T1B

ok, im heading out of town, and need the laptop for some shit, so if i buy a wireless card for it, do i need to do anything else for it to pick up connection?

i know it has an option where your card searches out a signal, and you pick which service ya use(some cost $ others are free)

is that it? it cant be that easy.

so in the end
i insert card
dload drivers or updates
then press the look for connection link thingie?

Actually it is. I would get a regular 802.11g/b pcmcia Wireless card. If its to oexpensive or such, just get a USB wireless 802.11g/b dongle. To install it you just run the CD and then plug the card/usb wireless into your PC and it should be detected.

Once it is installed it is as easy as you mention it. Free wireless will be unsecured. Most hotels still have internet with cables but some of the nicers ones have wireless. One great place to use your wireless is Panera Bread. Free wireless nationwide. I know some airports also offer it but I've yet to run into free wireless service at airports the few times I've flown.

Of course your other option is to go 'war driving' or in other words just turn on your computer and drive around looking for wireless signals until you find one that is unsecured. Most cities have them everywhere. Just remember that technically its illegal and businesses may not appreciate you being on their network.

Now days you will not just connect to unsecured wireless networks like windows first did. It will ask you if you are sure and then connect.

Good luck.
-Dave

Are you 100% sure that your laptop doesn't have a wifi card of some type? Most laptops built in the last few years should have them.

Starbucks is also a good place to get a wifi connection. Barnes & Noble too.

Starbucks isn't free. Not sure if Barnes and Noble is free or not. Starbucks is a T-mobile hotspot so you have to pay.

Plans: http://hotspot.t-mobile.com/services_plans.htm

It has been awhile since I used the net at Starbucks. I was unaware.

California is not all that well connected as of yet. Most of the major hotels in the big cities are, only a few of the outlying ones are. A lot of coffee shops in the big cities are, forget it if you are in a small town somewhere. IO.W. if your business takes you to big cities you should be fine, but if you have to hit the hinterlands, you will be hit or miss.

I pay for internet access on my Verizon Treo, and I use a software program to link to the web from my laptop thru my phone. It's secure, it's mine, and it works in downtown san fran and out in a field in dinuba. I can use it in a car. I can use it near and far. ;)

Rack Fu wrote:It has been awhile since I used the net at Starbucks. I was unaware.

Bucky's wireless has been a pay service since Day 1.

Dinsdale wrote:

Rack Fu wrote:It has been awhile since I used the net at Starbucks. I was unaware.

Bucky's wireless has been a pay service since Day 1.

I've definitely used wifi at Starbucks in the past and sure didn't pay for it. I'm not sure if the stars were aligned just right for me or what the story was but there were a couple of Starbucks back in Raleigh/Cary, NC that I used on several occasions. It has been a few years though.

I mostly use Panera.

The City of Portland now has a citywide free public wireless ISP.

I have yet to use it, but I guess if you don't mind subpar sppeds and banner ads, it's OK.



I'd just as soon use one of the thousands and thousands of intentionally-unsecured wireless networks. In any given spot (in the flat parts of town, anyway), you generally have your choice of many, many wireless hookups.


Make sure you have a well-secured software firewall when using that shit, though.