Time to go wireless

[Xianti]

I've never had a laptop before. Never really needed it. But now, there are free WiFi hotspots popping up all over my town. So this got me thinking. With a laptop, I could be playing my poker while out and about rather than being holed up at home.

What do you guys recommend?


I've never shopped for a laptop before, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

[ngericl]

I've always been partial to Dell. I own an Inspiron 8500. If I can help it, I'll never buy a desktop again.

[a500lbgorilla]

Playing gets less and less fun with those damn touch pads. Buy a wireless mouse as well.

-'rilla

{This post has been removed}

[ngericl]

Xianti

DON'T DO IT !!

The LA Times gave me a laptop when I started with them and I had my roommate install a wireless router in the house so I could use my computer upstairs.

It's been a nightmare ever since. I've lost a lot of money over the last month simply losing my connection and not being able to log back on.

Wireless is definitely convienient when its working...but its EXTREMELY unreliable.

I actually spent most of the day at Starbucks yesterday playing the 350K on Stars because my connection at home is so unpredictable.

My girlfriend and I are moving in together in the next couple months and I am going cable this time. It's just not worth it dude

just my 2 bits

I was having the same problem with my Linksys, then I updated some drivers and now everything is copasetic.

[|~|ypermegachi]

don't know about you guys, but my house is wireless and doesn't have problems....

my wireless at school however is less than optimal....i need to move around to get stronger signals. but for the most part, if you know where to get the strongest signals it should be stable enough.

i wouldn't depend on these hotspots for important events however...

{This post has been removed}

[Bones424]

wireless connections are 100% stable (unless there are conflicting drivers ont he computer of course)....99.9% of connection issues are server side not user. my ISP has every user on a 12 hour recycle of their IP address. so if i leave my computer on for 13 hours straight w/o a reboot, on that 12th hour i will loose internet connection for a brief period of time to recycle my IP and get a new. if you have any questions on ur home networks wireless or wired feel free to ask, i am certified through microsoft to help and tell you that microsoft sux w/ compatibility

[knightwalker]

I have too agree. Wireless connections are very stable once you get the bugs out. I had a problem with my wireless connection getting interference with my wireless phone. When the phone rang, it would disconnect me. Eventually I just got rid of the offending phones. The newer wirelss cards are more resistant to interference. If you have a desktop computer attached to your router with a cable, check that computers internet connection the next time you lose your wireless connection. If it is still up, your problem is not with the cable provider. Check to see what is going on when you lose connection. Did the phone ring? Did someone pick up the phone. If your house is close to your neighbors, they can have a cordless phone that is interfering with yours. If that is the case, upgrade to a newer wireless card. Also, go to Linksys.com and download the latest firmware updates for your router. It is not likely to be the problem, but at least you will eliminate that possibility. If your wired connection to the net and the laptop both go down at the same time, it is the cable or the router. Try to bypass the router to troubleshoot. Sometimes your router will be issued a new IP and it does not want to let go of the old one. You can reset the system by turning off the router and modem for 30 seconds, then turn them both back on. Restart your computer and you should be able to get the whole system back up when it all goes down. If you trouble shoot the issue to the cable modem, you might need them to drop a new wire to your house. Cable modems need to have very specific levels to perform properly. Having an extra TV on can effect them (and you are sharing a hub with a few neighbors. A dedicated line for the modem will fix the problem if the modem continually loses connection. Of course that is not a wireless issue. Once you get the modem holding it's connection, the Router doing it's part and a card that is not taking interference, that connection will be a solid as a LAN line.

[Aceofone]

wireless connections are 100% stable (unless there are conflicting drivers ont he computer of course)....99.9% of connection issues are server side not user. my ISP has every user on a 12 hour recycle of their IP address. so if i leave my computer on for 13 hours straight w/o a reboot, on that 12th hour i will loose internet connection for a brief period of time to recycle my IP and get a new. if you have any questions on ur home networks wireless or wired feel free to ask, i am certified through microsoft to help and tell you that microsoft sux w/ compatibility

MCSE = Must Call Someone Else

[ngericl]

NG could you point me in the right direction to these drivers ? We both live in L.A. and I'm sure you have Adelphia too...they claim zero reponsibility for my connection going down sporadically. I also have a Linksys router but not sure what to do

TIA

I would go the website of your laptop's manufacturer and go to its Support link. Look for downloads for your model. The specific category you're looking for would probably be "Network Drivers." Then look for something with "WLAN" in the title.

Somebody like Bones or knightwalker could help you more, if they haven't already.

Good luck.

[johnnyawe]

I would recommend the best bargain you can find. Check the Anandtech Hot Deals forum and stuff like that. Get an "integrated" wirless card as opposed to one that sticks out of the side, if you can.. The card sticking out is kind of annoying.

Be very concious of size. Are you going to be carrying it around a lot? Use it in a plane? At a cafe? On your lap while you're outside? If so, you may want to fork up a little more to get a more compact design.

No probs with wireless here at my apartment. I've also played at a starbucks using wireless and no major probs. A couple times at starbucks I would get "disconnected" for a few seconds, but it would come right back with plenty of time left to act.

[koolmoe]

Xianti,

I've had pretty good luck with my wireless router (a Linksys), but I had a bit of trouble with it at first. Two things I had to do to get it to work well were downloading the latest drivers from www.linksys.com and get a new cordless phone. My old cellphone was a 2.4Ghz phone, which is the same frequency used by my router (and all 802.11 routers to my knowledge). When we answered the phone or made a call, I would lose the wireless connection. Changing channels is supposed to help this, but I could never get the phone and wireless to work together unless the PC whas very close to the router.

I have an Averatec laptop which I bought from buy.com. I have been very satisfied with it, although I wish it had a docking station (they don't make one).

[Fortune 500]

A couple weeks ago we bought the wife a laptop. along with it was the wireless router and what not. The connection has been flawless here. I wouldn't sweat it.

[Bones424]

Xianti,

My old cellphone was a 2.4Ghz phone, which is the same frequency used by my router (and all 802.11 routers to my knowledge).

this holds true for only wireless routers....the old 11mb technology was run on the 802.11b ...the newer 54mb technology is run on the 802.11g topology...same frequency just faster transfers between other computers...your internet connection does not imporve....802.11g has more advanced security over the 802.11b.


wired routers run on the 802.3 topology complete different frequency/signal setup compared to wireless...only thing i have interfere w/ a wired setup is if CAT5 cable is run through the ceiling over top of a neon lite or other lighting fixture.

I've also played at a starbucks using wireless and no major probs. A couple times at starbucks I would get "disconnected" for a few seconds...

public places are tough to be stable in...especially ones like starbucks were only neon lighting is used....all the electric instruments they use just to make coffee and not to mention the consten flow of ppl in and out....all w/ cell phones....it only takes a portion of any of these factors to chop your connection for a split second!!



if buying a labtop i personally do not recommend dell...unless you have a dell store close to home (closer than a local best buy or circuit city) only because for dell to support a prob like wireless connectivity issues you have to send it back or goto a dell store....there goes your computer for a few days/weeks....i personally recommend a sony vio (spelling)...the new compact forms are great...built in adapters are ok but i dont like having a generic/unknown brand mixed w/ my linksys setup....linksys offers a small flash usb adapter that can be set up w/ the new 802.11g wireless routers.

damn i lost my train of thougt i'll post more later

[Xianti]

1.5 GHz Centrino or 3 GHz Pentium 4?

[Bones424]

P4 all the way....centrinos and celerons are lower quality intel processors designed to suck cheap ppl into buying computers...if your gonna spend it, but the best!

[Xianti]

Well, after much online research, I decided to go with Centrino. I wanted something fairly light with long-lasting battery power. I don't need a monstrous desktop replacement and, from what I've read, Centrinos are designed specifically for low power consumption and staying cool.


I just ordered this. I could only find one place online that is still selling these. It happens to have been discontinued last year, but I could not find any other laptop that has as many consistently glowing reviews as this one:

Gateway Laptop M505XL with DVD Burner
Mobile Intel Centrino 1.5GHz Processor, 60GB Hard Disk, 512MB DDR SDRAM, 15.4" TFT WXGA Widescreen Display, Internal 56K Fax Modem + 10/100 NIC, 802.11G Wireless, DVD-RW Drive, Windows XP Professional (NEW)(Qty: 1 x $1,549.00)

Rave reviews:
http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=10274
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...78467?v=glance
http://news.designtechnica.com/article1820.html
http://forums.designtechnica.com/sho...&threadid=3320

[guitarhero14]

hope you like your new laptop. I need to get one soon!

[Eric]

I love having wireless at home. I can sit on the couch anywhere with my laptop and watch tv while surfing the net.

The D-Link card has been working well for me(it is a DWL-G650).

One of the nice things about going wireless with a laptop is that you don't have cords all over the place cluttering up the house. I always put my laptop away when I'm not using it so people don't even know that I use our front room as an office.

[ngericl]

King Monkey,

if buying a labtop i personally do not recommend dell...unless you have a dell store close to home (closer than a local best buy or circuit city) only because for dell to support a prob like wireless connectivity issues you have to send it back or goto a dell store....there goes your computer for a few days/weeks....

So last Friday the unthinkable happens. I spill coffee on my computer. I power down immediately and dry it off. I let it sit over night. The next morning I try to power it on. Nothing.

My options are: (1) send it to Dell which would cost me $270 up front just for them to look at it [it's out of warranty], (2) try to find someplace local to fix it, (3) get a new computer. I see what you mean about Dell support.

First things first, though. I have to figure a way to see if the harddrive is fried. I took it out and there seems to be no damage, but I have to test it. I shudder at the thought of losing all my files.

[wwonka]

[/quote]
My options are: (1) send it to Dell which would cost me $270 up front just for them to look at it [it's out of warranty], (2) try to find someplace local to fix it, (3) get a new computer. I see what you mean about Dell support.

First things first, though. I have to figure a way to see if the harddrive is fried. I took it out and there seems to be no damage, but I have to test it. I shudder at the thought of losing all my files. :

what's the Problem with dell It was you who spilled the coffee and Since your computer is out of warranty you dont want to spend the money to have them look at it?
find a local shop and bring it to them they will charge you 75-100 an hour to look at it.

Dells service is Pretty good not perfect but good.
I have a dell my whole family has dells and thats what I recomend to most of my friends.

Peace and good luck
wwonka

[JeffreyGB]

802.11g has more advanced security over the 802.11b.

Technically, that's not true. Both B & G used WEP as their security protocol when they emerged. Then while working on 802.11i (the likely next wi-fi we'll see) security was their big concern, but they realized it was going to take forever to get things up and going on it, so the Wi-fi Alliance developed WPA based on the specs at that time for what would go into 802.11i. It's just as possible for WPA to be used on a B setup as a G setup. The reason you don't see it is because manufacturer's have less reason to upgrade the more antiquated technology.

- Jeffrey

[cunninglinguist]

WWonka, there is an external laptop hard drive adaptor that you can buy. It is a USB 2.0 connection and is very easy to use. Just plug your hard drive into the device, then plug the usb cable in, and the drive just shows up in My Computer or Explorer. I use it a lot to recover data for my customers (believe it or else, 2 of them with the exact situation as yours).

I recommend Toshiba's Satellite Series of laptops. I have owned 3 now and won't ever go with any other. I feel they are every bit as high quality as Dell or Compaq and can be quite a bit less expensive compared with the exact hardware in other brands.


Let me know if you need more help.

Tony

[RERAISE5823]

Just bought 2, one for wife and I. She got the Mac Powerbook G4 (she's a graphic artist).

I got a Sony Viao...hasn't arrived yet but I'm stoked to get it.

Funny thing is...I'm getting mine so I can play anywhere too LOL.

[mtbottle]

Chances are that the contents of your HD will be fine, as the main board probably got fried by the cofee, and your HD shouldn't have been adversly affected.
Even if it doesn't function when you plug it into another computer/external case, all is not lost. You can go the desperate route of low level data recovery for $1,000,000,000 per MB, or try buying another identical HD and swapping over the control board (as the platters aren't gonna be in too bad shape, unless you drink cofee with iron fillings)

[Grand_MasterB]

Here is my two cents:

Go Dell. best customer support. Ive installed them at work and never had any problems plus i own two of my own.

For wireless Linksys sucks. It may be the more popular but Belkin is MUCH better. I found an old labtop in my closet and tried to instal Linksys wireless card on it so i could lay by the pool and play poker..nothing but problems and the Linksys techs basically gave up after an hour and said "return it and by another one". My Belkin is awesome. It has never cut out on my in the middle of a session. I have noticed that if i leave it unactive for a long time (10 hours or so) sometimes the connection is hard to find. However if i push the reset button then it works fine.

Hope this helps

[RiverMonkey]

Well, after much online research, I decided to go with Centrino. I wanted something fairly light with long-lasting battery power. I don't need a monstrous desktop replacement and, from what I've read, Centrinos are designed specifically for low power consumption and staying cool.


I just ordered this. I could only find one place online that is still selling these. It happens to have been discontinued last year, but I could not find any other laptop that has as many consistently glowing reviews as this one:

Gateway Laptop M505XL with DVD Burner
Mobile Intel Centrino 1.5GHz Processor, 60GB Hard Disk, 512MB DDR SDRAM, 15.4" TFT WXGA Widescreen Display, Internal 56K Fax Modem + 10/100 NIC, 802.11G Wireless, DVD-RW Drive, Windows XP Professional (NEW)(Qty: 1 x $1,549.00)

Rave reviews:
http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=10274
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...78467?v=glance
http://news.designtechnica.com/article1820.html
http://forums.designtechnica.com/sho...&threadid=3320

What screen resolutions does that model support?

If you're multi-tabling 4 tables, it's nice to be able to go up to 1680x1050. And for general use, it's just nice to have tons or screen real estate.

[Pingviini]

This is from dells homepage:
15.4" UltraSharp™ WXGA (1280x800)
15.4" UltraSharp™ WSXGA+ (1680x1050) (+50,00 EUR)
15.4" UltraSharp™ WUXGA (1920x1200) (+100,00 EUR)

So Xianti's lappy will support 1280*800.

I am planning to buy a laptop, too, one "must" requirement is that resolution is at least 1400*XXX, preferably WSXGA. I just dont know yet how many models support such high resolutions but I will find out. One thing which I will buy with the lappy is a router to set up a wireless network on my flat. I have heard nothing but good having your own wireless connection set up.

If anyone has good suggestions which lappy to buy I am more than happy to hear them. I have never had a laptop before so any ideas are welcomed. Feel free to PM me.

[ngericl]

Chances are that the contents of your HD will be fine, as the main board probably got fried by the cofee, and your HD shouldn't have been adversly affected.
Even if it doesn't function when you plug it into another computer/external case, all is not lost. You can go the desperate route of low level data recovery for $1,000,000,000 per MB, or try buying another identical HD and swapping over the control board (as the platters aren't gonna be in too bad shape, unless you drink cofee with iron fillings)

Yes, the harddrive was recovered, which was the most important thing, of course. The keyboard, the motherboard, and the DVD-ROM were fried. Repairing would have cost in excess of $1k. Not worth it, so I got a new one.

1GB RAM. 80GB HD. 15.4 WUXGA. 128MB video card. 8X DVD burner. 802.11a/b/g wireless card. Bluetooth. And.. wait for it.

And all for about the same price as my old one when I bought it two years ago.

[Xianti]

I absolutely love my laptop!

[Pingviini]

Which good and not filthy expensive lappys support W(U)XGA? I know Dells are good but is there anything else worth buying on the market? After reading you two bragging about your laptops I want to buy one too, and fast!

[Bmxicle]

I love my wireless connection because when i get disconnected i can just connect to my neighbours house haha. Come to think of it that's probably a great way to get accounts on party skins.

[Sed]

Chances are that the contents of your HD will be fine, as the main board probably got fried by the cofee, and your HD shouldn't have been adversly affected.
Even if it doesn't function when you plug it into another computer/external case, all is not lost. You can go the desperate route of low level data recovery for $1,000,000,000 per MB, or try buying another identical HD and swapping over the control board (as the platters aren't gonna be in too bad shape, unless you drink cofee with iron fillings)

[hijack]
Hey, mtbottle... is that your tank or something you got off the web?
[/hijack]

<--- my fish

-sed

[ngericl]

Which good and not filthy expensive lappys support W(U)XGA? I know Dells are good but is there anything else worth buying on the market? After reading you two bragging about your laptops I want to buy one too, and fast!

I got the Dell Inspiron 6000. With the WUXGA display I get a resolution of 1920x1200. Good enough to get 4 PokerStars tables without overlap.

[eeeee]

I just ordered mine with the 17" WUXGA. Fired up, I can't wait!

[Pingviini]

I finally ordered mine. Dell inspiron 6000 with WUXGA screen (1920x1200). I will have to wait that for 2 long weeks..

[Seem]

I also ordered a laptop yesterday, dell inspiron 9300 with 1900x1200! can't wait to get it..