i've tested usb tethering in pc suite mode on two computers running linux mint; laptop with mint 11 and desktop with mint 10. it works on the desktop but not on the laptop. i don't know why. i think, but i'm not sure i remember correctly, that it used to work on the laptop with a different distro.

in any case, i eventually installed power kernel and mobile hotspot. it's a power drain, but it usually works.