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I'm going to buy a new laptop soon. I'm looking at the new wifi systems and I'm not sure I completely understand it. Can someone help me?
I know it's wireless but is it high speed wireless like a cell phone where you can take it anywhere or does it have to be in a fixed area with a receiver close by? Who has clear info on this? Also, I hate laptops but will be moving around quite a bit. Any recommendations on good laptops? Thanks, Dianna |
Hi Dianna!!!
OK WIFI (802.11b is most common though Apple is going to 802.11g) Is to replace your networking wires (ethernet). Bluetooth is to replace your cables (like your printer cable your keyboard cable, your mouse cable). The cool thing about WIFI is that it can also be used as a bridge to the internet and alot of folks are setting up "rouge" wifi networks for free internet access... Does that help? |
To expand a bit...
WIFI can free you from wires at either home or the office. At home for instance, I bring the cable modem into a Linksys router that also serves as a wireless network access point (think of it as a base station). From the signal being broadcast from that router, I can jump online with my notebook using it's wireless lan card and surf the net from anywhere in the house without a wire. There's something really cool about being able to sit out on the deck and surf... "Hotspots" are also becoming more and more common for public access. In most cases you have to pay to use them, but there are some freebies out there as well. I know Tmobile for instance now has hotspots all over the country in many Starbucks and Airport clubs. You can sit and have a venti white chocolate mocha and surf. Or if on the road and killing time at the airport, tap in from the Crown Club and catch up on email. However, I'm not sure I'd get this built into a notebook, the standards are evolving and equipment is improving. 802.11b is the most common right now, but that may change over the lifespan of a new notebook. Just get a notebook with a standard wired connector and add a wireless pcmcia card if you wanna play...they're cheap... Bluetooth hasn't caught on much so far, but there are some cool applications coming. For instance, some of the new cellphones support it. And I believe the 2004 BMWs for instance will also support bluetooth. So if you have your cellphone in the car with you and the phone rings, it can automatically interface with the car and run speakerphone thru the car's stereo. Mercedes can already do this with many motorola phones, but you have to remember to connect up your phone to the car when you get in. Wireless would be much more convenient. Wireless is definitely the way of the future. |
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