gunmoma Posted November 24, 2004 Posted November 24, 2004 Curious about service providers for the satellite laptop. I've never had wireless internet so I'm lost. I'll be in line early for the Best Buy deal. Thank you!
Pliablemoose Posted November 24, 2004 Posted November 24, 2004 <---Confused. Do you mean are there any free trials of an ISP (internet service provider) included with the notebook? If so then yes, there's usually several pre loaded on new systems. Do you mean using the wireless internet @ home? That requires internet service & a wireless router/gateway @ home.
gunmoma Posted November 24, 2004 Author Posted November 24, 2004 I'm confused too. lol I mean how do I connect if I'm out shopping or in the car. If I buy the Toshiba Satellite will I still need to buy the router and all that. Do you know of any flat rate/monthly internet providers?
Pliablemoose Posted November 24, 2004 Posted November 24, 2004 I'm confused too. lol I mean how do I connect if I'm out shopping or in the car. If I buy the Toshiba Satellite will I still need to buy the router and all that. Do you know of any flat rate/monthly internet providers?To connect away from home, there are several methods: 1.) Wi Fi (should already be built in), but you need to be withing several hundred feet of an access point, and there's typically a fee to connect to someone else's access point. SBC ^ McDonalds have teamed up & the fee is just a couple dollars above the base SBC contract. 2.) GSM/misc requires extra hardware (can be a card or a cable to a cell phone that acts like a modem) this is a relatively expensive method, requires a contract for the data service and not practicle (@ least for me) How are you currently accessing the internet?
stingygrrl Posted November 24, 2004 Posted November 24, 2004 I'm not sure that BB $500 toshiba has built in wireless. look for 802.11 b or g or both in the specs. If it doesn't have it, you have to get a card for it to connect wirelesslty.. they run about $20-30 I think; they are PCMCIA cards that plug into a PCMCIA slot.that's one more thing to carry and have sticking out of the machine.
stingygrrl Posted November 24, 2004 Posted November 24, 2004 yes you will need a wireless router at home. your internet cable comes into that and then sends the signal out wirelessly and by cable to up to your computers. netgear and d-link are supposed to be the best. I have a netgear MR814v2 this whole year, and have had no prob at all. easy to configure. usually if I'm out, I look for places that offer free wireless, like Panera bread, or local cafes. You might be able to leach the signal from the car or outside the store. I have internet thru my cable company, it's always on, fast and flat rate. all those companies, SBC, Comcast, etc have internet. Ask your cable tv company.
biomajor Posted November 24, 2004 Posted November 24, 2004 I have the Toshiba Satellite A65S computer--it's just a name, like the Dell Inspiron--it's not really a satellite linked computer :-) Mine has a built in Atheros Super G wireless connection but you still need the wireless router/wifi connection/cable and/or dsl :-) Good luck--I love mine--it's perfect for what I need.
gunmoma Posted November 24, 2004 Author Posted November 24, 2004 I'm on dial up @ home. Thanks for all your answers I've learned a lot. I got the Best Buy laptop deal last year which I don't can go wireless. I'm wanting an upgrade so I can be free of wires. I sell on ebay and would love to be able to check ending prices while I'm out shopping in the parking lot. lol
zitadelle Posted November 25, 2004 Posted November 25, 2004 First of all, it is not a satellite laptop, meaing you cannot connect to the internet via a satellite signal. Its just their brand name. Second of all, all you require to go wireless is a PCMCIA Type II slot free in your laptop. If you have one of those, just go buy a wireless network card, in the PCMCIA Type II format, for your laptop/notebook. They look like fat credit cards with handles on the end. Third of all, you will need a wireless router for your computer at home, as well as an always on internet connection... ie. high speed internet access like DSL or cable modem... i dont really think youd like to play on a wireless network of a dial up modem, i dont know how long it would take the load things, but about double your regular computers time. They had a good deal on one of the stores listed for all of these items... wireless router, pcmcia card, and even a desktop wireless card, but i dont remember which store had it, or if that has changed or not...
RossMAN Posted November 25, 2004 Posted November 25, 2004 zitadelle is correct. You will need two things if you want to surf the internet at home without wires (WiFi). 1) Broadband high speed internet, DSL or cable. Should cost around $29.99 - $60.00 the advantages are 50x or faster than dialup, it won't tie up your phone line. So you can talk on the phone and surf the internet high speed at the same time. Several broadband providers are offering $100 rebate plus introductory pricing for your first 3, 6 or even 12 months of services. Visit Dell.com scroll down, in the middle left click More Details underneath Services. 2) Wireless router and card for the laptop. Just look for a Hot Deal it can be found for $49.99 or less. Last month CompUSA.com had this on sale for only $19.99 after rebates.
hopper Posted November 25, 2004 Posted November 25, 2004 Well...if it doesn't have wireless built in...it just so happens that Best Buy has a sale on a D-Link 802.11g Wireless kit that includes router and notebook card for $19.99 AR. The ad says "Minimum 10 per store", which means they will probably sell out of them pretty fast. Staples also has a Wireless kit with router and notebook card for $19.94 AR If you have a Fry's in your area you could get both components for about $28 and NOT deal with rebates.
venerdinero Posted November 25, 2004 Posted November 25, 2004 No this Toshibia "Satellite" laptop at BB does NOT have wi-fi built in. You would have to follow the other suggestions above. To follow up on one of them - if you don't go the wi-fi route (and remember wi-fi is not yet available everywhere) the only other way that I know to get service "out shopping or in the car" is through essentially a wireless or cell phone company. Companies like sprint, verizon and others ofter a monthly data plan which does generally require that you buy their specific pcmcia card to insert into your laptop. Here are links to those to companies fyi: Sprint Verizon Hope that's of some help to you. ***help - why aren't my links being shortened anymore? what on earth did I do to turn that lovely feature off?? URLs fixed - RossMAN
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