Newbie to Macs and trying to get advice on what I need to get wireless

Question

Hi there,
I'm really sorry if this topic has arisen many times but I can't seem to find it.
I have just got an iBook G4 with internal wireless modem(?) and I'm looking for advice on how to get it set up for wireless connection..what to get etc
I currently have broadband through tiscali on home pc but what do I need to get to make that connection wireless?
Cheers

Answer 1

Hi Rose -
No, you are not limited to Apple. Other routers exists - Here are some reviews. You can find others in a Google Search.
Regarding Wi-Fi (hot spots). Yes, as you have noticed, more and more public places have wireless connections. Some are secured, i.e. require a password to access. Others are not - voluntary or involuntary.
To access a network, your Airport cards needs to be "on" - to enable, go to your menu bar, and click the Wireless icon (inverted striped fan). When the menu appears, make sure Airport is set to "on". If a "wi-fi" network is present, your machine automatically connects to it (if there are multiple networks, Airport will usually connect to the strongest signal). Access depends on the presence or lack of "security". In your Airport panel, you'll see the name of the network(s) available, with a check mark next to the one being accessed. To chose a different network, simply highlight it and click. The check mark moves to that network. For commercial secured access, you'll have to pay a stated fee listed by the site. For unsecured networks (no password), you can technically have access to the Network for surfing the Internet.
Once connected, access to the Internet is a simple as starting up your browser.
One big word of caution - when you access an unsecured wi-fi connection, your machine becomes part of that network, making it potentially noticeable to anyone else on the network. Also, you may be breaking the law. Further, adequately addressing security issues is more on the front-burner now, as most machine's introduced in the past year are "airport" ready. Regardless, I encourage you to be certain you are accessing a Network legally. Also, make sure adequate security measures are in place on the Network to protect your machine's internal data from others.
Back to unsecured networks: While OS X has security provisions to prevent unauthorized access to your system, I suggest you disable any file sharing item found in your System Preference>Sharing panel. Personally, I suggest you stay away from Unsecured Networks. They are an "accident" waiting to happen.