OTP: Computer questions

Donna wrote to ask:

> Will be getting a laptop computer and am wondering what else
> do I need to get it up and running right off the bat?
> Someone said I need a router. Anything else???

A router would be needed of if you have 2 computers to connect
to the same ISP. Mary and I use one for that purpose. It also
has a built-in firewall for protection.

Is the laptop going to be your primary computer, or just for
traveling? The answer to that question would determine what
other accessories you will need.

Try to avoid wireless connections. Any ID thief could grab
your signal right out of the air. A wireless connection is
like a cell phone, radio or TV station.

Do NOT buy a laptop (or any other computer) with VISTA
installed. Insist on XP or an earlier microsquich version.
I'm using 98 and ME on these 2 computers, Mary uses XP.
Thank goodness for original disks. <G>

.... May your monitor live long and Phospher
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

Califchief wrote:
> Donna wrote to ask:
>
> > Will be getting a laptop computer and am wondering what else
> > do I need to get it up and running right off the bat?
> > Someone said I need a router. Anything else???
>
> A router would be needed of if you have 2 computers to connect
> to the same ISP. Mary and I use one for that purpose. It also
> has a built-in firewall for protection.
>
> Is the laptop going to be your primary computer, or just for
> traveling? The answer to that question would determine what
> other accessories you will need.
>
> Try to avoid wireless connections.

Why?

> Any ID thief could grab
> your signal right out of the air.

Not if you use WPA or higher security.

> A wireless connection is
> like a cell phone, radio or TV station.

Only in that it's carried by EM radiation. Only people who don't bother
to set their security have problems. I'd like to see you demonstrate
cracking a WPA2-PSK passphrase and gain access to a secure wireless
network with your television.

>
> Do NOT buy a laptop (or any other computer) with VISTA
> installed.

Why not? With enough RAM (at least 1GB, preferably 2GB as a start) Vista
runs fine on laptops. Reputable laptop manufacturers make sure their
drivers work with Vista. The biggest problems with Vista are to do with
driver compatibility. XP Pro is fine if you can get it on the laptop you
want. Go with Vista Business if you are ever going to be using it as a
work PC that must connect to a business domain.

> Insist on XP or an earlier microsquich version.

Earlier? Are you nuts? What, you think you can buy a new computer with
windows98? Good luck getting drivers...

> I'm using 98 and ME on these 2 computers, Mary uses XP.

98 is no longer supported and it won't support new laptops. ME was a dog
- far worse than Vista.

> Thank goodness for original disks. <G>
>
> ... May your monitor live long and Phospher
> ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12


--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply
Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow transplant. Please
volunteer to be a marrow donor and literally save someone's life:
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"Califchief" <califchief@fidotel.com> wrote in message
news:1214115383.11.1214092848@fidotel.com...
> Donna wrote to ask:
>
> > Will be getting a laptop computer and am wondering what else
> > do I need to get it up and running right off the bat?
> > Someone said I need a router. Anything else???
>
> A router would be needed of if you have 2 computers to connect
> to the same ISP. Mary and I use one for that purpose. It also
> has a built-in firewall for protection.
>
> Is the laptop going to be your primary computer, or just for
> traveling? The answer to that question would determine what
> other accessories you will need.
>
> Try to avoid wireless connections. Any ID thief could grab
> your signal right out of the air. A wireless connection is
> like a cell phone, radio or TV station.

Well said Chief,,,,, the wife and I do the same thing and the only problem
with it for us is that one of my neighbors lap tops connects with our
routers signals when she leaves her computer in stand by. I have to
reconnect with all the router password stuff and it bumps the other computer
off and puts the wifes computer on the right channel.


>
> Do NOT buy a laptop (or any other computer) with VISTA
> installed. Insist on XP or an earlier microsquich version.
> I'm using 98 and ME on these 2 computers, Mary uses XP.
> Thank goodness for original disks. <G>

My only thought about that is you no longer get support from Windows on 98
and me and soon XP which is not a problem for a computer savy person like
yourself,,,,,, me and Donna gonna need all the help we can get. :-)

Harv

OK, here's the deal. A friend of mine, a very generous friend, I might
add, is tired of me having problems with my webtv.

Often times webtv gets a bit funky and will start bouncing everyones
emails back to them for no real reason at all. Sometimes it is because
it runs into a problem with comcast which about 70% of my friends have,
sometimes it is just because webtv develops glitches for what ever
reason. In any case, this last round left me having most emails
bouncing for a good two weeks or so. So my friends called me up and
said how about if we buy you a computer so you don't have to mess around
with all this nonsense. I told them it wasn't necessary, but after
great discussion, they said they truly wanted to do this. I finally
said ok, but I would prefer a laptop over a desktop for several
reasons---lack of space and would like to be able to take the laptop
with me when I am out of town, etc. They said fine. So, I know I will
be getting a laptop, and I KNOW it will not be a mac. Other then that, I
have no idea what I will be getting until they bring it over. So, it
will definitely be a pc and I'm guessing it will come already configured
with vista? I will more than likely switch to DSL (not sure what ADSL
means) with my local phone company (AT &T). (Carole---thanks for the
heads up about freecycle, I really appreciate it!). Not sure how long
it will take me to get switched over to DSL, so may have to either do
dialup until then or tell my friends to hold off bringing over the
computer until I can get switched over.

..
..
..
..

Donna
..
..
..
..
1.) ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
call them FRIENDS......


2.) J.K.M.A.

Not sure how long
> it will take me to get switched over to DSL, so may have to either do
> dialup until then or tell my friends to hold off bringing over the
> computer until I can get switched over.
>
> Donna
> .

Ohhh, Just let them do what they want to do and when they want to do it.
Its about looking that gift horse in the mouth sort of thing. Bless them
and their good will and may God repay their goodness and blessings. After
you have the computer, get in touch with your soon to be DSL supplier and
ask them to supply and set up whatever is needed to get you going. It is
going to cost you a little but it will be something they will back up and
keep going and that is worth a great deal. I am going to say you are going
to love it.
Harv

It seems to me I heard somewhere that Harvey R. Stone wrote in article
<Bds7k.13926$Ri.9049@flpi146.ffdc.sbc.com>:

>"Califchief" <califchief@fidotel.com> wrote in message
>news:1214115383.11.1214092848@fidotel.com...
>> Donna wrote to ask:

>> > Will be getting a laptop computer and am wondering what else
>> > do I need to get it up and running right off the bat?
>> > Someone said I need a router. Anything else???

>> A router would be needed of if you have 2 computers to connect
>> to the same ISP. Mary and I use one for that purpose. It also
>> has a built-in firewall for protection.

>> Is the laptop going to be your primary computer, or just for
>> traveling? The answer to that question would determine what
>> other accessories you will need.

>> Try to avoid wireless connections. Any ID thief could grab
>> your signal right out of the air. A wireless connection is
>> like a cell phone, radio or TV station.

>Well said Chief,,,,, the wife and I do the same thing and the only problem
>with it for us is that one of my neighbors lap tops connects with our
>routers signals when she leaves her computer in stand by. I have to
>reconnect with all the router password stuff and it bumps the other computer
>off and puts the wifes computer on the right channel.

I'm not an expert like Ari is, but in setting up my LAN (cable modem, wireless
router) security I set up the WAP security Ari mentioned and I can also force my
router to *only* use my own network, not any of the others in the neighborhood
(there are some secured ones that I wouldn't be able to reach and some unsecured
ones that I could reach if I wanted to). Maybe there are ways to set up your
equipment the same way, Harv.
--
Don Kirkman

It seems to me I heard somewhere that Donna G. wrote in article
<12071-485E5AD4-366@storefull-3112.bay.webtv.net>:

>OK, here's the deal. A friend of mine, a very generous friend, I might
>add, is tired of me having problems with my webtv.

>Often times webtv gets a bit funky and will start bouncing everyones
>emails back to them for no real reason at all. Sometimes it is because
>it runs into a problem with comcast which about 70% of my friends have,
>sometimes it is just because webtv develops glitches for what ever
>reason. In any case, this last round left me having most emails
>bouncing for a good two weeks or so. So my friends called me up and
>said how about if we buy you a computer so you don't have to mess around
>with all this nonsense. I told them it wasn't necessary, but after
>great discussion, they said they truly wanted to do this. I finally
>said ok, but I would prefer a laptop over a desktop for several
>reasons---lack of space and would like to be able to take the laptop
>with me when I am out of town, etc. They said fine. So, I know I will
>be getting a laptop, and I KNOW it will not be a mac. Other then that, I
>have no idea what I will be getting until they bring it over. So, it
>will definitely be a pc and I'm guessing it will come already configured
>with vista? I will more than likely switch to DSL (not sure what ADSL
>means) with my local phone company (AT &T). (Carole---thanks for the
>heads up about freecycle, I really appreciate it!). Not sure how long
>it will take me to get switched over to DSL, so may have to either do
>dialup until then or tell my friends to hold off bringing over the
>computer until I can get switched over.

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) just describes a technical
configuration of the signals. It provides faster downloads than uploads, which
is consistent with normal user needs. I think it's probably the everyday DSL
that most home users have. AAR whoever sets it up for you will know how to
configure what you need.
--
Don Kirkman

Don Kirkman wrote:

> I'm not an expert like Ari is, but in setting up my LAN (cable modem, wireless
> router) security I set up the WAP security Ari mentioned and I can also force my
> router to *only* use my own network, not any of the others in the neighborhood
> (there are some secured ones that I wouldn't be able to reach and some unsecured
> ones that I could reach if I wanted to).

Mine is set up the same way as yours, Don. So I've never had a problem
as to connect they would need my ID and password. And not even my birdie
knows those

Carole

> I'm not an expert like Ari is, but in setting up my LAN (cable modem,
> wireless
> router) security I set up the WAP security Ari mentioned and I can also
> force my
> router to *only* use my own network, not any of the others in the
> neighborhood
> (there are some secured ones that I wouldn't be able to reach and some
> unsecured
> ones that I could reach if I wanted to). Maybe there are ways to set up
> your
> equipment the same way, Harv.
> --
> Don Kirkman

You may be right but I have to fall back on my youngest son with what takes
place. It has something to do with my wifes computer being on stand by and
vulnerable to being taken over. It slows my wifes computer so much that she
sees what is taking place and I redo the connection to the router and she is
full strength again and the other connection is gone for awhile.
Harv