Hey Guys (and Gals) - Thought I'd relate a recent experience in the hope it may serve as a warning for others:

I bought a laptop just a a few months back, primarily so I could keep up with online chores while away from home (and the desktop). A few weeks back my lovely wife and I decided to take a short break away (just 5 or 6 days) so I went out and bought a prepaid mobile broadband device from Vodafone which included 1GB data. I couldn't test the connection at home because we have very minimal signal but we were traveling to a major center where I knew the signal strength would be good.

Not long after arriving at our destination I discovered I could not connect the the net. Rang Vodafone support immediately and was told, the software which came with the device did not support Windows 7 (my operating system). The support chappie connected me via dial-up and gave me instructions on how to locate and download the correct file from Vodafone which would rectify the problem. Turned out that file was almost 70MB.....on dial-up, are they serious!!!!

I did attempt the download, initial message from the IE download manager informed me it would take 5hours and 42 minutes. Needless to say, the download never completed.....the connection kept dropping out every 10 minutes or so necessitating starting all over again.....a complete waste of time!!

On returning home I sent off an email to Vodafone support outlining the story and pointing out:
1) The information that the software which accompanied the device did not work with Windows 7 and a 70MB download was required would have been useful either before or during the purchase....certainly not afterward.

2) As a result of their failure to notify customers of this requirement, I had not been able to use any of the prepaid data for which I had forked out my hard earned.

Sent that email 9 days ago and got an automated reply (almost immediately) that my submission had been received and I would be hearing from them 'soon'....haven't heard a thing since!!!

Conclusion:

Vodafone = NO!!!
Vodafone support = Useless!!!