You can set it up without the vodafone scripts though. You'll lose the interface to sms messages, but the data part can be handled just fine with ppp, for example. It's too long to explain here though, but a google search should get you on to some of those forums where this is extensively discussed.

Does that E169/K3520 use much less power than E220? Maybe it doesn't support HSDPA? Does it come with a split USB cable in addition to a single USB cable? That would be a strong hint that it wants power..