Question: How Can I Get A Portable Internet Connection?

[orleans]

my daughter wants this for her laptop for school

i know nothing about this--

so...do you pay a set fee? a monthly fee? is it a card you plug into the laptop? what if you lose the card? where do you buy the card? or the connection? who sells internets on the go?
can i get one at a store?

(i feel like rosanna-rosanna-danna)

rosanna rosanna danna questions:
if it's not one thing it's another. will the store be by my house? what if the store is closed? will i have to walk to the store or can i drive my car? will i have to pay four dollars a gallon for gas just to get to the store? will i be able to go online in my car?

anyway...can someone please explain to me about getting online for laptops on the go?

[NJmaverick]

1. It's roughly like a cell phone

It's a card that slides into the laptop. The cost is roughly $50 a month (give or take depending on the speed of the connection). In fact you get them at cell phone stores.

[orleans]

4. $50 a month? omg. i think she might have to use the internet at her school. n/t

[PeaceNikki]

2. You'll need a wireless card from a provider

Most cell phone providers offer these. They have monthly access plans to gp along.

Like this:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=2850

If you have a cell phone provider, ask them.

[alarimer]

3. You can usually do it through a cell phone company.

You need a special wireless card? Modem? something like that anyway. Not just the wireless that came with your laptop. I think but I am not sure. When I have looked into it, it seems like it cost almost as much as home broadband service (39.99 a month or so) but there might be other ways to do it.

[Pierre.Suave]

5. Why does she need that?

I bet her school has WiFi everywhere. As do most coffee shops.

Where does she go to school?

if her computer (I assume it is a laptop) does not have wireless capability, you can buy a USB WiFi card and get WiFi access.

[orleans]

6. what is wifi? maybe that's what i'm thinking of and maybe that's what

she is thinking of.

can you tell me what it is? please jasonc?

[Pierre.Suave]

7. Wireless internet

Same as you may have at home, or at most coffee shops.

[orleans]

8. where do you buy a USB WiFi card (and is it expensive?) n/t

[Pierre.Suave]

9. You should make sure her computer does not already have one

built in first.

[Breeze54]

11. Exactly and most do these days.

;)

[Breeze54]

10. She can probably connect for free in a WiFi 'hot zone' and her school might be one...

Wi-Fi-FreeSpot Directory - locations that offer Free Wi-Fi.

United States - Illinois

http://www.wififreespot.com/il.html

Check the http://www.panera.com/cafes/wifi.php">Panera Bread site for an updated listing of Illinois locations with Free Wi-Fi.