Anything like this on the continent?
 

3 - Mobile Broadband - MiFi

Not even sure the pay as you go rates for this are that attractive.

TIM seems to offer a USB dongle but the Mifi might be worth an investment if it's truly unlocked.

It's a Huawei E5830 which still nobody seems to sell for whatever reason. 70 pounds it's not so much for what these things go usually but it's probably locked (don't know if you can unlock it easily).

For the moment I would just stick with some proven solution: bluetooth or USB tethering to your phone (if you want it cheap and light usage) or some good cheap USB 3G dongle. I can very well see the uses for such a device but for my taste its just a bit too expensive and too exotic.

It seems it would be less hassle to use than a USB dongle.

And hopefully, the carriers would be motivated to offer attractive prepaid data pricing with things like this.