Good reason number two: Hotspots and public access
One of the reasons we are gathered together between the covers of this book
is that we have a need for a laptop computer. We enjoy the benefits of moving
from place to place with our business or our personal information with us at
all times.For laptop users, WiFi is a way to quickly connect to the Internet or to a pri-
vate intranet or local area network (LAN)while traveling. On the Internet
side, there are already thousands of places where you can turn on your
laptop and gain access to the World Wide Web with a few clicks. Some of
these places are hotspots that are part of a commercial subscription service;
for example the T-Mobile cellular phone company offers access points at
many Border’s Books, FedEx Kinko’s, and Starbucks around the United States
and elsewhere. For a monthly or daily fee you can stroll into one of these
locations and check your mail, do some research, or use the coffee shop as a
temporary office.In many other public places, like airports and business centers, you can turn
on your WiFi-equipped laptop and sign up for a few hours or days’ worth of
service. On the high seas, a growing number of cruise lines offer wireless
Internet to paying passengers, allowing relatively low-cost communication
from some very remote locations. Several major airlines have introduced
wireless Internet access aboard its international flights (for a fee, but never-
theless pretty cool).You’ll also find a growing number of free Internet connections in restaurants,
hotels, and libraries. These WiFi locations are set up to accept any visitor.
Many hotels that cater to businesspeople offer wireless services to their
guests. And many travelers are able to link up to their corporate network
anywhere in their home office or at branch locations by walking in with their
WiFi-equipped laptop.Knowing the Dos, Don’ts, and Won’ts .......................................................
Pay attention to those little letters after the numbers in the wireless standards.
If you’re setting up a new system, going with the most current is generally
best — 802.11g or later. Shoppers who look only at the price may end up
buying old technology that may be limited in its capabilities and unable to
interoperate with other wireless components. In the worst case it may be
unable to properly communicate with wired networks in offices.If you’re lucky, when you plug in your components and follow the manufacturer
instructions and the built-in Windows configuration process, your wireless
network will be up and running immediately. (Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, and
XP walk you through the process with increasingly simpler instructions.)208 Part IV: Failing to Communicate