hypothetical computer question

[monarch64]

Sooooo...DH and I have been thinking about just chucking it all for a week and taking a little road trip with our two dogs in our SUV. Key factor is that we''d bring along my laptop...we''ve never just road trippe a laptop before and are wondering what the logistics of laptop/longdistance trip will involve. What do we need to do to remain connected on the road? We''d like to be able to check email, surf the web, etc. while in transit. Never done this before, so just wondering what all is involved. Not that it matters, but we''ll be potentially leaving Chicago in the next week and traveling south. We would like to bring along the laptop and be able to use it while driving...is that even possible (there is a built in wireless card...dell system). TIA.

 

[Julianna]

Hypothetically....

If you're travelling, all you need is a car adapter. The car adapters plug into the cigarette lighter lookin' dealie. (Don't forget your wall adapter, too!

) If you're travelling in populated areas, many restaurants (Panera, Starbucks) and bookstores (maybe?) have wireless hotspots where you can log on and see what is up. Additionally, in a pinch (in theory), you could park in any neighborhood and get on any unsecured wireless network in the area. Many, many consumers don't bother to secure their networks. Additionally, most major non-budget hotel chains have free wireless (or wired) access to the internet.

It is not possible to check your email or access the internet while you're driving down the road unless you have an aircard and a network you're paying to access via tower or satellite. A wireless card will do you no good on a random highway.

 

[~*Alexis*~]

you can buy an external antenna through Verizon if you have your cell service through them. But I do not know how reliable that is. I have never used it.

 

[Julianna]

Yeah you can get an aircard and antenna from Verizon (that''d be the network I was referencing earlier), but it is not generally part of a wireless phone plan. You could get it independantly of a Verizon phone plan, but it''s neither cheap (you have to buy a service plan) nor a short-term solution. Many companies use aircards to keep their mobile (working from cars) employees online.