New gadgets or not?

[gra001]

OK guys, I'm not into gadgets nor technically clued up. I currently have an old Nokia C3 mobile, costs about £11 per month (100 mins/500txts) and an Acer Aspire 5551 laptop, both work OK and do the job but I'm considering a smart phone and/or a tablet (ipad?) to bring myself into the 21st century. I spend a few months each year in Australia so it would be good to have a device to use whilst there but would a 4G USB from Telstra stuck in the laptop do the job?

http://www.telstra.com.au/broadband/mobile-broadba...

People I've spoken to say they couldn't do without their smartphone/tablet but I'm struggling to see the advantages given the cost of the kit added to the increased tariff charge.

[gra001]

Thanks guys, handy to bounce the options around but still can't justify so the Nokia and Acer are staying, the Telstra dongle will sort me with mobile broadband whilst in Oz.