can this laptop do wireless connections?

elsien

Someone has given my mum an acer travelmate 202TE that they had for work but don't need any longer.
She's technically clueless, but was presuming that as he used it for work it would have wifi on it, but she can't find how to do it (no instruction book) and when she brought it round to mine it wasn't showing any remote networks to connect to, although I have a wifi network for my lappy.
So does anyone know does can it connect to a wifi network, if not is it doable to add to cheaply, or would she be better off getting a new cheap laptop - mainly used for a bit of typing, and surfing the net.
(The battery already needs replacing.)
We've tried checking the specs on the acer site, but don't understand them!

Esqui

It doesn't have a built in wireless adaptor, but you can pick a USB wireless adaptor up for about £15

elsien

Is that one of the ones there's a monthly fee for? Mum already has tiscali broadband for her desktop pc which they've send a wireless router out for, so doesn't want to be paying out any extra on top of this, she wants to be able to use her existing connection.

*Chattie*

No, not a monthly charge you can buy a usb dongle that will giver her wireless access in Tesco (last one I got in Tesco was branded Zoom) or similar for £15 to £20 or a laptop card.

This sort of thing...

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.205-0950.aspx

Wagearner

I also notice it only has 64m of RAM memory as standard (although this may have been upgraded to 256). This could affect its ability to run any new software adequately and could make it painfully slow - particularly if you need to install new programmes.

If the computer is running fine at the moment it should be useful in the short term, but I personally would not spend a lot (say more than £70+) on new batteries and wireless adapters at this point.

One other thought - if you are taking this computer online for the first time (or at least the first time recently), have you checked its virus checker/firewall etc?

The wireless adapter is a pieec of hardware which plugs into a USB port and allows connections to wireless networks - it is a one-off cost. (I think you are thinking of a mobile phone type 3G wireless dongle?). There are plenty out there - as an example try a search for NETGEAR WG111 Wireless-G USB 2.0 Adapter.

(You will also need to check it is compatible with your version of Windows, which you can check on 'control panel' -> 'system' This will also give you the RAM memory which I mentioned above)

GSXRCarlos

the router is the signal that your broadband bouces out, you need something to pick up that signal,

penrhyn

*Chattie* wrote: »

No, not a monthly charge you can buy a usb dongle that will giver her wireless access in Tesco (last one I got in Tesco was branded Zoom) or similar for £15 to £20 or a laptop card.

This sort of thing...

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.205-0950.aspx

Didn't know you could get wireless access in Tesco, must take the laptop next time I go shopping.:rotfl:

totalsolutions

Most web site will need IE6 or later, and use flash / java / other plugins that will not install at all so beaware before you get any USB/PIMCIA cards