OT: T'Interweb & laptops.

Moving house is progressing nicely, but since we are downsizing we are thinking of laptops instead of our 2 PC's.

Could someone explain (in non technical terms please) the options for interweb connections to laptops?

I vaguely understand you can have 3G dongles (whatever they are) or a 'home hub'?

And is it possible for the laptops to connect to a printer wireless lly? We have a KODAK ESP 3250 All-in-One Printer which we like a lot.

Also, what does one look for in a laptop? Battery capacity is obviously important, but any makes to avoid?

Reply to
The Medway Handyman
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Most laptops now have WiFi built-in, most also have an ethernet socket for use with a cable (presumably the same way your desktops connect now) As long as you a wifi router you can use either, most ISPs will give you one as part of the package.

Then you have to pay a monthly subscription *per* laptop, rather than just one connection for the whole house, of course you can then use them away from the house ... subject to coverage.

That's just a BT phrase for a WiFi access point combined with a router (it may also combine a cordless phone base)

Yes, most printers still require a cable, others the printer is also wireless, but a PC or laptop can talk to either.

Reply to
Andy Burns

If you are going to use it effectively as a desk machine it will be running off the mains most of the time. If you don't need portability get a really big screen. For ease of use consider a separate keyboard and mouse, possibly the two items in one package. I have a Logitech one.

Bill

Reply to
Bill Wright

I'd suggest one small form factor PC and a laptop as being more cost effective unless you really need them both to be mobile.

Wifi to your router or any nearby free wireless hotspot on the move.

If you have a broadband Wifi router at home it is always cheaper (no additional charges) that way than using a 3G network (charge for data).

Yes although you need a printer that offers wireless connection or a device attached to it which does.

Size of screen is probably the most obvious, battery life under typical usage is the next and then size of hard disk. Unless you want a gaming capable machine in which case you pay a lot more for enhanced graphics.

Reasonable portables for basic use can be had for as little as £300 if you shop around - but there are some duds as well. I have seen lemons from all the major makers as well as good models so it is wise to read some of the reviews and if possible try out the keyboard in PCW.

A few cheap portables have truly dreadful keyboards and unusable built in pointing devices. I might be biassed here - I find them unusable.

Reply to
Martin Brown

Because we will be spending our time between 2 properties in different countries we have recently changed from Desktops to laptops.

Laptops tend to have lower specs than desktops because of space and battery constraints. Batteries apparently have a limited lifespan.

Our laptops connect wirelessly to the same existing wireless modem router our old desktops used to be wired to. When using a wireless connection make sure you set up security to prevent others in the are connecting to your network.

Our printer is wireless. It appears that yours is not so will need wiring to a modem router or direct to a laptop.

Don't know anything of makes to go for or avoid.

Reply to
Hugh - Was Invisible

Ah. Didn't know it could be built in. Thanks.

Don't really need to do that I don't think.

OK, thanks - didn't know that either.

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

Good point.

Do you have a model number Bill so I can have a look?

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

What would such a device be called please?

No games other than Solitaire & MaYong. No 'shoot up zombies' stuff.

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

Connections can be exactly the same as connections for desktops, (although very few laptops supprt gigabit ethernet), either using an internal ethernet or wifi connection, but with the additional possibility of internal (on some) or external 3G modems. If you're willing to compromise and tie into a contract, you can get a netbook with an internal 3G connection for quite a bit less than buying the same laptop without the modem or contract. Speak to your local mobile phone seller. Home hubs are an ADSL connected router with Wifi, in simple terms, and serve as a connection to the internet and a wireless network hub. To connect using a 3G dongle, it's now normal to buy the dongle, plug it into a USB port, and click on the "Install" button. This can be done on more than one computer, the connection can be shared in the same way as it can on a desktop, or you can buy a 3G modem with a built in wifi router to share the connection between up to 5 devices.

Basically, if you can do it using a desktop, you can do the same with a laptop, but with a slower processor, less RAM and slower, smaller HD.

Yes, in exactly the same way as you would connect any printer, except that Kodak do not list a wireless capability on your printer, so you need to connect it to the laptop either by USB or use a wifi compatible print server, or an ethernet one connected to the ethernet port on your home hub.

Advent and Packard Bell are ones to avoid IME. I've been happily using Toshiba laptops since the days of the Toshiba T1000SX ? with DOS 3.3 on ROM, and a *massive* 20Mb hard drive. I'm also happy with this Samsung NC10 Netbook with built in 3G modem, although it's not entirely happy running Windows 7.

Reply to
John Williamson

Lost me there :-(

What is a netbook?

Can you use an external HD? We used to have something with big discs - can't recall what it was called.

Lost me again :-(

Thanks.

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

If you're using it as a general machine at home, you'll normally have it powered off mains, as the larger laptops don't run for long off the internal batteries. I found with mine it's best to remove the battery - and only install it when needed. Otherwise it will have a short life.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Why do you need an external keyboard? Mouse, yes. I have a cordless one with a USB 'dongle' which I find ok.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

If downsizing will you be using the laptops differently from the ways you use your current PCs? Eg if want to start using one or both to watch TV/DVDs where you currently use TVs it may be worth going for a screen that is that bit bigger and is "full HD" (ie 1920x1080 pixrls) rather than eg 1600 x 900. (You can get a HDTV receiver in a USB stick for c£55. And SD receivers for much less. But you'll probably still need a connection to a "proper" aerial unless eg you are moving into the shadow of Bluebell Hill.)

Reply to
Robin

My Acer Aspire has a switch underneath to disconnect the battery which is very convenient.

Reply to
Hugh - Was Invisible

Basically, if you can do it on a desktop, you can do it with a laptop, just a bit slower.

3G modems are like normal ADSL modems but without the landline, and external ones plug into a USB port. Either internal or eaternal ones will work anywhere you can get a good to average cellphone signal.

A small, slow laptop. Maximum 10 inch screen, roughly. I carry one with me all the time, but some people can't get on with the screen size and small keyboard, though a full size keyboard can be plugged into a spare USB port, and most of them will also drive a monitor.

You can attach any external drive in a caddy you wish via USB, or you can use Network Attached Storage plugged into an ethernet port on the router. The NAS can be used by any computer on the network, and will probably be faster and certainly more expensive and probably bigger than the USB hard drive.

If your current printer will connect wirelessly to your desktop, it will connect wirelessly to your laptop. Otherwise, it either needs to be attached to a print server or another computer using a wire.

Yours is not listed as being wireless capable, so you need a print server or a wire.

Welcome.

Reply to
John Williamson

We just want to save desk space really. SWMBO likes the idea of sitting on the sofa or in the garden playing Majong or solitaire, I like the idea of browsing anywhere in the house rather than having to go to the office/bedroom.

We have Sky TV so we will stick to that - they apparently move it free.

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

I don't have one, but I just got a Zipit Z2!

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about the orientation!

Perhaps not entirely suitable for TMH... .-)

Reply to
Bob Eager

Wot the 'kinell is that?

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

That printer appears to not have networking built in, so you would need a print server of some sort. This could be a pc sharing it, or some wifi routers offer a usb port for this purpose (although not usually the ones that ISPs give away free). Standalone printservers are also available.

Given that printer appears to be a multi purpose (with scanner etc) then it might be more effort. My (admittedly limited) experience is networking multifunction devices is a real pain...

If you don't use it that much, don't forget the option of just taking your laptop to it and plugging in the usb cable when you want to print :-).

If you are buying new laptops they will be win7. Offline printing works ok with that (you print and the laptop stores it until you plug the printer in).

Obviously, if you print or scan a lot then this is less pratical (I suspect you don't given that's a lowend printer).

Battery capacity is important if you want to use it on battery. Many people don't actually do this much.

More important (just like powertools:-)) is battery quality and the qaulity of the charging.

I use Apple laptops all the time, often connected to the mains and the battery life is still excellent (5 hours on this 3 year old one for example). I've also got a couple of cheap laptops (a toshiba and a dell). Both have 10 mins battery life despite being newer than the macs...

pretty much if you are spending less than 500 quid on a laptop expect the battery to be rubbish and/or short lived. Ensuring it's discharged occasionally as recommended is more and more important the cheaper the laptop.

My wifes laptop (3 years old, 600 quid Toshiba) also has a knacker battery but she doesn't care as she only ever uses it plugged in. It's not an issue if that's how you expect to use it.

The other thing that drives me mad on some cheap laptops is the trackpad and to some extent, the keyboard. Go try them in pcworld or john lewis or something before you buy. John lewis can be competitive for pricing, and you get extra warranty from them.

Dell have some good deals at times, and if you hunt around you can often find online vouchers/cash back deals from them. Also, you have a business - check out their business deals. Might we worthwhile...

CPU wise I'd probably go for i5. i7 will be expensive or suffer overheating /crap battery problems unless you are spending a reasonable amount.

Go for no less than 4GB RAM. Disk largely irrelevant these days unless you want to store loads of music etc - just about any modern machine will have a big enough disk for day-to-day stuff.

Darren

Reply to
D.M.Chapman

Less of an issue with more expensive laptops. Also, removing the battery isn't an option with some - some will not run without the battery connected (and on some, it's actually used as part of the case so the laptop is missing a foot without the battery :-))

Most important is to make sure you discharge the battery a bit occasionally. Keeping it fully charged all the time kills it. Keeping cheaper laptops (therefor cheaper batteries) on charge all the time will also kill them.

Darren

Reply to
D.M.Chapman

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