My router is password protected and my son in law gave it a network name that no one around here will recognize. There are several routers around my house that are not password protected. That's scary! If I plan to use my laptop in one of the 'free wifi' spots around town I will not get into my bank account etc. I just don't trust that.

I don't know what out of your budget means but my laptop including taxes was a little less than $400 at Best Buy and the little net books are cheaper.