I bought Idea Netsetter 1 week back. My area, Dombivli is EDGE enabled, so the max limit is 238.6 kbps( i.e around 29.8 KB/s). You will have to remove the tray of the Netsettter and insert the SIM into the tray and then push the tray back. Activation of the SIM may take upto 48 hours. I cannot comment on the ISP service as no interaction till now.
Size: About one and a half times the size of a USB drive. So it is handy and very convenient to carry.
Installation : For Windows XP to Windows 7, no issues with installation. In Win XP it automatically installs. First the USB mass storage is installed. The data interface and other drivers are then installed. If not, remove the netsetter and plug it again. It will be installed. For those using Windows 7, you will have to manually go to the folder ( it is detected as a USB drive) and click on the setup. Rest is done by the system.
Speed: Ah, the most important factor. For those interested in downloads, you will be very disappointed. The download speed varies from 1 KB/s to 20 KB/s, depending on from where and what you are downloading. One can check the speed on https://speed.airtelbroadband.in. Most webpages load in 5 seconds which is quite stone age. Sites with flash take eternity to load. Surprisingly IE 8 appears to be as fast as Firefox 3.5. EDGE is important for you to have a satisfactory browsing speed otherwise in GPRS it can be quite slow. However connection once established is maintained without any disconnections.
Tariff: I have opted for the unlimited plan. For 2 months it is free ( additional charge of Rs 360 in addition to the Rs 2490 for the device). After that it is Rs 849 per month ( plus taxes).
It is a "3G" device since EDGE is considered as a 3G application. However it does not support true 3G services like HSPDA, so forget about Mbps range of speeds. This device is only for EDGE andGPRS. This is very important as during installation the tray pop up says " 3G device detected". Please do not get excited with this message as in other forums it has been wrongly mentioned as a 3G modem which it is not. It is not a true 3G modem.
Conclusion: For people who intend to surf and not download, this is an okay option especially if you are staying in an EDGE enabled area. Wired internet providers provide better speeds at lower rates. So unless you want to use Netsetter as an anywhere internet, do not go for it. Reliance and TATA Indicom are offering upto 3.1 Mbps speeds. Their tariff is Rs 1050 to Rs 1250 for a 10 GB/month plan which should be sufficient for everyday browsing and will give a more enjoyable surfing experience. So have a look at these too. In fact I am planning to dispose Idea Netsetter and go for Reliance Netconnect.