Will a wireless service for my lap top serve my needs?

I live in a small NY town. Most towns are small upstate and everyone thinks you live in the city of New York when you say you live in New York. That said I will procede with my burning question. I am waiting delivery on a gift from a dear friend of mine. She bought me a Dell Mini 9 Lap Top and I am thrilled. The high prices of lap tops scared me out of the market for years but now it will be a reality.
My question to you experts on wireless is as follows; I have a DSL land line hook up for my desk computer in my home. I know the new lap top has a wireless card inside. Now, I want to use the lap top in my home and on the run, I like to travel around in my car and stop at unpopulated areas often and use my lap top. I really want to use this lap top where ever I go and not rely on hooking into someone elses network so do I need to pay for this service? I checked with Verizon and the cost is 59.00 per month and I will pay that if it will guarantee me getting on line where ever I go. Can I expect that?

 

Well, for your home, its merely a matter of getting yourself a wireless router and configuring your laptop to work with that.

As for Verizon, I guess it would be possible if (1) they have adequate coverage in the areas that you may or will be traveling to or thru (2) if your laptop has a 3G facility embedded - I am not sure that the Dell has that though or (3) and this is the most likely scenario, you can pair your handset with your laptop and use Verizon's wireless service that way.

One word of caution: When signing up with any wireless service offered by the phone companies, please do read their terms and conditions very carefully and make sure you understand the breakdown of the charges and other such complicated clauses that they have with their product offerings.

Good luck and enjoy your new machine!

Cheers!

 

Thanks for advice so quick. I checked the specs on that Dell and did not find "3G" what I did find was this; "Wireless 802.11g mini card" is that good or what? My main concern is getting on line and not worrying about plugging in any wires or having a wireless source near by. I know nothing is perfect but how much can I tolerate is the question.

 

Well...not surprising that the Dell does not have the 3G slot...I should also rephrase my previous post. The wireless card that you have should be fine for you to work off a wireless router that you can pass your internet connection through at home. This simply means that you will not be trailing wires all over you house. Thus, depending on where you are in your home (this depends on the range of the wireless router) you can get online.

This "Wireless 802.11g mini card" that you refer to just means that yoru machine is wireless capable. So, if you are in the vicinity of wireless networks, you should be able to connect - assuming (1) that such networks are free (2) you have paid for the connection (3) you connect to an unsecured wireless network and use it. The last option, in my personal opinion, is not advisable for a number of reasons.

In so far as the getting online when you are on the road, this would mean two things.

1. Either you can get a data card from your service provider (for example, Verizon) - this works on the same principle as a mobile/ cellular phone, except that its attached to your laptop. You need to check if your machine can house the data card that Verizon (or other phone company) will provide. Sometimes, the phone companies give you a USB device which functions in the same way.

2. Or, assuming that the Dell comes with Bluetooth capability (you will need to check this), then you can pair your mobile/ cellular phone with the laptop using Bluetooth and using the chip in your phone get online. In this scenario, your mobile/ cellular phone acts as a data card. Further, you will have to ensure that your mobile/ cellular device has Bluetooth capability - most recent mobile/ cellular phones do possess Bluetooth capabilities. One point to bear in mind is that using Bluetooth strains the battery of devices.

But, in both case, I reiterate that you should double check with the data plans that the phone company is offering. You can, if you are not careful (or if you don't have an unlimited plan) rack up a huge bill. You may also check if 'roaming' is a feature you want - most assuredly, it will cost more.

I have used both methods. Personally, I preferred using my mobile phone as it was one less thing to worry about and my bill was a consolidated one.

Have a good one!

Cheers!

PS: I just checked the review of the Dell here on NBR. See this link http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4578. As far as I can see, the Mini does not seem to have Bluetooth. I could be wrong. But even if this is the case, you should be able to use a USB-based device for going online when you are on the road.

SORRY! It seems that the newer Dell's of the model that you are referring to DO HAVE Bluetooth...I just saw this here http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/09/04/dell_launches_scc/