So when I'm ready, I buy this All In One which is basically a BIG computer with a BIG screen, and all the hard drive is inside the Big thing (like it is with a laptop)? And it comes with wifi so I don't have to do anything but look for my icon on the bottom right, see my wifi connection (like I do with I connect with my laptop after it goes off sometimes, I then have to re-connect).

So that's it? I can get a big computer (essentially a BIG monitor) and that's it.

If that's it, that's okay by me. The optimum guy told me I can get a desktop (which this all is one thing is right?) and get an ethernet cable and connect it to the back of my router, which he says has 4 ports, one of which is being used by my husband's desktop).

The Optimum tech guy said a wired connection is a faster internet connection than a wifi connection. So I asked him "Do you mean if there is an ethernet port on this All In One, all I have to do is plug the cable into the ethernet port on the All In One, and plug the other end into the back of my router, and then I go on the internet?" He said 'exactly". I said "It's that simple?" He said "yes"

Here's why I'm asking. I went on youtube and there was a guy giving a tutorial in a video about connecting one's laptop via an ethernet cable and he had to configure this and do properties and I said 'OH God, I'm not doing that.

So now I Know that if I buy an All In One I can connect via wi fi. right?? And from what it states, the wi fi is GREAT on this All In One? I don't understand how wi fi on an All In One can be greater than the wi fi on a laptop but what do I know?

But if I choose to do the wired ethernet way, am I correct in assuming I just plug in an ethernet cable from the All In One to one of the ports on the router and that's it?? I don't have to configure, re-configure, etc.?

If you can clear this up, I'd appreciate it. Thank you so much my dear

Melody

If you have a router, I believe you will need the password to it to be able to use it. Your computer will ask for it if it is plugged in to the unit.

If you just get wifi off it, you probably won't need to put its ID into your computer.

I think it's the other way around- my wifi usually asks for ID & Password - unless it was saved @ first time set up.
Lan/network plugged in connection usually doesn't.
But it can depend on how your router/modem is set up..

Whenever you go look at the all in one- the box or one on display look for the various plug in places and ask if you can't find them.. all the internal stuff is in the monitor portion. The low cost one does only have a 32 G hard drive , but it might be all you need.. check for USB connections then you can store things on flash.thumb drives..

If you click the 360 images on the linked page and turn the view you will see all the connections available..

But for the most part a computer is a computer, the operating system might be a little bit different, look different , but they all do the same things..

Thanks to you both. Before I get anything, I'm going to know it backwards and frontwards. That's how I operate.

I don't like complicated. My life is too complicated as it is with taking care of Alan. Yesterday he got the Crow Boot. Yikes, the size of this monster took my breath away. It's twice the width of the old crow boot from ten years ago. Anyway, I'm not ready to buy anything right now, I like to ask questions first, then I like to go and ask the guys in the place, then I go online and ask more questions, lol. You would think that by the age of 68 I would be an expert on all things computer by now wouldn't you? I do know stuff, like animating videos, and making magical frames around people's photos on facebook. You know, the stuff that 10 year olds can do but old folks can't.

It impresses the heck out of my friends who go 'How do you do that". I shake my head. If they only know what was actually out there it would blow their minds.

I was at a senior center on my Kindle Fire and some 20 year old smart mouth little person came over to me and saw that I had a cell phone and a tablet. She looked at me in awe and said "Youuuuuu know how to use a cell phone?, my mother can't use one". I said "how old is your mother"? she said "55". I said "shame on your mother' then I whipped out my Kindle Fire and she exclaimed "Youuuu know how to use a tablet??" and I said "Yeah, and I know how to use a computer and I make videos on youtube, what do you think of that'???

I left her with her mouth open.

Now really!!! what is wrong with young people today, do they think we are all idiots?? rofl.

"But if I choose to do the wired ethernet way, am I correct in assuming I just plug in an ethernet cable from the All In One to one of the ports on the router and that's it?? I don't have to configure, re-configure, etc.?"

That was my experience - my Linux laptop works that way.

If you want to access your router via WiFi you will need to know its IP address - usually they start with 192.168. There is information about finding the IP address here; http://www.computerworld.com/article...me-router.html .

Once you have done that you can contact your router using your browser (this might need an Ethernet connection the first time). It will ask for a password, which is often set by default to "admin" - it would be a good idea to change that to something more secure.

It is then a matter of following the instructions. This can be a bit fiddly - in my case my Billion Wifi router needed to know the username and password given to me by my ISP. You will probably be able to download a manual for your router, which could help.

The router should then know that you are a trusted WiFi client - your machine will automatically connect to the router by WiFi with no need to re-enter passwords, etc. This works for me with my Windows 7 laptop.