Pagers were the rave 20-30 years ago, when people on the go wanted to be able to stay in touch. They went the way of the dinosaur once cell phone technology improved. Similarly, desktop computers were the way to go, until laptops became less cumbersome and less expensive. Now everywhere you go, people are working on their laptops in coffee shops, restaurants and shopping malls. Going wireless seems to be the only way to use a computer today. However, what are the most cost-effective options for going wireless on a laptop?
Going Wireless at Home
Once you go wireless at home, you will wonder how you ever got along without a wireless router. There are a variety of wireless routers on the market, depending upon a person's budget and needs. The least expensive wireless routers are from Netgear and D-Link. These cost around $40 as of November 2009 and are easy to install. All it takes is unplugging your modem from your desktop computer and plugging it into the router. After the transferring of a few wires, you will be able to use your laptop almost anywhere in your home, as well as outside. The less expensive routers have a shorter range (50-100 feet). With the more expensive routers (in the $75-$200 range), you can browse down the street if you like. Wireless routers free computer users from being confined to one area of the home and even allow a person to enjoy a sunrise or sunset on the patio while browsing the Internet.
Using Free Wi-Fi Hotspots Away from Home
There are a few options for utilizing your laptop while away from home, but the only ones that are inexpensive are using someone else's Wi-Fi hotspots. Almost every business chain is trying to cater to the upwardly mobile society in which we live. That's why donut shops, coffee shops, bookstores, fast food restaurants and more commonly offer free wireless Internet access. Accessing the Internet at your local coffee shop will cost you about $4 for a cup of joe. The problem is these are just temporary options for a short browsing session. They also require a person to come to them, further decreasing mobility. Your local public library is another free Wi-Fi option. Almost every library branch offers at least one wireless terminal at which a person can use their laptop. The problem with a library is that it limits a session to 30-minute intervals. If there are others wanting to use the Wi-Fi spot, you will have to limit your browsing to 30 minutes.
Internet Air Cards
Most cell phone providers offer air cards that allow subscribers to access the Internet on their laptops wherever they are. These cards normally come with a contract and can cost anywhere from $75 a month to more than $100. The benefits of air cards are that a person is not limited to wireless hotspots and can access the Internet no matter where they are.
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