New Laptop

[Esco!]

I'm buying a new laptop (DELL lattitude D420), it only weighs 3 lbs and I need a lightweight for travel.
Its suppsoed to be wireless enabled, my question is how does this wireless stuff work (same as over cellular phone lines???) and will it work when I'm in England???

 

[papasmerf]

They mean WiFi enabled not cellular

 

[Esco!]

They mean WiFi enabled not cellular

But will that work in Europe???
Or do I have to hook it up with a European provider????

 

[papasmerf]

But will that work in Europe???
Or do I have to hook it up with a European provider????

I expect it would work with maybe a driver. Most hotels have free WiFi.

 

[Esco!]

Ok, smart ass!

So, seriously!

Wireless enabled means that instead of conneting to the internet with a LAN cable or a telephone cord, it has a little antenna in the cover and a low powered transmitter/receiver in the computer.

This will listen for any wireless network base station "WiFi" within range. Your computer will no doubt have a little automated "Wizard" process to connect.

How it works is that you switch it on and it searches for wieless networks within range. You will see a list of them (if any) and their strength, and whether they are secured or public.

You select the network you want and click on Connect.

And you are connected to the internet!

LOTS to look out for security wise so maybe have a read of wikipedia entries for wireless networking.

"Wireless" networking / WiFi / Hot Spot refers to a local netwok maybe within 100 feet of the router. So your neighbours have them etc. It will work jsut fine in Europe/Britain etc.

It is not the same as a cellular modem or connecting through the cellphone system.

Thanks Rubbie, so is what you described the same as WLAN????
And is there a fee for connecting onto a WIFI spot??

 

[tboy]

Thanks Rubbie, so is what you described the same as WLAN????
And is there a fee for connecting onto a WIFI spot??

Well, I have never heard of wlan but logically speaking a wifi network is just a wlan (since a lan is actually a network).

As for the cost, if you can connect to a public network, no charge. Like if you're in a hotel that offers one at no charge. You may however have to get an access password from the hotel else everyone within range will be using it.

For eg: Hydro One is setting up a wifi network in the toronto downtown core. For the first month (?) it will be free but from then on, you have to be a subscriber (iow: pay.)

As for Europe, I don't know. If you want to use it everywhere you may have to subscribe to a local wifi that has reciprocal priveledges with a provider in europe. Then again, is there even a continent wide provider there?

 

[Cobster]

Wireless means, you don't need a wire to plug it in for power.
It runs on a batter, hence, a wireless laptop.

As for fees, $5 or $7pounds per 15 minutes.
It's expensive to run, but what a novelty.

 

[Esco!]

Thanx everyone for your responses, I know what I need now.

I'm only in need of WiFi around airports, cafe's and hotels..etc.
So my laptop needs to have WLAN or what ever it's called.
(I think in a more specific term its 802.11 a/b/g wireless LAN).

This allows you to tap into internet for free around the world

 

[ig-88]

It's not always free.

For example, Boingo WiFi at Pearson cost me $10 for 24 hours.

Starbucks, Kinko's, etc. will charge you a fee as well to use their HotSpot.

The only places I know where wireless is free are your hotel room ... IF the hotel offers it for free, and of course, you have to be a paying guest there.

Public libraries usually have free WiFi ... but of course, you can't look at porn or SP sites.

You can also try libraries at college campuses ... but again, looking at porn in public will probably get you tossed out.

Or you can ride on (steal) someone else's unsecured network ... and assume all the risk of that.

 

[canucklehead]

Download Stumbler and or Kismet. These programs will allow you to scan for Wifi Networks as well as once u get into the now capture passwords and feed them back into the stream to get free wireless.
Step 1 just get online wirelessly.

 

[Esco!]

Damnnit IG-88 & canucklehead, you guys are good!!!!!!!!

 

[l69norm]

..I'm only in need of WiFi around airports, cafe's and hotels..etc.
..

Watchout for the "free wireless" scam in public places. I've seen the one below at some US airports. Also, most hotels (free or not) have a webpage come up where you enter a room number and name OR a password that you get from the front desk.

....................................................
Free Airport Wifi Scam
http://www.computerworld.com/action/...9&pageNumber=1

"January 19, 2007 (Computerworld) -- The next time you're at an airport looking for a wireless hot spot, and you see one called "Free Wi-Fi" or a similar name, beware -- you may end up being victimized by the latest hot-spot scam hitting airports across the country....."

 

[Esco!]

I wound up buying the Toshiba Satellite pro A100, on sale for $999 at Future Shop http://www.laptop4u.dk/produkter/grafik/ToshibaSatA100_01.jpg

14.5 inch screen, wifi enabled, DVD burner, 3.5 lbs weight. 1GB RAM, 200 GB harddrive

I'm happy with it.

I'm waiting for you guys to start flaming me for buying a Toshiba

 

[Esco!]

I'm trying to connect to unsecured wifi networks but everytime I get a "cant connect" message

 

[kooley]

I'm trying to connect to unsecured wifi networks but everytime I get a "cant connect" message

man oh man, i have used dell exclusively. I broke my rules and bought a toshiba, needless to say i gave it away after 5 months, for that exact reason, the wireless on them is garbage. I replaced it with a dell xpsm1210 and have never looked back.

return the toshiba and order a dell.

 

[Esco!]

man oh man, i have used dell exclusively. I broke my rules and bought a toshiba, needless to say i gave it away after 5 months, for that exact reason, the wireless on them is garbage. I replaced it with a dell xpsm1210 and have never looked back.

return the toshiba and order a dell.

Oh fukc!! Now you tell me

EDIT: Here's the message I get:

"Windows did not receive a response from the wireless router or access point"

Does that mean there's a problem with my signal reception, or a problem at their end??????

 

[samcan]

are you sure there unsecured, my toshiba is fine. Similiar model to yours and always wants to connect, unless its secured? Chances are its at there end.

 

[Esco!]

are you sure there unsecured, my toshiba is fine. Similiar model to yours and always wants to connect, unless its secured? Chances are its at there end.

It gives me a list of secure and unsecure connections, when I pick the unsecure
network it wont connect.
Some examples are: U of T, linksys and others.

EDIT: I'm gonna take it to Starbucks tomorrow and the damn thing better work or
its going through the window

 

[l69norm]

It gives me a list of secure and unsecure connections, when I pick the unsecure network it wont connect...

Secure means it's encrypted. Unsecured means that it's not encrypted.

Some people run MAC filtering on thier WIFI router, so even though it's not encrypted (i.e. unsecure) it won't let you connect. Try one you know is open.

 

[Fred Zed]

It gives me a list of secure and unsecure connections, when I pick the unsecure
network it wont connect.
Some examples are: U of T, linksys and others.

EDIT: I'm gonna take it to Starbucks tomorrow and the damn thing better work or
its going through the window

I don't think Starbucks have free wi-fi access
but they will let you connect via their hot-spot.
Keep refreshing your wireless network list wherever you are at.
Usually I have no problem finding a free network in the downtown area.
Except if you pick up Toronto Board of Education their network won't allow access to TERB
or any adult sites - they have those blocked.