The connected age is upon us, and portable connectivity is becoming the standard rather than the exception. Being able to connect to the internet, receive and send emails and instant messages from any location is becoming the norm. Before you rush out to buy a new laptop, check whether yours has wireless capabilities. You need to find out if your laptop has a built-in wireless internet card.
The quickest way to do this is by checking in your Control Panel. Look under the Network Panel where it will show you if a card is installed or not. If a card is installed, you can activate it in the Wireless tab by selecting an open wireless network and clicking on Connect. Set your preferences to connect automatically to an open network so you don’t have to repeat this step every time you want to go on to the internet or get your emails.
If you don’t have a wireless internet card installed, there are two ways to correct the problem. The first, and easiest, is to buy a USB wireless internet adapter. You plug it into your USB dock, install it and connect in the Control Panel as described above.
The other way is to actually install a wireless internet card into the laptop. This means buying the card, opening up the laptop casing, and installing the card into the appropriate slot. Unless you are quite sure about how to do this, it may be worth paying a professional to install the card for you.
Now that your laptop is ready for Wi-Fi, you will be able to make use of public networks or hot spots in coffee shops, airports, conference centres and offices. Remember that these hot spots mean that anyone on the same network can see your computer and gain access to your data, so don’t work with confidential documents if you can help it. Firewalls and antivirus software can help, but it is probably better to be safe than sorry.
At home, you will have to sort out your own wireless network. Your first step will be to get a wireless router and apply for a wireless network with a provider. Once installed, your wireless service provider will help you configure the router and your laptop so you can have your very own Wi-Fi hotspot! You may want to configure your wireless LAN with the available password security. This will restrict access to those with the password – this helps prevent the neighbours from using your wireless network and costing you money.
Most recent model laptops come with wireless internet as a standard feature. If you want to use the wireless network at home, you will still need the router, but you won’t have to add any adapters or cards to the computer. Wireless internet access gives you complete portability, enabling you to work on your computer in almost any location.
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