[NewGuy75]

I'm looking a laptop and I'm really looking towards buying it, one thing, it says that it has no modem. It does on the other hand say it had wireless networking B+G+N (What ever that is O_o) I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, without a modem you can not use a wired connection. However if I buy this laptop will I be able to get on the Internet through my wireless router which is already supporting the internet for my desktop and a separate laptop? If anyone could give me an answer this would be highly appreciated.
-Thanks

[Byteman]

Hi, The modem it is talking about means the older style that you dial up with the signal provided by a telephone line.... AOL dialup, an example. Your phone company also may have dialup service but also may have high speed (broadband) DSL service. That uses a modem and the phone line but does not tie up the phone, users can make and get phone calls without affecting the Internet connection.

You should have a network (a.k.a. Ethernet a.k.a. broadband) port located on the side or rear or somewhere so in case the wireless is not available you can use a wired connection. If at home, you would need to have a wireless access point or wireless modem provided by your ISP. Most of them also include several Ethernet ports....like a router would. It just provides the same ISP's function in a wireless mode.

Of course you can take your laptop to places that also serve up wireless and connect to them.... most hotels, airports, and many businesses like restaurants often have public wireless customers can use.

Got it?

[JohnWill]

I think more and more laptops are dispensing with the dial-up modem.

[NewGuy75]

Thank you very much, me being a first time buyer I'm sure you can see why I don't want to spend that kind of money on something I won't be able to use
-Thanks Again

[Byteman]

So, if you have broadband or highspeed Internet, you can use a wired or wireless connection from an ISP.

If you cannot get high speed service like cable or DSL or satellite it's dialup for you.... provided you are somewhere that has phone service.

Basically, you need a dialup modem for the laptop you want to get, if you have only dialup service at your location.
As John said, most new notebooks do not come with dialup modems these days.....but, there are PCMCIA modem adapters you slide into a port on the side of the notebook, that will give you a modem, telephone line port and all.

Wired Ethernet ports are pretty much standard on newer notebooks, but not all of them have Wireless (Wi-Fi) built in.

You can also add Ethernet adapters in a PCMCIA slot, wireless adapters come that way also. The ISP provides the highspeed type of modem/ access point for the wireless or wired type of Intenet service....all the computer needs is the adapter.

[JohnWill]

Even WiFi is pretty standard for a new notebook, it's been several years since I saw one that didn't have wireless capability.

[DoubleHelix]

New laptops do not have PCMCIA slots. They have PC Express card slots. Different technology, different form factor.

[JohnWill]

Yep, I have on laptop with a PC-Express slot, the rest all have PCMCIA.

Just about every laptop has USB ports, so a USB wireless is always an option.

[Byteman]

You will be able to use the wireless router if the notebook computer you buy has Wi-fi built in or you add it with a USB wireless adapter, a PC Express adapter, or other means depending on what the notebook is capapble of.

Or you can use a wired connection at times--- using a network cable-- there should be an Ethernet port on the notebook that uses a cable hooked to your access point/router.

The one thing I don't care for with the type of USB adapters that you slip into a USB port like a flash drive is that they stick out so far, but luckily along has come right-angled ones like this:

http://www.google.com/products/catal...400&sa=title#p

The can still get knocked, so if you get one just be careful of it.

[JohnWill]

I prefer a short USB extension cable and putting the adapter in that. You can then move the adapter around a bit to improve signal strength.

[iTrey]

FYI: Those wierd letters (B+G+N) are the types of wirless code the laptop can recieve from a wireless adapter. When you buy one (or if you have one), it will say something like: "Belkin Wireless G Router" which means it is that it is G and your laptop can use it. Same with B and N.

[JohnWill]

Actually, the WiFi is backward compatible. An 802.11n router will allow 802.11b/g/n connections.