General question about laptop computers

[TheCowsCameHome]

I'm starting to look around for a laptop computer. I currently have a standard PC in the home, and Comcast for the service provider.

I went to one of the big box stores today and the guy basically said to make a laptop work I'd need an air card (is that a router?) and a subscription from a service provider, for instance my cellphone company (Verizon in my case).

He further said that the air card could be used to power either my in-home desktop unit or a laptop, if and when I get one. If that's true, I guess I could drop Comcast cable and go with Verizon as long as their service could be used to power one or the other. It's not at all likely I'd need both working at the same time.

Does this sound like the basic way these devices work, or are there any pitfalls that the fellow didn't mention?

My computer needs are basically surfing and general on-line purchases, etc., no specific demands or specialized usage.

Thanks for any tips or advice.

[crimsonblue]

1. Ignore him.

He's a douchebag liar. Any laptop will work with your home internet. He's just trying to sell you shit you don't need. You should call the store and file a complaint against him. Also, aircards provide traditionally bad service: you don't get much bandwidth, and you internet usage is capped very low.

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. I suspected that - the $300 aircard miraculously became free if you signed up today

Tip-off #1

That's why I'm asking questions here, where I won't get screwed.

[PBS Poll-435]

2. If it has built in wireless, then your good at any location that has WiFi

If you choose to purchase cellular internet, then it will work everywhere you get a good signal and you can ditch your wired cable internet.

I wouldn't have both, because you can take the USB internet "adapter" and plug it into your home pc and have internet there too. You just have to install the software that lets Windows know that the USB port is going to provide internet rather than your modem/network card.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. So once I have cellular internet it should work with either computer -

the in-home or the portable (laptop)

What is the device called that picks up the signal and flows thru the USB to either computer?

[PBS Poll-435]

6. Sprint calls it a "Mobile Broadband Card"

Although it is not a PCMIA card, it is a USB thingy. A lot like a flash drive only bigger.

[fizzgig]

3. don't listen to him

all you need is a wireless-capable laptop (i think that's pretty standard now) and a wireless router connected to your modem. that's how i've been doing it for years.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. OK, so I buy a wireless capable laptop

I have a Comcast-owned modem in my cable service line to the home PC now - what happens to that?

And does the wireless router plug into the laptop when I want to use it? i.e. get used on the device (laptop or in-home) I choose to work with at any given time?

[fizzgig]

7. you connect the router to your modem

and your laptop connects to the internet via the router, you don't have to plug your laptop into anything.

i have comcast as well and i've never had a problem with my wireless setup

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. I see. And the cable service is no longer in the equation, the

cellular does it all.

I'm likin' that idea.

[fizzgig]

10. good luck with your new machine

:hi:

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. Hopefully I'll announce the blessed event soon, thanks to my friends

here at DU.

:toast:

[Chan790]

12. Well...no.

You still need someone (either the cable company, the phone company or the cellular company) to provide internet service to the modem which in-turn provides service to the router. The router just acts as the means of connecting more than one internet-connectible device (i.e. laptop, desktop, gaming console) to that internet source.

I've included a simple diagram. Ignore the gamine device and the second desktop computer...they're just additional devices connected to the network and don't change anything.

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. Very good. I appreciate your assistance.

[ldf]

13. delete

someone else already answered....

day late and a dollar short, as usual...

:shrug: