Well I think I'm going to buy a Laptop. What I was wondering is how does the internet work with it? My computer now uses dial-up. Will it be the same?? Will I always have to have it plugged into a wall? I'm not very computer smart.

 

it'll work the same. or you can switch your internet service to a dsl, which then you could have a wireless router for any room every where in the house connection.

 

You can also do this.

I use mine in the truck sometimes for mapping. The laptop uses a bluetooth wireless GPS reciever. I have no excuse for getting lost now. Plus the laptop has about 4 days worth of music on it that plays through the truck audio system. And the map program will also give voice turn by turn direcections through the truck's speakers if I want, nice for city travel....I hate cities.

With a wireless internet card I can usually find internet service on the road too...if I need it for some reason. Just pull up to a Starbucks or a public libray and you have it.

Road maps


Topo maps

 

Another option is wifi internet from sprint or most any cell phone company. It is a card that, if you have phone service in that area, you have high speed internet. I love it, it runs about 50 bucks a month, however it is slower than dsl, but you can use it anywhere.

 

Some laptops come with built-in wi-fi capability . The Toshiba I bought at Radio Shack did . I don't need a phone or card and find free hotspots using sites like this .http://anchorfree.com/

 

it depends on if how you use it. If you go places a lot, I would check into getting wireless broadband from sprint. If i were you, I would at LEAST get dsl with a wireless router, so you wouldnt have to keep your laptop plugged in. And if you need a laptop with a lot of power, I would go with Alienware. I love mine

 

Yeah, dial-up will be the same - ensure the laptop has a modem in it.

It will run on batteries, but battery life can vary with different laptops/processor chips. Last time I looked, the Centrino chipped laptops had longer battery life than P4's. P4's run hotter and required extra cooling fans. Not sure if you can watch an entire DVD movie while running on batteries.

This is probably OBE, but when you buy it, ask to ensure its got the latest battery in it. There were a rash of laptop battery fires and many airlines wouldn't let laptops on the planes. My Dell did have a "defective" battery in it and they replaced it for free.

 

i usually buy laptops from the larger company's (sony,hp,ibm) but if you plan on keeping it more than 2-3 years these kinda suck cause when things break they are expensive and hard to find parts for as they use a propiety type hardware, i am gonna start buying generic built units just for easy and cheaper repairs.

 

My Dell Inspiron is still chugging away! Its been used and abused a lot over the last five years. Now school is causing it to get used a lot again. I love my laptop for portability, but still gotta have my other two for working at home. Wireless is great too, wish mine was integrated like most new stuff.

Ive thought about getting a new one from Dell, I love thier warranty and customer service has always been good for me. In my five years I had one problem with it. A cable for the monitor died. I called that evening and a Fedex guy showed up the next day with a box ready to go and two days later I had my laptop back and fixed.

Only advice, IMHO, stay away from integrated graphics. Always spend the money for max ram and a real video card. Ive never had any luck with the stuff I do and integrated video cards.

Right now, Im usuing my laptop, one of my MOBO's just died!!! Gotta get a new one ordered up. Nice to have some back up's laying around too.

Well, thats my .02

 

DSL...is that cable?

 

Its an always on broadband internet service provided through your telephone line.

Due to phone company hardware and wiring length limitations not everyone can get DSL - give them a call and ask. Before FIOS I used to have DSL from Verizon.

 

Direct Satellite Link

 

DSL and cable are pretty much alike. You really won't notice much of a difference. The main difference lies in how the connection gets to you. The speeds are pretty much the same.

 

The phone companies provide Digital Subscriber Link (DSL); its really Asymmetric DSL (ADSL) because the download speeds are faster than the upload speeds.

You need a modem in the house and line filters connected to the other telephone and fax machines on that phone line.

 

06dually. did you get my PM?