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Wireless Internet: Wireless contract or pay-as-you-go?
Wireless contract or pay-as-you-go?
by bearbait01 - 6/30/09 7:54 AMHi. I am going to buy a netbook so I can access my work computer while I am away from home. First of all, any suggestions on a good, relatively cheap one? Secondly, I won't be using it THAT much. Is it better to switch my internet access from my home computer to the netbook (can I use a wireless router to get internet on my home computer from the netbook?) Or should I get the pay-as-you-go air card thingie instead? Most of the places I go will probably have WiFi so I wouldn't need the air card that much, but there would be some times I'd need it. Also, do you usually have to pay very much to access WiFi at hotels, etc? I really know next to nothing about computers, and the guy at Best Buy last night wasn't any help. What is this 5GB cap thing on the monthly wireless contracts? How much would I have to use it to go over that? I'd probably use it about 2-4 hours each weekend, and then about 2 hours a day while on vacation,though if I paid for the internet access on the netbook instead of the home computer I'd use it more often and just use the home computer for storing ohotos & uploading them to Shutterfly.
Thanks!
Since its for work, ask them to supply it and pay for it.
by R. Proffitt
- 6/30/09 9:02 AM
In reply to: Wireless contract or pay-as-you-go? by bearbait01
Seems only fair.
I wish . . .
by bearbait01 - 6/30/09 9:08 AM In reply to: Since its for work, ask them to supply it and pay for it. by R. Proffitt
I wish, but it's a small company, and I only work part-time and a lot of that is from home so they could kinda take me or leave me. I've told them I was going to buy a netbook so I can work while on vacation but they didn't offer to pay for it.
Then why do this?
by R. Proffitt - 6/30/09 9:14 AM
In reply to: I wish . . . by bearbait01
If there is no reward for this then why not get what you want and skip accessing work?
Bob
Because . . .
by bearbait01 - 6/30/09 9:36 AM In reply to: Then why do this? by R. Proffitt
Most of the hours I work from home are on the weekends. I just want to be able to go somewhere on the weekend and be able to work for a few hours while the kids are napping or while we're driving somewhere; otherwise I end up trying to cram it all in during the week.
Then do the math.
by R. Proffitt - 6/30/09 10:16 AM
In reply to: Wireless contract or pay-as-you-go? by bearbait01
The pay as you go has some advantages in that you can stop the bleeding the moment you need to. The usual 2 year contracts might be cheaper over 2 years but given the story that WORK won't reimburse or even care if this dings your wallet I think the pay as you go wins here. The moment you change your mind about this you can staunch the flow.
In other words do the math of what say 6 months on PAYGO or CONTRACT to make the decision.
Frankly I'd just work at work since many of these arrangements will end up as unpaid hours since you are not in the office.
Bob
Math
by bearbait01 - 6/30/09 11:02 AM In reply to: Then do the math. by R. Proffitt
I'm leaning towards doing the pay-as-you-go right now, since I'm not sure how much I'll actually be using it. I just don't want to pay for the device and then end up not using it - though maybe by then they will also offer a contract using the same device, right now it seems like they don't but I could be wrong. Right now I can only work in the office 1 day a week, but that may change once the kids start preschool - if that is the case then I will need my netbook even less.
My company isn't very keen on people working from home, so I guess I'm lucky they've been this flexible but I do feel they should at least provide the netbook. I think they would have in the past, but for various reasons things have changed in my office over the years.
Here's another issue.
by R. Proffitt - 6/30/09 12:08 PM
In reply to: Math by bearbait01
I have a business where I write software and we obtained a nice enough Acer Aspire One 8.9 Inch display Netbook. The first thing I did was get a Logitech V450 Nano Mouse for it. You write you wanted to "work" from said netbook.
-> Let me assure you that such can be painful for some. The screen is fine for demonstrations but I truly doubt this is a replacement for a normal sized laptop.
It would be a shame to see another person get a netbook thinking they would work from that.
http://crave.cnet.co.uk/laptops/0,39029450,49297248-6,00.htm is all too similar to the 199 buck version I'm seeing out there. The low battery times are for the 3 cell (cheap!) model. The 6 cell model I have seems to be about 5 hours depending on use.
Bob
Thanks!
by bearbait01 - 6/30/09 12:52 PM In reply to: Here's another issue. by R. Proffitt
Yeah, I was wondering if working on such a small screen would be difficult. I don't think it would be too bad since I'll typically just use it for an hour or two at a time. I wish I could test drive one for a few days.
I have a rather stupid question, but here goes: The netbook comes with wireless capabilities. So, if I have regular broadband at home, will I be able to just turn on my netbook and use it as long as my home computer is on, or do I have to use a router? And if a hotel room is "wired" for internet, can I plug my netbook in and have internet? Or can I only use it if the room is wireless?
I feel like an idiot asking these questions, but really, I am not a technie at all!
Ask, ask!
by R. Proffitt - 6/30/09 3:33 PM
In reply to: Thanks! by bearbait01
About your broadband. MANY broadband providers supply a router and or a wifi router in the broadband access hardware. But I can't tell if yours has the without the make, model of the unit.
About the hotel connection. My Acer has an ethernet port as well as wifi so like most netbooks you can use either.
Bob
Thanks!
by bearbait01 - 7/3/09 6:21 AM In reply to: Ask, ask! by R. Proffitt
Thanks for all your help, Bob! I went to Best Buy last night to buy a netbook, and it turns out that the Windows XP that "comes with it" is a trial version which lasts for only 60 days, so I'd have to shell out an additional $150. That was not in my budget. They said all netbooks/laptops come with a trial version now; this really irritates me - they need to tell you this right away instead of AFTER you've paid for it (I had to promptly return it). Right now I am re-evaluating how much I'd actually use the netbook and if it seems worth it I'll go to my boss and talk to him about providing at least the Windows XP.
~Rachel
TRY ASUS 333
by travelinbetty - 7/8/09 7:19 PM In reply to: Thanks! by bearbait01I just bought a 333Asus netbook. It came with Windows XP included (no trial-version)at no extra cost.
The salesperson is misinformed.
B.
My 2 cents
by Al_Swerengen - 7/13/09 11:44 AM In reply to: Wireless contract or pay-as-you-go? by bearbait01If you are looking for a nice affordable netbook the Asus Eeepc line has proven to me to be a quality investment. I have not had the opportunity to play with the latest one yet but I expect it to follow in the footsteps of previous models.
I really like the Eeepc line because of the quick boot times and ease of transport. I really don't even notice that I have it in my bag when traveling.
As for hotel connections - these can be pricey in some countries so be wary of that and ask about the fees associated with it when researching your stay.
All the netbooks should be adequately equipped to handle both ethernet and wifi connections.
As far as services are concerned, I believe pay-go is the best route here as stated in a comment above. If you don't think you need to have it for a long time then at least start with pay-go to test the service, signal strength, coverage etc.
You can google search for "wireless internet reviews" to get some sites that compare each provider in your area.
For the question about hooking the netbook up with the computer that already had broadband access. I believe you may have it backwards although your idea is spot on.
What you would have to do is get a wireless router from your provider. Your setup would then look like this when complete.
1. modem attached to cable source
2. wireless router attached to modem using ethernet cable
3. wireless router attached to your current pc with ethernet cable
(i prefer to hardwire the router to my main pc but you can get this connected wirelessly if you have a wireless adapter inyour pc)
4. netbook connected to wireless router via wifi signal.
Hope this all helps =) Good luck
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