Which Laptop and is this connection poss?

lawtz04

Situation:

I have a home pc sat here on my desk which has a Virgin Broadband internet connection.

I want to buy a laptop (nothing special, PURELY for surfing the net but reliable), and be able to use the same internet connection. Is it just a case of setting up my broadband details on the laptop and switching the lead from PC to laptop?

Also, can anyone recommend the cheapest laptop for my needs? preferable dixons or something where i can buy now pay later!
Cheers

swift_gti

You can simply switch the lead to the modem but obviously then you only get the internet on one PC at a time You'd also need to power cycle the modem each time you did this..
Ideally you should get yourself a wireless router and use the laptop wirelessly. As I suggested in a similar thread, this: http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/116601 will do he job perfectly with Virgin broadband and allows you to get the internet on both pc's at the same time.
As for the laptop, if you want something reliable I would avoid Acer.. they are cheap but there is a reason
I'd personally go for Toshiba or HP. Laptops direct have a very good deal on a wireless enabled HP at the moment: http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Hewlett_Packard_530_Laptop_GH634AA/version-1.asp

lawtz04

Your answer is very very useful thank you. I am not sure what you mean by power cycle the modem (does this just mean you have to shut down, switch the leads and then start up?)

If not I will get this wireless router. I need somewhere I can buy now pay later with the laptop. Like I said the one and only .. i cant express this enough purpose of the laptop will be to use the internet. Any further help?

jem16

lawtz04 wrote: »

Your answer is very very useful thank you. I am not sure what you mean by power cycle the modem (does this just mean you have to shut down, switch the leads and then start up?)

You have to turn off the modem and the pc/laptop.

Then start up the modem until all leds are steady to show you have a connection. Then start up the laptop/pc.

The modem remembers the mac address of the netowrk card in the modem/pc so when you switch between them it has to drop one mac address and pick up the new one.

The router is much easier and mean that you could use both at the same time.

jem16

Another make of laptop I would recommend is Asus as it comes with a 2yr warranty as standard.

This is available on pay later;
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Asus_F3H_Laptop_F3H-AP041C/version-1.asp

lawtz04

Thanks again. Wireless router the way forward then! I dont even care if the laptops a refurbished one to be honest. All i need is cheap as poss, buy now pay later and can use the wireless router (what does it need to be able to do use that by the way?)

jem16

It needs to have a wireless network card installed. Most new laptops have that already.

swift_gti

Sound advice from jem16, Asus make good stuff but obviously for your purpose may be slightly expensive.
I'd highly recommend getting a good make to start with as it'll only cost you more in the long run if you get something like an Acer.
I also noticed that HP cheaper on ebuyer: http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/128685 I haven't checked it spec for spec but it would suit your needs.
I'm pretty sure that ebuyer do credit, but you'd need to check that out on their website.
HTH

lawtz04

Thank you all very much for your advice. On the spec for this ebuyer laptop it says:

Built-in DevicesSpeaker, wireless LAN aerial

Is this the right thing I'll need for the wireless router?

swift_gti

lawtz04 wrote: »

Built-in DevicesSpeaker, wireless LAN aerial

Is this the right thing I'll need for the wireless router?

Yes pretty much, obviously you need to make sure a card is fitted too and not just the wireless aerial.. as some old laptops used to have no card fitted but had the aerials already there so you could attach them if you purchased the internal addon card.
Anyway.. that HP does have the card fitted, as will pretty much any new laptop you buy these days. The item you need to look for is: Wireless LAN 802.11b/g
The 802.11b/g specifys the band, ideally you want one that 'b/g' and not 'a' although 'a/b/g' would also be fine...
Hope I haven't confused you too much