noob in networking

[rio_bugarin]

I'm planning of buying a notebook. probably one from dell (other suggestions?)

I saw a wireless router here(Dlink) and I plan of using it to connect to this desktop pc.

My question is

1. Do I still need that B/G wireless adapter? and what is the difference between the B and G?

2. How do I set it up physically(which cable goes where) ? I noticed four(4) RJ45 ports on the router and there are four(4) RJ45 on the DSL modem.

3. Can I set the network so that only the notebook is able to control the router?

4. Is this router operates using radio waves? if so, is it risky to use. I mean, can someone log on to the network and perform unauthorize access?

[mjc]

4. Is this router operates using radio waves? if so, is it risky to use. I mean, can someone log on to the network and perform unauthorize access?

Yes, someone can log on to an UNSECURED wireless network. The thing is, though, that all wireless routers come with built in security, which involves a fairly robust encryption scheme and passwords (some routers won't accept passwords that aren't a combination of letters, numbers and symblols and require that they DO NOT make any recognizable words). This makes it much harder for an unauthorized user to get in...but it isn't completely bullet proof (just like connecting any other computer to any other network -- including the internet). The risks are manageable, with the proper set up.

[classicsoftware]

DO NOT buy a Dell notebook.

Look at ACER (http://shopper-search.cnet.com/search?q=Acer+Travelmate&tag=srch&submit=Go%21)

Look at IBM/Levono (http://shopper-search.cnet.com/search?part=&q=Thinkpad)

Look at Toshiba (http://shopper-search.cnet.com/search?q=Toshiba&nodeid=3121&format=customlayout&channel=54&cat=319&allfields=0&k=6338130)

I would think the IBM is the best, with ACER the best value. ACER does not have as good a support system as IBM. The are nice. I own one, and it survived a three foot drop from desk to floor w/o affecting performance. A small crack in the case, but the laptop works great.

What is your budget?

[rio_bugarin]

What is your budget?

I was hoping of getting something lower than $500.

A friend told me he bought something from Dell for about $400 by credit card. But I cant pay for that much yet (plus I dont want to start a career with credits cards) so Im planning of buying a plan from dell.

I was interested in this IBM/Lenovo too (but the price...). I think I've read from a newspaper that this was IBM bought by Japanese and wants to establish market here in US.

[PrntRhd]

FYI
Levono is mainland Chinese, not Japanese.

[classicsoftware]

Save your money until you can afford to get a better one. Dell's laptops suck and a $500.00 laptop is garbage..... DON't DO it...

[PrntRhd]

I agree, I did get a Toshiba notebook for $700 but it is not state of the art.

[rio_bugarin]

evono is mainland Chinese, not Japanese.
Oh. I missed again. I think I need to defrag my brain :D :D

Save your money until you can afford to get a better one.

I'll try. :D :D

[PrntRhd]

JLReich posted a link to a nice Acer for $1100 that is an awsome value a few weeks back. The prices keep dropping and performance keeps getting better.

[jlreich]

Here is the Acer I helped my friend pick out. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834115223
Great notebook. All the latest components on it and a great price. :cool:

I agree any notebook less than a $1000+ isn't worth it. And Dell's are total junk.

Unless you just need something very very basic and have no other choice I would wait and save the cash for something that will last you.

[Variable]

We use Dell laptops for most of the people where I work. they are not the cheapest version, I believe they average around 700 or so. These seem to work just fine. The only thing I would say is that more RAM is better. A gig of RAM will do you nicely. If it is not an option when you purchase, make sure that you can upgrade the RAM at a later date.

There is a deep irrational hatred of Dell on this forum. If you are starting out, you simply buy the best you can afford. Same with anything else. You have the price you want to pay decided, now examine laptops that fit your budget and pick the best one based on CPU,RAM, Hard drive and screen size.

http://www.notebookreview.com/

V

[jlreich]

It isn't an irrational fear. I have had very bad experiences with Dell notebooks (not just one but many) and found them to be junk. Actually I think any laptop under $1000 isn't worth it. With limited upgrade options you just don't get much for less than that.

But I will agree with on your point of find the best one you can get for your budget. If you only have $500 them that's what you have to get one for.

My advice still stands though. Wait for a better budget if you can, if not we will help you get the best you can for your budget... even if it is a Dell... :p :)

[PrntRhd]

Variable:
We use Dell laptops for most of the people where I work.

There is a large difference between Dell for business and the business support offered there and Dell for consumers and the consumer support offered.
There is a deep irrational hatred of Dell on this forum.
I am not bashing Dell without reason, that would be irrational if I did.
Lattitudes can be decent notebooks, particularly for business. I will use whatever notebook they provide me at work.
BUT
Having to pay Dell $49 per call to remove their DellMyWay spyware is not something Dell should be proud of.
Having to buy a proprietary power supply from Dell to keep from frying a mainboard on Dell desktops is not something Dell should be proud of.
Outsourcing consumer support to India and having those persons use false names like Joe or Mary or Susan to try to hide that fact they are in India is something Dell should not be proud of.

I choose to recommend other brands.
That's just my opinion.

[Variable]

I think harranguing somone who is on a tight budget to buy something he can't afford is .... not helpfull.

There is a large difference between Dell for business and the business support offered there and Dell for consumers and the consumer support offered.

That may well be true but the hardware is the same...

If the reason why Dell's "suck" is because of home user customer support is sub par then that is a good argument for buying where the support is better.

Using a power supply supplied by Dell does not seem like a great reason why they suck and the logic that somone who has a tight budget should spend several hundred $'s more on a laptop that has a universal power supply seems silly to me.

As for out-sourcing support for home users, it is wide spread unfortunately. IBM/Lenovo is in the phillipines. Havn't called Toshiba so I don't know.

As for MyWay, it seems like Dell added a search bar. Seems a bit overblown to me but everyone does like a good conspiricy. It appears the uninstaller is fixed on new machines, so in this case it may not be an issue, If this fella thinks the search bar is an invasion of privacy by mean ole' Dell and it does come installed. Here is a link.
http://forum.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&message.id=42328


V

[classicsoftware]

Dell notebooks suck because if you go to the CPSC web site you will see more recalls for DELL laptops than any other brand. Since 1995 there has only been once ACER laptop recalled as opposed to many for DELL. My dislike of DELL is not irrational. It is based on my ten years of dealing with them. They use bait and switch sales tactics, they either sell more machine than most people need or not enough machine. Their desktops are proprietary so it is hard to get parts at a reasonable price. Their support is not the best. I don't think their desktops are bad, I think they are NOT a good value.

The best brands of Laptop are still ACER, IBM and Toshiba.

[PrntRhd]

I think harranguing somone who is on a tight budget to buy something he can't afford is .... not helpfull.
I was in the Flash Chat before your comment with Rio regarding his needs and we discussed other options including getting a notebook slightly less state of the art (maybe older Centrino) which would save some real $$ but still get a quality notebook, and how to find sales at suppliers which would also save money, since he is new to the USA market.

We help all PC users here, whether HP, Compaq, Dell, Time, Toshiba, Acer, Lenovo, Fujistsu, Monarch, Gateway, even E-Machines, to suggest otherwise is unhelpful.

[Variable]

Classic
Dell notebooks suck because if you go to the CPSC web site you will see more recalls for DELL laptops than any other brand

I checked that site out. Pretty neat. I can't find any laptops recalled by Dell where is this located? I can find batteries recalled but no laptops from Dell.

PrntRhd I am glad you were able to help him in flash chat. Judging by this thread, I don't think anyone could say that if someone wanted to buy a Dell computer anyone here would not try and help him. I was completely off track. My apologies.

V

[classicsoftware]

I can't find any laptops recalled by Dell where is this located? I can find batteries recalled but no laptops from Dell.
Batteries aren't part of the Notebook????? What about the recall for the AC adapter. I especially like the part where they catch on fire while not in use. How many recalls for Dell and how many for ACER? Not close......

I think haranguing someone who is on a tight budget to buy something he can't afford is .... not helpful.
I was not haranguing him, I was expressing my opinion that it would be wiser to not buy a $400.00 laptop and wait and save a few more bucks to get a better model. Sometimes not getting something is the best advice....

Your implication that the MYWAY searchbar is not sypware is way out.. It is spyware and the gact they only added the uninstaller after an outcry from the public is just more reason to NOT to like DELL.