Laptop and wireless network help please

[muck]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Something like this: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...21221(ME).aspx
and any new laptop are going to play nice with each other.

I was looking at this D-Link wifi router:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...15586(ME).aspx

Is one better than the other? (Performance, Customer Support, etc.)

Lots of newer laptops are now also coming with wireless N built-in.
I don't know anything about brands though. Any I should steer away from based on personal experiences?

[Delphinus]

That router is fine too.

I picked up an HP laptop a couple months ago. Here's what I can tell from that experience:
- Vista does suck a little. Maybe I just don't adapt to change very well but I like XP better. Now, to be fair, it doesn't suck as bad as some people say, but it's definitely not glitch free.
- I believe XP service pack 3 is the last major release for XP before Microsoft officially stops supporting XP. I don't think you can buy any new computer with XP anymore already.
- I don't really pay much attention to these things but I think Microsoft is already talking of releasing Vista's replacement.

- If you want to have >4Gb ram then you need to look at a 64bit system. Some device drivers aren't there for 64 bit yet but .. I dunno, how many devices does one attach to a laptop anyhow?

- The only complaint I have about my laptop (outside of Vista), and the one thing I would warn people about ... it has a ridiculously super glossy screen. While this increases the "shininess" factor and will make you fall in love with it at the store, if you do any work while near a window, you will not be able to see ANYthing on the screen. It drives me nuts that I have to draw the blinds closed to surf during daylight hours. My work laptop is a Dell and it has about as flat/non-reflective screen as you can get and it's far more forgiving in this regard. So nothing to do with brands but do watch out for the glossiness. I'm not sure why they would even make laptops like this..

[muck]

Did you buy from MemoryExpress Tony?

[Delphinus]

The router yes, the laptop itself I got from Futureshop. (**Someone** had given me a gift card for there as payment for something, and I was giddy I was finally able to use it for something... ) If I hadn't have had that I would likely would have gone memory express for the laptop too.

Now I want to get me a EEE notebook. Have you seen these things? $300-400 gets you this itty bitty notebook with 4gb solid state "hard drive" (more like a big honkin' USB key built in), wifi and Linux/Ubuntu ... perfect if you want to surf or msn while watching tv or something..
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...19464(ME).aspx

[wolf_bluejay]

My usual recommendation is the simple one (IT by trade). Buy the cheapest laptop that fits what you need. 90% of the time, people buy these huge, heavy and short on battery life laptops because the sales guy talks them into it.

But of course, what do you need. Personally, i go for the small and long battery life laptops with tiny screens (I have and eee and acer asipre). But if you NEED more power, got for something a bit bigger. I find the Asus Eee 701 has just too small a keyboard for any real work. It does make a great "portable".
Generally, nobody uses the full power of a computer anymore, so buying a slower CPU means better battery life.

None of that matters if you are going to put it on a desk and leave it there. If you are doing that -- Really -- buy a desktop with a nice 22" LCD and full size keyboard.

As for the networking. 802.11g is the most common. And they are all compatible EXCEPT 802.11a. All laptops that you will find have at least 802.11g, so don't even worry about the wireless.

As for the WEP/WPA/WPA2 debate. Don't use WEP, everything else is Ok. I can break WEP is under 5 minutes.

Just don't listen to the sales guy telliing you that you will need HDTV outputs and all the other junk. Normally a good laptop should run you under $500, and a cheapy wireless router about $50-100.There really isn't much difference between routes, unless you get into the enterprise level stuff, and spending $1500 on a router with feature that you won't even know what they are is just silly.


Finally, windows vista is a PITA. And no, you can't by anything with XP from a big box store, and the store that still have XP (for corporate customer) charge a few hundred extra to get it. My advice -- download, or have mailed to you for free a "ubuntu" or "kubuntu" linux cd, and install that. Much nicer, simpler, and problem free. I have a few thousand machines running linux, and very few people have any problems with it.

[mark]

Originally Posted by wolf_bluejay

As for the WEP/WPA/WPA2 debate. Don't use WEP, everything else is Ok. I can break WEP is under 5 minutes.

Another security question

I'm sort of forced to use WEP for the kid's DS (WEP only) but enabled the MAC address filter on the router, any benefit?

[midgetwaiter]

The way the MAC filter works is by only accepting traffic from MACs on the allowed list, others would be ignored. It's easy to bypass because MACs can't be encrypted so all somebody has to do is listen in to the traffic for a while and pick an allowed MAC to assign to their device. So it's more of a hurdle than a fence if you get my meaning.

WEP and WPA can both be broken quickly once somebody has listened in long enough to get a sample of your traffic. That can take a while depending on how much the wireless link is used. WPA2 is secure for now but somebody will get it eventually.

Ultimately I don't think it matters much for the home user. Your biggest problem is the potential for somebody to use your access point without your permission. The idea of anyone spending the time it takes to breach your network is kind of absurd. What do you really have that makes it worth while?

WEP is probably good enough.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by muck

I was looking at this D-Link wifi router:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/PID-MX15586(ME).aspx

Is one better than the other? (Performance, Customer Support, etc.)

Lots of newer laptops are now also coming with wireless N built-in.
I don't know anything about brands though. Any I should steer away from based on personal experiences?

You probably don't need or care about 802.11n (or pre-n, since I don't think it is officially ratified yet). For in-home networking and internet browsing, b/g is fine. I like linksys and netgear, but have only bought and thrown-away one d-link, and it might have been a lemon. Look for one with a wireless print server built in. Something like this, maybe.

And for the laptop? A shiny new macbook pro?

[Delphinus]

For some reason the link double pasted for you there Matt, here try this link: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...X8571(ME).aspx

[AndyL]

Just a comment from a diehard wifi'er...

Stay away from linksys routers; D-Link aren't bad (though I suggest the extended warranty the seller will offer - saved my arse 3 times now); Belkin has become my favorite by far.

Once you go wireless, have a look at the newish wifi printers, you'll never realize until you've used one, how nice it is to park that printer away in a closet somewhere not have to plug in, just click print, go and collect the printout Other than the price of new replacement cartridges, I love my z1400

As for laptops, check out laptop depot / computer trends, the refurbished ones are a deal (mine is "refurbished" due to a blemish on the stainless trim)

My .02