Wireless Laptop. Educate a Hopelessly Ignorant Non-Techie.

[UTUSN]

My ideal: To be rid of the phone connection, thereby getting rid of the home phone line, and launching away to cell phone only.

But so long as the computer is hooked up, the home phone stays.

So I saw these wireless laptops. I had a bad experience with a laptop that lasted ONE YEAR and only ended with the danged thing being junked. Somebody told me that laptops overheat because there's no room for fans.

There was a Toshiba for 800 that looked super scifi. But I'm spooked over the past experience and know NOTHING about the wireless technology.

The space-saving would be great. Mobility is not really a factor.

Is this machine totally unhooked? How does it connect to internet? What about the printer and scanner?

[DS1]

1. You'll need an internet connection to put wireless in your house

be it cable or dsl or satellite

[crispini]

2. A few areas are doing municipal WiFi now.

Not many, though.

[Initech]

3. If you want Wi-Fi, get an Apple.

I have a Powerbook with the Apple Airport Express connected to a cable modem. The thing works absolutely flawlessly and it's pretty easy to set up and use right out of the box.

Where as at work, it's all PCs and my boss is constantly complaining about dropped connections, crashes, and all kinds of things.

[usedtobesick]

4. another option is a PCIA card based on your cellular carrier

Some new computers are teamed with a wireless carrier and you can get unlimited service for around $59 a month. You only need power in your house. If you like you cell carrier give them a call and see. I have a Verison wireless card that I use when I am our of my home were we put in a Wireless hub on our DSL. I have only had laptops for 8 years now and they are really stable.