laptops

novelli

DCan anyone tell me if its possible to have a laptop and use the internet completely wireless anywhere!! what i mean is can i buy a laptop with wireless card and then log onto internet anywhere in the world?? I am sure it cannot be as easy as this can it??
I do already have a laptop so if its possible to do this what would i need to buy, or would i need to get a new fandangled one??
thanks

electron_3

You may use your existing laptop if you have a wireless lan pc card slot
and then you can buy a wireless card insert into PC and configure and then you
may jump on a wireless connection via hotspots around the globe but there
are not as many hot spots as needed to its a bit hit and miss in some countries.

http://www.wififreespot.com/ US

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/02/wi_fi_hotspots_expensive/

Cat72

I was wondering about this as there was a guy in Starbucks using his laptop and I wondered how- Is it also possable to use your sim card to access the internet through as laptop ?

electron_3

I beleive vodafone and other phone companies supply a network card that
connects via your phones infared and thats charge to your phone bill.

Link may work

novelli

So do i need a certain sort of card for a certain sort/make of laptop or are they all the same?? So if i then travelled abroad in some places i may be able to access the internet?? Is that what u mean?


You may use your existing laptop if you have a wireless lan pc card slot
and then you can buy a wireless card insert into PC and configure and then you
may jump on a wireless connection via hotspots around the globe but there
are not as many hot spots as needed to its a bit hit and miss in some countries.

albertross_2

If you have wireless built-in to the laptop (most modern ones have this already), then you don't have to buy anything.

If you don't, you need to get a wireless 54G pcmcia card, or a wireless 54G usb dongle, available from all your favourite high street electrical shops, or ebuyer, amazon etc..

It is rarely free to surf, you often have to sign up with a credit card wherever you are..

http://starbucks.co.uk/en-GB/_Our+Stores/Wireless+at+Starbucks.htm

http://www.btopenzone.com/find/index.jsp

scheming_gypsy

Cat72 wrote:

I was wondering about this as there was a guy in Starbucks using his laptop and I wondered how- Is it also possable to use your sim card to access the internet through as laptop ?

you can also get a 3G PCMCIA card. Plug it into your laptop and connect via 3G

greyster

OK the above posters have identified the two options you have, just to clarify.

Wireless Hotspots - requires a wireless card (some inbuilt into laptop) which cost around £25-30 and a subscription to wireless hotspots. You won't get internet access everywhere, only at hotspots.

The other alternative is internet through your mobile network i.e. 3, Orange etc. An unlimited internet access tariff costs about £40 a month I think although metred usuage can be less. This offers internet access whereever there is mobile reception. It requires a mobile data card (different to the wireless card) which is free with the expensive tariffs and cost with lower ones, like mobile phones on contract.

You need to look at where your internet usage will be and cost. It differs for everyone but by looking at these you can decide which is required.

boatman

A few websites of interest:

http://www.looseconnection.com/
Loose Connection :: Free Wi-Fi Hotspots :: Powered by Metranet

http://www.hotspot-locations.com/modules.php?name=HotSpots&op=hotspot_query&hsl_countryhs=2GB&hs_state=&hs_city=&hs_operator=&hsl_type=&hs_access_box=on&search=Search
Wi-Fi Hotspot Directory | WLAN Hotspots United Kingdom, - WiFi Hot Spots - Free Locations - Public Wireless Lan Internet Access

http://free-hotspot.jiwire.com/search-wifi-hotspots.htm?location_type_id=0&technology_id=0&city_id=0&radius=5.0&provider_id=0&pay_free=free&address=&city=&country_id=226&state_id=0&zip=
FREE HotSpot Directory - Wi-Fi Hotspots - search results

Cat72

Thanks you have all helped -the fog is starting to become clearer !!

The other alternative is internet through your mobile network i.e. 3, Orange etc. An unlimited internet access tariff costs about £40 a month I think although metred usuage can be less. This offers internet access whereever there is mobile reception. It requires a mobile data card (different to the wireless card) which is free with the expensive tariffs and cost with lower ones, like mobile phones on contract

This idea looks the best.I am with O2 so could I get this through my normal mobile subscripton or do I subscribe differentily ? ( sorry obvious novice ! ).Or what is my best option to get this type of thing ( orange coverage and tmobile is poor in my area ),thanks

greyster

http://www.o2.co.uk/business/tariffs/datatariffs/0,,203,00.html

O2 I think has all their data tariffs under their business section. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

All explained here.