I've really learned alot reading this thread also. But I have to add one more question. I have desktops that run on Windows XP . If I get a new laptop, it will probably have Vista. Are the two going to be compatible? And if not, how can I make them compatible?

How do you mean compatible?
The only problem might be that some of your XP software programs might not work on the Vista system.

They should be able to "'see" each other on a home network unless you turn that feature off, or disable it.

Okay, NOW I'M CONFUSED AGAIN.

What does a laptop have to do with a desktop??

If I'm in the kitchen (assuming I just bought a laptop), and Alan is in the computer room on the desktop, and I have a wireless router, which makes MY HOUSE WI-FI, right?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it should NOT matter what operating system either of the two things has. It's only for going on the internet. And if I want to type a letter, than I gather I go into wordpad, or whatever word processing software I have already loaded on my laptop (it probably comes with Microsoft word, right? ).

Oh, I have a question about a printer. My friend across the street is getting a laptop and she'll eventually buy the printer. I gather the printer will be connected to the laptop via a usb port, right?

So what if she wants to sit on the porch with the laptop.

Does she just disconnect the usb thing, and carry the laptop outside?

And when she goes back inside, she just plugs it back in, and that's it? Or do you have to go the whole "set up the printer" thingee every time you reconnect the printer to the laptop again.?

Thanks much.

they are talking about networking the 2 computers.

not all home users do it, but it's how businesses allow their employees to work on the same files from different computers. it allows the computers to comunicate.

i just got a new job and i'll be networking not only my home computer to my business, but also to another business and a work computer or laptop. i will need to get information from all.

make sense or did i confuse you more?

MADE COMPLETE SENSE.

Now I've learned about NETWORKING!!!

thanks much.

Now someone answer my query about printers and laptops and I'll be a happy camper.

lol

Ok, so you dont have to do anything funky to them.. I mean like having to use your brain to do techy things ? LOL I'm not good at the techy things. I just wasnt sure if they could operate using the routers and two different operating systems. I didnt know if they all had to be the same thing or not. Thanks for clearing that up too Jo!!! Your a pretty smart lady ya know!!!

yes Mel she would just unplug it and then replug it when she is ready to print something.
no re setup needed.

JO:

One more question about laptops.

And if I already asked this, I'm having a senior moment.

When she does get the laptop, how does she get on the internet?

I would imagine that ALL laptops come with AOL or Verizon, or SOMETHING to set up, right?

Now I don't know if she has cable or satelite or if she wants to link up anything.

Let's say she has cable in her home. She obviously does not have a cable modem.

So she brings in the laptop, she calls me up, I go over there and I'm staring at this laptop.

We plug it in and we turn it on.

Naturally we are NOT ON THE INTERNET because she hasn't set up any account in her name or anything like that.

I can take her around the corner to Dunkin Donuts (with the laptop) and show her how WI-FI works. Everybody sits in Dunkin and uses their laptops. I've watched one guy and he turned on his laptop and went online and the thing said "searching for signal" and he was online. He explains he was using Dunkin Donut's wi-fi stuff (what exactly does this mean by the way).

So lets' say we are now at her house, laptop is plugged in, and she wants to set up an account.

I gather I double click on whatever icon is on her screen (whether it's AOL, or whatever), I have no clue.

Now here's where I get confused. Is this a dsl connection, a dial up connection or what kind of a connection is this?

Doesn't she have to set up an account through an internet service provider and give her credit card and then she's charged so much a month for internet service??

Is this how it's done with a laptop??

Someone please help me because she's getting one soon, and I'm the first person she's gonna call!!!

Thanks much

Melody

I thought you said "one more question" and there are like 4...LMAO...

just kidding...

Well, let me see if I can help since I did some puter work.

1) if the laptop is going to be brand new. They usually and should come wi-fi ready so they can go on any wi-fi network that isn't encrypted. The unencrypted ones are usually called, hotspots. Just means it's like a social group for laptop users.

2) wi-fi is basically a network ready accessible hotspot. And it just means "wireless" it is done through "radio" signals, kinda like your cellphones. Although there are different signal strengths but that is not important for this discussion

it is usually setup through a "router" which is connected to a "modem"

so, let's see if we can do a song.

the puter's connected to modem OR

the puter's connected to router, then modem.

A router is usually used whenever you have more than ONE puter that you want to connect.

Some routers are now called Wi-Fi because of the wireless access.

Big Business such as McDonald's and Starbucks or Donut places have wi-fi HOTSPOTS(not all, but a lot of them do)

all laptops that are new are usually wi-fi ready. There are different wi-fi signals.

currently, the N-band is the strongest but most uses the G-band. So if she is buying a new laptop, more than likely, they'll ask her or tell her what band she uses. It is backwards compatible.

one strong caution about hotspots is to watchout for hackers. Make sure you keep your folders hidden and your firewalls fired up. Or you are compromising a lot of things such as your personal info/password/even bank accounts if you bank on line.
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when your friend buys a laptop, it is most likely going to be wi-fi ready. So you can go to any hotspot and pick up wi-fi.

But let's say her next door neighbor has wi-fi router and it is NOT encrypted or password protected. Your friend will be able to LOG ON using that unprotected router wi-fi. But that's another story in itself.

This is ILLEGAL...and I strongly caution against it...

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if your friend wants to get on the internet in her own home. She needs to decide how she wants to get on. Through phone? Through cable? through DSL (satellite which is usually set up through a phone jack but read at a higher speed and has a higher encryption)

but all of them use MODEMS. Modem is the connection between any puter and the internet. Routers are the go-betweens when you want to network more than one object. (you can network not just puters these days, but ipods, playstations, cell phones, bluetooth stuff, tivo, DVR's, blah blah blah)

If she has cable now, more than likely, she can just set up with that current cable company. They'll provide her with a "Modem"

If she wants to use the phone which is slower, she can go through whatever company. People usually use AOL or Earthlink and set up over the phone. They will still have to set up her "internal modem" that's built in her laptop, for her" And some company might even have to send her a modem. It depends on where she lives and how accessible these companies are to your area.

There are two basic modem connectors (there's more but you probably won't use them)

Ethernet and Phone jacks.

Ethernet jacks look like phone jacks, but are bigger. Phone jacks are smaller. They have different speeds that are dictated by CAT. The higher the CAT, the higher the speed. The basic stand for ethernet is CAT5.

but they might be able to set her up with a wi-fi modem cause they make them these days.

So, it depends on what she wants to spend. Usually, phone connections are the cheapest the cable modem are the most expensive.

DSL is used by a lot of phone based internet connectors these days. It is connected to your phone jack then connected to a satellite(not exactly but almost).

and it will help speed up the internet connection. But usually the cable modem is the fastest right now...

however, Versizon just started a whole fiber optic revolution that is 50 times faster than a cable modem. If you have verizon in your area, look into fiberoptic hookups. It is much faster and actually cheaper.

That is still hooked up through a modem, though...

AOL and Earthlink are just third party companies that take the guess work out of for you. To make it more user friendly. You do not need to use these companies.

These companies have made deals with most computer manufacturers to have their softwares "bundled" in with your new computers, I usually take them out.

But a lot of people like to use AOL cause they like the interface. She could probably just use her local cable company and hook up something with them

Now, cause you have internet, I am not sure how yours is hooked up. But if you have a basic modem without encryption and you hook up through ethernet without password protection, she'll be able to take her laptop to your house and hook up through ethernet and her computer will find the right IP address and get her connected. (that's just for fun)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

so, basically, your friend will need a modem(the laptop will have a built in modem) so the two modems can talk to eachother.

she just needs to decide how she wants to get on the internet.

If she wants to go on wi-fi, the cable company might offer wi-fi modems. If not, she can buy one at Staples or somewhere. The two biggest companies that make the wi-fi routers are linksys and netgear. Linksys has a better support system (via phone) in my humbled opinion.

I would highly deter her from connecting to some private home's networking. It is considered illegal and she could get her personal informations compromised. As a matter of fact, if she was to get a wi-fi, I would strongly recommend encryption...

anyways, I hope I didn't confuse you more. Good luck and good on you for wanting to learn these things. Most people treat these like plagues. LOL

Whewwwwwww. I'm tired just READING ALL THAT YOU WROTE.

I did learn some things though.

Her laptop will come with a built in modem. Her friends or her children are buying her this laptop. No one else across the street has a computer so she can't get anyone else's signal.

I'm not too sure if she brings in the lap top to my house how she can get a signal. I have Verizon DSL.

Fiber Optics is NOT available yet in our neck of the woods. People either have Cablevision or they have Verizon DSL.

I'm pretty sure she has Cablevision. So she will have to contact her cable company (Cablevision) and say "hi, I have a laptop, I want to go on the internet". Am I right?

And they will send her what??"

For some reason, (and don't bop me here). I just thought she would plug in the laptop into the local electical outlet, then she would turn it on, then she would bring up the AOL software, create an account (using the wi-fi modem that will probably already be built in), and then she would be good to go. Am I wrong about this?

People take their laptops in their cars and they go on the internet, so why can't she just take her laptop, put it on the kitchen table, plug it in the wall, go to AOL and creat her account? Makes it much less complicated than calling up cablevision, etc.

Am I right? Can she do this. She can always connect it to her cable. I'm talking about the first day she gets this laptop and she wants to learn how to use it and wants to go online.

Thanks sooooooo much.
You are invaluable.

Melody