OT: Apple Wireless Advice

Question

Holy cow, I didn't realize Internet connections had become so
complex! I
had a simple dial-up connection until fairly recently, when I
finally
equipped my Dell computer with a DSL connection through
QWest. Though it
works fine, I swore the day I set it up that I'd migrate to a
new
service (long story).
Now I have an Apple MacBook Pro and am ready to jump into the
world of
wireless. But I'm thoroughly confused and would like to hear
what
solutions some of you use.
My computer is apparently equipped with the following, though
I don't
yet understand exactly what they're all about:
Airport Express, Bluetooth, Ethernet
When I set up my computer I was invited to choose from the
following
wireless services:
linksys_SES_46485
MandaNet
RC5011
ThePADD
Other Network
I couldn't even find much information about some of them
through Google.
It sounds like I can use Airport, Bluetooth OR Ethernet to
connect to a
wireless service offered by linksys... OR I could use
Airport, Bluetooth
or Ethernet to go wireless with MandaNet. Am I on the right
track?
This is what I'd like to do in a nutshell: I have a
telephone, a Dell
computer and a wireless Apple/Mac. At the very least, I need
to get both
computers hooked up to the Internet.
Ideally, I'd like to replace my telephone with a cell phone
and go
wireless all the way. However, someone told me that wireless
computer
services were hopelessly expensive; every time you surf the
Internet,
you're charged as if you were making a long distance phone
call.
I thought you just paid a flat fee, like $50-$100 a month,
and could
then spend as much time on the Internet as you want.
At any rate, how would you set up a cell phone and two
computers for
wireless service, and how much would you estimate it would
cost monthly?
If, for some reason, my five-year-old Dell can't go wireless,
could I
disconnect it from the Internet and download Windows
programs, updates,
etc. to my MacBook Pro, then copy them over to my Dell?
Thanks!
www.geobop.org - Family Websites
www.invisible-republic.org - Adult political websites
www.jail4bush.org - Tom Muck's favorite!

Answer 1

Hi David -
Just to give you an FYI - here in the US, Verizon Wireless
offers a service
for around $50-60/month that will get you internet access
anywhere you
travel (this is through a Verizon Wireless PCMCIA card that
plugs into your
laptop).
And yes, you are correct that your wireless enabled laptop
will only work
where it can find signals - once you find signals, if they're
encrypted you
won't be able to get on (unless you're running Linux and a
nice piece of
open source software ;) ) - if they're not encrypted you can
technically,
but not legally, jump on.
Shane H
[email protected]
http://www.avenuedesigners.com
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"David Blomstrom" <[email protected]> wrote in
message
news:[email protected]...
> Ian Edwards wrote:
>> Hi
>>
>> In the Uk using a mobile for Interent is a no no
very expensive and very
>> slow.
>
> By "mobile," you mean (or include) cell phones, right?
So you're saying
> it's expensive to surf the Internet with a cell phone or
related PDA, and,
> therefore, it's expensive to connect a laptop computer
to the Internet
> through a cell phone (which I learned you can do just
recently)...right?
>
>> Connecting to a router via wire is easy enough but
be sure you setup
>> your encryption to stop people using your band
width.
>
> OK, I now understand what Linksys and routers are...
>
>
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1116 265541785&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper
>
> However, if I connect my Apple MacBook Pro to the
Internet through a
> router, can I still connect to the Internet when I
travel to work, a local
> park or another country? It sounds like I can only use
wireless service at
> home with my router, but that kind of defeats the
purpose of wireless.
>
> And if I get a cell phone, would it also be connected to
whatever cell
> phones connect to through my router, or are cell phones
completely
> different?
>
> I currently pay about $70 a month for a phone bill that
includes a DSL
> connection charge. When I'm finished upgrading, I'd like
to be paying
> $50-$100 a month for one or two services that include
wireless service for
> my laptop and the ability to make local phone calls at
no extra charge.
>
> Thanks for the tip about encryption. I wasn't even aware
of that, but I
> should have guessed.
>
> --
> www.geobop.org - Family Websites
> www.invisible-republic.org - Adult political websites
> www.jail4bush.org - Tom Muck's favorite!