Wifi

[macdoug]

I am using a nearly 16 year old Mac running OS 10.4.11. I want a laptop with a large screen as I am legally blind. I can't afford a Mac and they only come as large as 17", I believe. I have found a Toshiba that is 18.4" in my price range. I am presently hooked up to the internet via cable. I would like to make the apartment where I live wifi with the two computers, esp. the laptop, if possible. I was wondering if I could run an ethernet cable from the cable modem to a router so the laptop could run wireless? Also how close do you have to be to a motel or to a Starbucks to piggy back off of their wireless network?

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

run an ethernet cable from the cable modem to a router so the laptop could run wireless

That's the normal way it's done, as far as I know. "Router" in this case I assume to mean a WiFi router, not just an Ethernet one.

However, unless you really need to be mobile with a computer, a straight Ethernet network will be much faster and many times more secure.

Have you considered a refurbished Apple laptop?
Do you use the Universal Access prefs?
Have you considered simply getting a large monitor (needn't be an Apple brand) and a new(er) mini? Especially if you already have another keyboard around.

The mini will be about three times as fast as your DA. Of course, most new Windows laptops would be also. But are you ready to spend the money/time/effort not only with AV software but with the new Windows OS? Not to mention file compatibility issues. I'm sure you think I'm just an Apple shill, but I really wouldn't want to start on a new OS at this point in my life. YMMV. And I don't work for Apple, anyway.

Hopefully, you'll get some Windows specific advice soon. Wishing you the best in your searching no matter what you decide.

[Paddy]

Macdoug, whichever option you choose re: platform, the SIZE of the monitor won't necessarily make it more readable. You need to consider the resolution. With laptops - in fact all LCDs - there is a "native" resolution which works best. On some of the larger laptops, the resolution is quite high - which means that the pixels are quite small and the type can be hard to read - even for those who aren't legally blind.

Do try the Toshiba at resolutions other than the native 1680X945 (if that's the one you're looking at) to see if it is acceptable. I know most LCDs don't look too good at resolutions other than the native one. Also make sure you're ok with the glossy screen on those Toshibas - the reflections can be a real nuisance.

Is this the one you're considering? http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/satellite/P500

I'm not sure if Macs have better accessibility options or not - have you looked at this? http://www.apple.com/accessibility/macosx/vision.html
Windows info here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/a...y/opsblind.mspx (seem to be a lot of customization options)

What sort of monitor are you using right now and what is the resolution?

Unfortunately, it will be pretty much impossible to find a recent Intel Mac laptop in the same price range as the Toshiba - even with a 15" screen instead of the 17". That is definitely a problem, if you want portability. Keep in mind that the Toshiba 18.4" isn't really a "laptop" but more of a desktop portable. (It's considerably heftier than a 17" MBP, at almost 9 pounds, and 1.6" thick)

[macdoug]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jan 21 2011, 06:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE

run an ethernet cable from the cable modem to a router so the laptop could run wireless

That's the normal way it's done, as far as I know. "Router" in this case I assume to mean a WiFi router, not just an Ethernet one. :dnkw:However, unless you really need to be mobile with a computer, a straight Ethernet network will be much faster and many times more secure.Have you considered a refurbished Apple laptop?Do you use the Universal Access prefs?Have you considered simply getting a large monitor (needn't be an Apple brand) and a new(er) mini? Especially if you already have another keyboard around.The mini will be about three times as fast as your DA. Of course, most new Windows laptops would be also. But are you ready to spend the money/time/effort not only with AV software but with the new Windows OS? Not to mention file compatibility issues. I'm sure you think I'm just an Apple shill, but I really wouldn't want to start on a new OS at this point in my life. YMMV. And I don't work for Apple, anyway. :rotfl:Hopefully, you'll get some Windows specific advice soon. Wishing you the best in your searching no matter what you decide.

The idea for a laptop was to be a little mobile as there are some things that I would like to be able to bake the computer out into the other room to show some things to my wife as she is not very mobile.I just got looked at the refurbished Mac laptops and a 17" at the Mac store would be over $1600.00 and I can get a PC equal in specifications for $1000.00 or less. I am talking about one with at least 4 GB of ram and 2 GHz Intel processor. I know that there is a magnification built into Universal Access Preferences but I don't like it. I get by setting my resolution to 1024 by 728. I am presently using a 19" Princeton monitor.

QUOTE(Paddy @ Jan 21 2011, 07:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Macdoug, whichever option you choose re: platform, the SIZE of the monitor won't necessarily make it more readable. You need to consider the resolution. With laptops - in fact all LCDs - there is a "native" resolution which works best. On some of the larger laptops, the resolution is quite high - which means that the pixels are quite small and the type can be hard to read - even for those who aren't legally blind.Do try the Toshiba at resolutions other than the native 1680X945 (if that's the one you're looking at) to see if it is acceptable. I know most LCDs don't look too good at resolutions other than the native one. Also make sure you're ok with the glossy screen on those Toshibas - the reflections can be a real nuisance.Is this the one you're considering? http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/satellite/P500I'm not sure if Macs have better accessibility options or not - have you looked at this? http://www.apple.com/accessibility/macosx/vision.htmlWindows info here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/a...y/opsblind.mspx (seem to be a lot of customization options)What sort of monitor are you using right now and what is the resolution?Unfortunately, it will be pretty much impossible to find a recent Intel Mac laptop in the same price range as the Toshiba - even with a 15" screen instead of the 17". That is definitely a problem, if you want portability. Keep in mind that the Toshiba 18.4" isn't really a "laptop" but more of a desktop portable. (It's considerably heftier than a 17" MBP, at almost 9 pounds, and 1.6" thick)

I will reply more to your post tomorrow when I have more time. One thing that I will reply to now is that I have no place to go look at computers except the ones that Wal-Mart handles. I am presently using a 19" Princeton monitor set at 1024 by 768 resolution.

[macdoug]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Jan 21 2011, 07:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

. I know most LCDs don't look too good at resolutions other than the native one. Also make sure you're ok with the glossy screen on those Toshibas - the reflections can be a real nuisance.

What sort of monitor are you using right now and what is the resolution?

Unfortunately, it will be pretty much impossible to find a recent Intel Mac laptop in the same price range as the Toshiba - even with a 15" screen instead of the 17". That is definitely a problem, if you want portability. Keep in mind that the Toshiba 18.4" isn't really a "laptop" but more of a desktop portable. (It's considerably heftier than a 17" MBP, at almost 9 pounds, and 1.6" thick)

I am going to try to send you the links of the two that I am looking at right now although it may be a few months before I can purchase a new computer. the first one is on eBay and is a new one. I think that this place normally sell display models but I can't understand that they only offer a 30 Day TEKKTITAN; Extended SquareTrade Available warranty. The link is http://cgi.ebay.com/TOSHIBA-SATELLITE-P505...=item27b6cf83b2.
The second place is http://www.sportstravelsavings.com/members...HarvestAmerica/. I hope that you can go to these sites as the second one is a membership site.

I told you last night what monitor I was using and what resolution it is set at. The monitor that I am using now is a LCD monitor. As I told you in my post last night the only computers that I can look at are the ones that Walmart handles.

I am not worried about complete portability, just something that I could take out into the front room to show things to my wife who doe not get around very good. It is either get a large PC laptop or nothing at all.

[Paddy]

Macdoug, if you're going to buy online, PLEASE buy from somewhere reputable, with full manufacturers' warranties. Don't buy from eBay if money is an issue - it's way too easy to run into trouble. And besides, eBay (in the case of that auction at least) is MORE expensive than it should be (only $50 less than MSRP).

This is a more recent model (note i3 processor - Core2 Duos are the older models these days) and it's less money:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034SDMZ...G2Y5CRZSTMVKNZK

It has slightly less RAM and doesn't have Blu-Ray.

There are an awful lot of options out there and if you can go and have a look at the 17" and 18" offerings at Walmart, it will help. The screen is going to be one of your major considerations - make sure that it's good from a wide variety of angles (some are not!) and that you're happy with it before you buy.

I don't know what Pittsburgh State has in the way of display models, or whether you'd be able to purchase there, but that might be another option besides Walmart. Their online options far exceed anything at Walmart.

[macdoug]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Jan 22 2011, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There are an awful lot of options out there and if you can go and have a look at the 17" and 18" offerings at Walmart, it will help. The screen is going to be one of your major considerations - make sure that it's good from a wide variety of angles (some are not!) and that you're happy with it before you buy. I don't know what Pittsburgh State has in the way of display models, or whether you'd be able to purchase there, but that might be another option besides Walmart. Their online options far exceed anything at Walmart.

That is what I was trying to say about Walmart. The largest that they have are 17" and they don't have any Toshiba laptops. I never thought of the college and it is Pittsburg University (not Pittsburgh State). PittsburgH is in Pennsylvania.What is the difference between the i3 330M and the i3 370M when it comes to processors and how much money difference?I wanted to make sure that it was understood that if I would get a wife router, I know that I would have to leave my old computer hardwired to the internet the way it is now. Would that work?

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

I would have to leave my old computer hardwired to the internet the way it is now. Would that work?

Just make sure the WiFi router has more than one Ethernet port. It should have one for the cable coming from the DSL/Cable modem, anyway. But you'll need to be sure it has at least one more. The more the better, as I said Ethernet will be faster than the fastest WiFi connection (actually n may be as fast, by now) but it is very handy to have three or four ports that you can use for other things like printers and even the laptop. It is very simple to connect things via Ethernet, there is no WiFi setup required or needed. Anything connected to the Ethernet ports should also be connected to the web with that alone. The only thing you really need the wireless part for is to keep the laptop connected when you're away from the WiFi modem.

I tried to capture some screen images using Universal Access vs. changing the resolution on this iMac. Unfortunately, Snapz Pro still "sees" the different resolution as the native one, so there's no difference in that capture and the normal (1920 x 1200 on the 24" monitor) image. I did use UA to zoom in three times and that does show the increased size of everything. Frankly, I was a little surprised at both methods, the anti-aliasing seems to work well in the two or three formats I tried.

[attachment=2102:Universal_Access_3.jpg]
UA at three positive zoom levels

The other reason I like UA is that you still have the same number of pixels on the monitor (1920 x 1200, in my case). Changing the native resolution, on a Mac, anyway, causes the loss of total pixels.

[Paddy]

Er, unless their web site is wrong, it's Pittsburg State. (my mistake was adding an h at the end...funny how you can just assume you saw an h!)

http://www.pittstate.edu/

Assuming that you don't have a wifi card in the Digital Audio at the moment, yes, you'd have to leave it hardwired to the internet via the router. Wifi routers typically have several ethernet ports.

Or you could get an Airport card for it for less than $50:

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Airport-Card-N...r/dp/B0000899ZD

NOTE: you cannot use an Airport Extreme Card in that Mac.

Actually, on further review - cheaper and no doubt better (as long as you have a spare USB port*): http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Tec...ogy/MXP2802GU2/ - gives you the considerably faster 802.11g capability. Compatible with 10.3.9 and up. (ridiculously cheap too...I'm tempted to snag one for our older Powerbook, which can't get on the Wifi network here with WPA2 enabled.)

Given that you only have USB 1.1 on that Mac, you might consider adding a USB 2.0 card - the Sonnet one is good and it's $28:

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Sonnet%20Technology/USB2/

So - that solves the wireless issue for the existing Mac (if you'd prefer it to be wireless too, that is)

The i3-330m is a 2.16GHz processor with 2 cores and 4 threads. The i3-370m is 2.4GHz processor with 2 cores and 4 threads. There is also an i3-350m with a 2.26 GHz processor. The differences won't be huge.

http://starredreviews.com/intel-core-i3-33...s-i3-350m/2406/
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-i3...or.23753.0.html