I prefer Sprint for data as well. I've had Verizon since they turned on their 1xRTT network. Sprint always rolls out their network features/upgrades later, but leapfrogs Verizon in quality and footprint. Note that this is the reverse of my experience with voice! I turned off my VZW card as I never use it. I've never been anyplace it would work where Sprint wouldn't!

This device looks quite interesting and has gotten good reviews but I have no personal experience with it. It works with Intel and PowerPC macs as well as PCs, IMO this is the way to go. He could do bluetooth via cellphone tethering but IMO Bluetooth is slow and not as reliable as this would be.