How to use Wifi with netbooks

Wifi is everywhere in the news these days, but what can it do for you and your netbook?

wifi netbook access

What is wifi?

Wifi is a cheap way of accessing the internet on your netbook when you’re out and about in places like hotels and coffee shops. It’s a wireless connection, like the ones in many homes, but they’re open to the public to use. Wireless modems are placed in these locations and anyone can use their netbooks to access the internet wirelessly through them. These are called wifi hotspots, and your netbook will search and find any wifi hotspots wherever you happen to be.

Do I need a dongle?
No, you only need a dongle for proper 3G mobile broadband.  The internet hardware built into your netbook is all you need to access wifi. So if you really want cheap access to the internet, of even free internet access, take your netbook out and hook it up at a wifi hotspot

So how do I access wifi on my netbook?
Some wifi hotspots are free and you simply let your netbook connect to them. Most however are run by operators such as BT Openzone or mycloud and you need to pay for access. You can either do this online from home, or when you first log on to the hotspot. Alternatively, there are plenty in coffeshops where you can get online for the price of a coffee.

Hotspots are mainly in busy areas, so don’t expect to connect your netbook in the middle of Ilkley Moor,  Lists of hotspots such as www.hifihotspotlist.com are available so you can check the locations of any near you.

But wifi hotspots are not secure!
Apart from the cost and the fact that you might not find a wifi hotspot where you want one, the main drawback is lack of security.

Free wifi hotspots are public with no security. Someone at the next table could intercept your browsing and emails so do NOT use a public wifi hotspot for banking or private emails.

Paid for wifi hotspots have some basic security, needing passwords to log in, but they still don’t have the fully secure encryption that comes with proper 3G mobile broadband.  And speaking strictly on a personal level, I don’t use wifi at all for this reason.

If I’m at home I use my netbook with my own personal wireless router, or if I’m out and about I use my 3G connection.

What you do is down to personal preference. If you want a cheap solution and just use netbooks for browsing youtube or spotify, then wifi is a great cheap answer. Just remember that that people could be reading your netbook screen without looking over your shoulder

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