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Lap Top or regular computer and the internet?

I'm new to most new technology, and am unsure how the internet works with a laptop. Do I have to hook it up like I would a regular computer? How about being mobile? If I'm in a location that has WiFi, do I have to have an internet provider to use it? How about wireless?

Pretend your trying to explain it to a person who, until now, has always used public computers.

Better yet, don't pretend.

3 Answers

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  • 9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Every modern day laptop comes with an inbuilt card that will allow you to connect it to a wireless network (WiFi) if you know the security key to connect to that wireless network. If you have an Internet Connection at home, you will be provided with a modem and a router that you can set up in wireless mode. You will be provided with the unique security key to this wireless network and hence if you have a laptop, you will be able to connect to this wireless network.

    Moreover, various public WiFi networks allow you to connect without typing in the Security Key. In this case, if you have a laptop, you can go to such a free WiFi place and connect to that network as well.

    In case of a laptop, you can also hook it up to a Router using a cable. In that case, there is no security keys needed.

    These are the options that comes with a laptop if you talk about connecting to Internet. Hope I am able to explain things here...

  • MaX
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    First of all - you need to have Wifi facility in the laptop. All the newest laptops have the them. Even the cheapest netbooks offers Wifi.

    Next, you need to have Wifi router at the home. You'll connect your laptop to the router in wireless mode. Most ISP's these days offer Wifi router when you purchase Internet subscription from them.

    You can also connect to Wifi when you are at the airport, offices, etc.

    If you've used bluetooth on smartphones - then you must have transferred files between two mobiles. That's the exact way how Wifi works.

    You can learn more at http://www.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network.htm

  • ?
    Lv 6
    9 years ago

    Laptops use wireless/wifi internet, mainly routers which you need a modem, laptops are really easy to connect to the router, just find your network and your good, it can also be wired like a desktop, if you want to travel with it, than you'll need to get an internet wifi card, it costs monthly like regular internet but its basically on the go..... you could always google these things if your not sure how to do something... Google is your friend.

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