Will someone explain WiFi to me?

[hyphenate]

I'm going to be traveling soon with my "new" laptop and I need to know more about WiFi and if it's worth it for me to add to the laptop. From what I understand--and please correct me if I'm wrong--it's the same as a wireless network card, and as long as there is a network within a certain distance, you can get access through that network, for such things as surfing the web. Except that most networks that I'm familiar with are password protected, and so I fail to understand how you can "hook up" wirelessly to any "foreign" network unless you are configured for one.

I've heard that many airports have a WiFi setup that you can use while there waiting, and that's what I'm interested in, since I'm going away for a few days and wanted to stay in touch. My hotel offers high speed internet as well, so I have to know whether to just bring a phone cable, or what in order to get on.

Anyone with some patience if they don't mind explaining to someone who used to pick things up pretty quickly, but is getting more befuddled as things move by at the speed of light.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Yes, you need a wireless card, and no, not all networks are

password protected.

Two locally owned chains of coffee shops in the Twin Cities have free WiFi for customers. Your computer is, of course, configured for your home network, but it will pick up any network in range that isn't password protected. It may ask you whether you want to join that network, but in many cases, it will do so automatically.

[crispini]

2. Networks that are intended for public use

aren't usually encrypted. It's very easy, just put the card in and make sure you have the right drivers for it. If there is a wireless network in range it'll bring up a dialog and you can see whether or not it is an encrypted network. If it's a hotel or coffee shop or something like that, when you bring up your web browser it'll immediately bring up a splash screen where you can purchase access with a credit card or whatever.

WiFi rocks. it's easy peasy.

Bring an ethernet cable too for your hotel. 90% of business hotels have ethernet in the rooms nowadays.

[mondo joe]

3. Yes - you need the WiFi card (installed or otherwise) - and there

are many networks NOT password protected, intentionally or otherwise.

In the NW there are many cafes, hotels, libraries and even parks that provide free WiFi access.