laptops & internet access

[catyc]

Any computer experts out there who can help me, or someone who's recently bought a laptop?

I'm after a laptop which I can use around the house & that will give me internet access without having to stay plugged into a phone socket (I'm about to upgrade my existing pc to broadband.)

I keep reading about wifi & mobile technology but I don't completely understand it and can't face going to a computer store to be patronised by a bunch of teenage boys!! (Based on my experience a couple of years ago at Time Computers when I asked for advice & was told 'Don't you know any children you can ask?' )

Any recommendations? Or brands to steer clear of?

I don't want to spend more than £1,000.

Thanks!!

[BearintheBigBlueHous]

This place is spooky.

Tamum, I've just this week bought a Powerbook (mmmm) and am about to attempt to network wirelessly with the broadband connection, DW's office-provided PC and our printer. I've got the kit (ADSL Modem & Router and Wireless USB Network adapter for the PC) from Belkin who assure me it will all speak at 11g speed to my Airport card. I'm now overawed by the instructions (IP addresses, PPPoEs, hexadecimals?!?!? - I'm a lawyer not a fighter) but am comforted that the lovely people at Belkin have now introduced a service for people who bugger up the installation. They'll send a teenager out to do it for you for £90. Had I not pawned the family silver to buy the hardware, I'd not even bother trying myself. If you or anyone else is interested, I can report back on how my attempts go.

Senora, you've gone and sparked a debate - I haven't even got so far as getting my Mac online yet or found my way round OS X and I'm head over heels in love with it. If only DS (9 weeks) would sleep more... Anyway catyc a new iBook with an Airport card would set you back less than £1000.

[Hulababy]

I have a wireless Broadband connection at home on my desktop and my lap top. Ours is done by a private firm for our apartment but I am sure all the main providers will do the same. My wireless software and receivers cost me about £120 I think. It works really well.

[SenoraPostrophe]

PS also as alibubbles says, you need an airport card for the mac, but not an actual airport.

Who thinks of these silly device names anyway?

[SenoraPostrophe]

tamum - it depends to an extent what OS your dh is using, but in theory, you can link up a Mac to a normal wireless BT router as Alibubbles has done. Then you also need a wireless network card in your PC (rather than the modem you probably currently have) and bingo! you can both use the same connection.

But the other thing - actually networking them together so you can read each others' files is harder. It's much easier with OSX (the new one) as this is really Linux, but you still need to know what you are doing.

[tamum]

SenorApostrophe, or anyone else who knows what they're talking about, could I butt in? We have a mixed marriage (I have a PC, dh uses a Mac laptop), and dh desperately wants to have wireless access on his laptop. My PC is connected to broadband through Telewest. How easy would it be to network his Mac from my PC if we had one of the new airports, does any know? I have a feeling that getting the mac to recognise the PC might be a problem; everyone dh speaks to says oh it's easy, but then it turns out they are all mac-based. Any thoughts?
Thanks

[alibubbles]

I've never had any display problems, and all our creative studios use them, so so ther design studios, in fact most printers use them, just my experience. I'm hopeless with a pc, when my mindies ask me to put something in their pc, I can't fathom it out, macs are put the disc in and go, none of thsi type win whatever! It's just what you're used to

They didn't do routers with USB when we got broadband, hence the alcatel thingy. The airport will make it easier.

[suzywong]

never had any problems with website display .... depends what you want to use your computer fo, the latest interface is a dream to use and they beat the pants off pcs when it comes to complimenting your inerior decor

[SenoraPostrophe]

alibubbles - you must have connection sharing if you need to leave one computer on. A router would solve that problem.

Without wishing to spark a debate though I would strongly advise against Macs unless you are used to them. They are more expensive than PCs, less software is available, they display many websites in an arbitrary manner which makes our lives a living nightmare, bla bla bla. They do look nice.

[alibubbles]

We have 4 apple macs in our house, one a lap top, and they are all on line wirelessly at the same time. We don't use an airport, just the ADSL thingy that came from BT with broadband. All the computers have an airport card, about £50.

The only disadvantage of the way we have it set up is that the main computer attached to the adsl thingy has to be turned on first and left on. (You can tell I'm not a technie!)

I have ordered an airport (£136) and after Christmas I will be able to use whichever computer I want, without having DH's on when he isn't in the office.

I have been know to be surfing 200 yards down the garden. DS picked up a signal at school and connected to the internet, although the school don't have a wireless set up, must have been from one of the local residents! You do however, normally need a password to connect, like in hotels, but in big cities now, people are leaving marks on buildings indication that you can connect up free without anyone knowing!

[suzywong]

quite right Senorapostraphe, and I think the range is 50 metres

[SenoraPostrophe]

PS - M2T's suggestion is good, but it is the expensive option that I mentioned (esentially mobile broadband, which isn't as good as normal broadband anyway) This is however the only option if you want to be able to connect from anywhere. You need to sit down and work out if adsl at home but a normal mobile connection would be cheaper. It probably would be.

[suzywong]

it's called a wireless networking device or if you have an apple mac, an airport. Costs about 200 quid.
How else could I do mumsnet on the laptop while wolfing down lunch andn DH can be in his home office working?

We are very loyal to macs, this iBook I am on cost about 1300 new two years ago, so must be cheaper now, especially if you wait until the January (boxing day) sales. John Lewis computer staff speak ordinary English and are very helpful, rather than a 14 year old saturday boy ina big warehouse type store, IYKWIM.

And treat yourself to broadband if you can, you won't regret it

[SenoraPostrophe]

well, this not really my field, but I think your best option would be a laptop with a wireless network card and a wireless adsl router. I don't however know what range you can expect from these things - I think one router would allow you to use your laptop from anywhere in the house, but I could be wrong.

Don't even think about going down the "mobile technology" route - this is incredibly expensive!

As to brands - all I can say is, don't pay more for a "good" brand. They're just as likley to go wrong just after the guarantee runs out anyway! Don't be bamboozled by figures either. Basically the higher the numbers, the better the computer, but unless you plan to play super-duper video games, you will find the one with the absolute minimum spec is more than adequate. I'm a programmer, and I work on a machine which is less than a third of the speed of the slowest one you can buy now!

HTH

[hoxtonchick]

we've just got this at home & it's fantastic! means that the pc is mine, & dp uses his work laptop with wireless internet. we are a lot happier.

not sure about the technicalities, but will ask dp this evening & post again. i do know that the wireless network-y bit cost about 100 quid though, so not exorbitant.

[M2T]

Hiya.. I have a laptop for work and still have to use a phone line. You can get an attachment that allows satellite access.... but I'm afraid I don't know what its called. It is quite expensive though.

You won't sound daft if you go into the shop and ask for an attachment that allows remote access to the internet..... for instance, on a train. Or perhaps you can now buy a laptop with this integrated. Why don't you search the web first so you know the name...... then they will be very impressed in the shop!