work laptop. A USB stick and tethering plan both cost as much or more than a data plan on the iPad. Tethering on smart phones absolutely destroys the battery life which is a precious commodity when traveling.