I've done my research and I think I'll buy a TIM SIM card when I get to Alghero, Sardinia, Italy. I'll be there for 8 nights and I'll only use the card for tethering to my laptop. The rates look good:
Italy - TIM - Prepaid Wireless Internet Access
It looks like they blanket the whole country in 3G:
GSM Coverage Maps | Italy | Telecom Italia SpA (TIM) | Coverage Map
Is the data network fast? Any reason to change my decision?
I can't use my Australian "3" SIM on the 3 network in Italy can I?