beginner questions

I'm totally new to laptops. I can barely get around is desktops.

I've got a Trek 2 that I'm fixing to replace my wife's clunky old desktop with, and have some questions.

a. does anyone know if the Trek 2 is setup for me to hook it directly to our wired hub router? How can I find a socket or port for this purpose, if it even has one? Am I looking for the thing that looks like a large phone jack? If so, I'm not seeing one of those.

b. I was told the laptop would arrive with wireless capability. Whatever it does or doesn't have is internal, as there's no usb plug in type stuff with it. How can I determine if there's an internal wireless card? It's got some kind of gizmo that pops out when you press it, and stays in place when pushed back in. Could be an antenna? It's approx 1" long, extended.

 

I am assuming a Trek 2 is a pc. The ethernet port is usually on the back. You can look in device manager to see if you have one. A wireless card is pretty much standard nowadays.

 

Wow, MICRON TREK 2 is pretty old laptop. Ok, answer your question.

1. Sadly the laptop doesnt have ethernet port (or network port), but you can buy a PCMCIA Ethernet port. Here is an example.

http://www.dealtree.com/cart/select_item.cfm?cont=63303

2. Its unlikely its going to be internal, since the age of the laptop. Its most likey its gonig to be PCMCIA.

JC

 

Interesting read from 1998 about the Trek 2.

http://www.streettech.com/archives_hardware/transportTrek2.html

 

heh..that laptop has a "Wintel" platform. Sounds like the name is a copy of Intel

Ethernet (RJ45) is larger than a standard phone cable (RJ11), so you dont simply plug it to the wall socket.

http://freeola.com/shop/wireless-network-c-4746-uk.htm

 

Interesting indeed! What I want to know is, why is a 14.1" 7.2 lb machine considered a desktop replacement? What was standard back in the day for a screen, 5"?

Malia

 

I think they meant more in terms of power, and hardware.

I personally never seen a 17" screen from the 90's on a laptop.

 

Wow! That was an interesting article. Makes you wonder how fast notebooks evolve.

 

And look at the price. Sigh.

JC

 

OK. Just went through everything again. Found a "Intel PRO/Wireless 2011B LAN PC Card". Is this going to be a plug-in wireless card?

I'll be getting one of the Dynex Notebook 10/100 32-Bit PCMCIA Network Cards Netbakr gave us the link to.

Once I have it, can both the wireless card and the ethernet card both be plugged in at the same time? Or is a "take one out and stick the other one in" deal?

What connects to the outer edge of the ethernet card? Doesn't look like it's thick enough for the normal cable hookups.

 

PC Card is the same as PCMCIA.

According to spec, the notebook has 2 PC Card slots. You can use both of them.

You need ETHERNET cable, and NOT regular phone cable to connect to the ETHERNET card.

Also, why do you need both ethernet and wireless? Isnt wireless enough for you?

JC

 

Good info. Thanks

We don't have wireless in the house. We use DSL. That's why I need Ethernet to the wired hub router.

 

Ah ok, I see.

Well, you can buy a wireless router...but I bet you are not fimular with these router.

Well, enjoy your notebook.

JC

 

I would highly suggest looking at a new laptop.

Even the cheapest thing you get will be way more powerful than this Trek 2.

 

Just bought the Trek 2. It's got a 10gb hard drive, which isn't much. But, I can plug a USB external hard drive in and go up a bit more.

We're only using it:

1. as my wife's pc. She does email only, so it'll be OK for that. Her old clunker desktop has WinME, which is not good at all. Crashes frequently. A known malady of ME.

2. We're going on a 10 day overseas tour early Fall. I want to take something along to store our digital photos on each night, and to check web email every night or so. That's why the wireless part is important--on the road.

 

Actually it wont be easy to access the external HD, depending on the OS, if its Windows 98 or ME, you will need a driver, but others, no need for driver.

JC

 

OS is Win2000. So, hopefully, no drivers needed.

 

More powerful is not always best. My bf preferred a ThinkPad I had with specs similar to Trek 2 for most of the time over a modern laptop because it provided for fewer distractions. I say "preferred" in the past tense because I sold it. He wanted to buy it from me so it wouldn't go away, but I wouldn't let him. I kinda feel bad about that, but I got good money for it, so it was worth it...

Malia