Laptops?

[Jayne]

Hi,

I want to know all about laptops. I know people use them on Trains and things, but can you get the internet on them?

Like big mobile phones?

And what gadgets do you need to have a totally mobile laptop? So I could take the forum out with me :lol:

Thanks

Jayne

[DotNetWebs]

Hi Jayne

At the moment I connect my laptop to a 3G mobile phone. It works great but the data costs are a bit high.

I am currently think of switching to this offer from T-Mobile:

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menuid=orphan_mobilebroadband&WT.mc_id=freehotspot&deeplink=freehotspot

It seems a great offer, not so much the free wi-fi because that depends on being within the range of hot spots. Its the 100Mb per months for £18 that I am interested in. As a bonus the card is free too.

Regards

Dotty

[multilingual]

I use a Dell Latitude laptop nearly all the time. Can't stand using the main computers in the office they seem so clumsy.

I have a blue tooth connection built-in and my mobile phone also has blue tooth, so they can talk to each other and I can get online anywhere in the UK where there is a signal.

I managed to get online with it last year from my hotel balcony in Tenerife so that I could finish a file before going scuba diving!

This year we decided to find a hotel with in-room internet connection to keep the cost down on holiday.

Wouldn't be without my laptop!

JB

[DotNetWebs]

I have just found out that my local Starbucks has a wi-fi hotspot. Could be handy when I am in town and need a big download. This makes this offer seem even more attractive.

Just to clarify my last post a bit further. Its unlimited wif-fi and 100Mb of data via 3G/GPRS when outside the range of a w-fi hotspot. All for £18 per month with the PCMCIA data card included.

Maybe I have missed something but this seems a great offer compared to what I am currently paying with Vodafone

[cjd]

Most new, if not all, laptops come with inbuilt WiFi capability which means they can connect to your home wireless router (you need one!) and any open WiFi broadcast. they can also connect to anybody elses wireless router if they haven't secured it properly - a surprising number!

WiFi 'hospots' can be found all over the place so you can just connect to the internet on the move - but many charge for it.

As people are saying, you can also connect using a mobile phone but this is horribly expensive and also very slow.

At the moment Dell look like the best deals around for laptops.

[DotNetWebs]

As people are saying, you can also connect using a mobile phone but this is horribly expensive and also very slow

That's why I like the sound of the T-Mobile offer. My laptop has built in wi-fi (as most new ones do) but I am rarely in range of a free wi-fi hotspot when I am out and about. The datacard has its own sim card which allows you to connect to the phone network. 3G is (relatively) fast and as the data costs of this offer appear so cheap I am considering purchasing this package as an ADDITION to my mobile phone

[DarrenC]

I use a laptop rather than a PC - connect to it through 8GB wireless network, or belkin wifi card, which is what I use when I'm "on the road" providing that they are wifi spots where I'm travelling - then I plugin my bluetooth card, and let it connect via the mobile, but its expensive.

[Jayne]

Thank you everyone, I'm a little wiser now :D

Jayne

[Asteeleleith]

I hate to recommend them, but pc world are doing a cheap laptop
Advent 256Mb RAM, 40 GB hard drive, 1.2GHz celeron processor.
Really rather good. £399

Al

[Jayne]

Yes, i've seen them on TV. Thought they must have been rubbish because they were so cheep, I will have to investigate further now :D

Jayne

[uksbc]

i dont know what i would do without a laptop

since the advent of wi-fi i carry a laptop just like i carry a phone.

i always pass the time between client appointments in mcdonalds car park making calls and drinking coffee (best way to pass time when you are 300 miles from home) and now that all macdonalds are hotspots its great

sit in the car in my own little world, communicating with clients and forums on the net and drinking coffee :D

more than once though i have lost track of time and been late to arrive at meetings :shock:

[Jayne]

Think i'd have that problem too :lol:

Maybe i'm better off not getting one, it would end up stuck to me.

Jayne :D

[crus]

Hi Jayne,

OK, I have used an Apple laptop for 4 years, just retiring it and getting a new Powerbook in the new year, no messy addons Bluetooth buil in and will just work with your phone to access the web!

In the meantime, I have moved away from using a laptop for my truly mobile computing.

As part of my my suit and sales, it was proving difficult to lug a laptop around and show clients our BristolDirectory.com site and concept.

Instead I have now opted for a nokia 9500 with wifi, it allows me to use other peopels wireless networks whether they know it or not (bars are such a lovely places to work) or use GPRS when on the move. It has a full qwerty keypad, full size colour screen and allows me access to any websites whilst on line. I have developed a number of streamlined pages for my own administration and have a secure terminal client for managing my servers. Ultimately I can leave the laptop behind, working securely from anywhere where there is a mobile network (9500 is a triband phone) and charge up by a pocket size hand charger if needed.

Oh yeah and post to my fav forums!

Hope this helps.

D
D

[Jayne]

Is the nokia 9500 with wifi, like a big phone then?

Jayne :D

[uksbc]

i had one of the older communicators before they added on wi-fi and although it is an impressive bit of kit it is sooo big

i used to use it during the day and change my sim to something small in the evening. i dont own many pairs of trousers that could accomodate a communicator in my pocket without looking odd!! :shock:

jayne,

you can spend as much time as you want in my car using my wi-fi :D

(sorry, really dont know where that came from - i am in such a strange mood today!)

:twisted:

[crus]

Its a bit of a brick,

the same size as the oild communicators if you see one,
fits in pocket, ideal size for handbags (so ive been told)

its about the same height as a can of beer, not as wide and only an inch thick, if that mnakes sense.


http://www.europe.nokia.com/nokia/0,,54106,00.html

there is also a new 9300i coming out with wifi if you can live without a camera.

http://www.europe.nokia.com/nokia/0,6771,77854,00.html

D

[Jayne]

Lol..that sounded rude Del :lol:

Grateful for the offer, i'd better not mess with your wifi, my Mark wouldn't like it :lol:

Jayne

[clairemackaness]

Hi Jayne,

Looking at these posts they all seem a bit techy and I know how you hate that.

I use my laptop at home and have bought a wireless router from my internet supplier (£20). Plug it in and as long as your laptop is wireless enabled (the shop can tell you this) your good to go!

[Jayne]

Thank You Claire, I understood you, that's about my techy level :lol:

Jayne

[clairemackaness]

No problem, from one non techy to another

Claire