Immediate help needed... please...

[the_muppet]

Okay so my brother just bought himself a laptop and now we need to get him set up with internet access.

I'm asking for help - if I can get it - cos I'm basically an IT-idiot. I catch on quick though usually, but best to tell you that my starting point is 'idiot status'.

So I was thinking initially that mobile broadband would be the best option for him - and all I honestly know about mobile broadband is that you plug something in and can use it anywhere. This'd be good for him cos then he could use it at his house, my house and at college. However I have no idea how to check out coverage and all that malarkey. If I can't find anything out (through your help) I'll just look into getting him regular broadband at home and work out from there how to set him up to access my broadband at my house when he's with me.

So. If any of you can help me out, I'd be everso grateful. His birthday is this Friday and he's had the laptop for a couple of weeks now so I really need to get something sorted.

So if any of you think you can help - let me know - thanks =)

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_gater_/]

Hey, these links'll take you to information about coverage for each phone network:

3G (http://www.three.co.uk/personal/products_services_/mobile_broadband_/rollout_map.omp?id=1183)
T-Mobile (http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/coverage/street-check/?WT.mc_id=ON_QM_A_BuyAT)
Vodaphone (http://maps.vodafone.co.uk/coverageviewer/web/default.aspx)

Not sure if this is what you were after though... I can't find the O2 one (maybe they don't offer mobile broadband) I don't think Orange do either...

[ms-3m.livejournal.com]

Mobile, wireless broadband is usually so expensive here in the states, that usually only business people pay for the service. It usually averages around $75US per month, in addition to the buying the card. Plus, the speed and coverage is only as good as the wireless service. And mobile broadband is not as fast as 'regular' hi-speed access.

Now! You can make sure the notebook has a wireless card which will be identified as 811 b/g/a (or some such) and this will allow him to access hotspots, etc.

I'm on my mobile, so I'm sure there are typos and I might not have made sense.

*hugs*

[ms-3m.livejournal.com]

Oh....and most mid-level notebooks have wireless access built-in as a standard feature.

The only thing with accessing hotspots, one needs to have a firewall and try not to make sensitive data transactions using these hotspots as there are phishers out there and they are undetectable until it is too late.

[larianelensar.livejournal.com]

Looks like you got it mostly answered...but I'd go with the home broadband and a wireless card (plus a good firewall!) in the laptop. That's what I have in my laptop and I can use it at my parents, most hotels, coffee shops downtown, laundrymats....etc etc. Using mobile is expensive and not all that reliable, if you think about your mobile phone and how (sometimes) it's unreliable--that's what the internet would be like. My opinion would be that wireless will allow the most flexibility with the lowest price.