Author Topic: Mac Laptop questions (Read 7266 times)

iGuy · « **on:** August 26, 2006, 11:38:10 AM »

Hello,
My oldest brother is an over the road truck driver. He is gone 2 weeks at a time. He has a PC at home but is never at home to use it. He wants to buy a laptop to take with him on the road. I have him interested in buying an Apple instead of another Windows machine. Although, now days, Macs are almost Windows machines too. Sad but true.

Anyway, I have never owned a laptop so I need advice on what to recommend to him. He says he is willing to spend the money but I didn't get an amount. He will be using the computer for gaming and wireless internet. He is not a big gamer. A couple of good games will keep him satisfied for months.

He says truck stops offer wireless internet service so he will need airport installed in the computer. I have never uses wireless internet so that will be new to me. I assume he will have to pay in order to gain access at these truck stops.

Also, he told me that one of the Cell phone companies is advertising a card for your computer which will allow you access to the internet similiar to the way cell phone signals work. I would like to know more info on that.

Lets get this thread started folks.

Fill me with info.

Ryan

daryl66 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2006, 02:01:09 PM »

QUOTE(iGuy @ Aug 26 2006, 11:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Anyway, I have never owned a laptop so I need advice on what to recommend to him. He says he is willing to spend the money but I didn't get an amount. He will be using the computer for gaming and wireless internet. He is not a big gamer. A couple of good games will keep him satisfied for months.

He says truck stops offer wireless internet service so he will need airport installed in the computer. I have never uses wireless internet so that will be new to me. I assume he will have to pay in order to gain access at these truck stops.

Also, he told me that one of the Cell phone companies is advertising a card for your computer which will allow you access to the internet similiar to the way cell phone signals work. I would like to know more info on that.
Lets get this thread started folks.

Fill me with info.

Ryan

Ryan: I can speak to the Laptop and truck stop questions: I travel with a 12" G4 1.33ghz Powerbook. It works just lovely and I could not be happier.

The "Flying J" truckstops all have WiFi that they have a "daily" charge (7 bucks as I recall) and a monthly charge which I do not recall the charge. They work just as advertised with the powerbook. You can sit in their parking lot, or go inside their "hightech" area. Would imagine that most truckstops (chains) would offer something similar.

Verizon offers the cell service you mention, and the charge is based on the amount of megabits you sign up for I do not know what (if any)additional hardware is required with a powerbook.

Daryl

iGuy · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2006, 02:08:54 PM »

I have looked at Apples laptop lineup and have also talked to my brother. He is on the road so we have been talking over cell phones.

He wants a 15 inch screen so that puts him at $1999 with the lowend Macbook Pro. Also, the fact that the Macbook Pro has a better graphics card is a plus.

I will really be needing info from all you wireless users. I know next to nothing about it since I have never used it.

We are wanting to also set up wireless internet in his home. He currently has an old Windows PC with High speed internet. Can someone explain what I will need to get him set up. I assume I will need the Airport Extreme Base Station? Is there any other brand base stations other than Apple that will work with a Mac?

I will also need to call his highspeed internet provider so they can walk me through the set up for his new Mac.

Ryan

Parker · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2006, 02:30:57 PM »

QUOTE

Verizon offers the cell service you mention, and the charge is based on the amount of megabits you sign up for I do not know what (if any)additional hardware is required with a powerbook.

i connect to the internet via. my cingular cell phone.
i have unlimited Cingular Wireless MediaNet for $19.99 a month. Using my bluetooth phone (Motorola V551/557, Treo 650 and Razr are the only ones i've tested that work successfully and flawlessly) and with the right modem scripts (http://www.taniwha.org.uk/files/Generic3G2004-09.sit - i use the Generic 3G CID1 script), he can be connected ON THE ROAD (like in the middle of nowhere)

However the speeds are mediocre... only around 100kbps download in good spots and 40kbps upload, but i find it good when i'm at sea with the boat or at a marina with no WiFi, or maybe in the car and i just want to go onto TS (and yes i've been on many times in the car) or on the school bus.

Also i would get the 13.3" MacBook... it's really all he really needs, and since he'll be on the move the metal on the MacBook Pro may get all dented up and damaged (like on my old PowerBook G4 12" when it took a few falls.)

MacBook i find much more durable, and with the integrated graphics, you manage to get about an hour of extra battery juice.

That's my 2¢
-Parker

daryl66 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2006, 02:34:10 PM »

QUOTE(iGuy @ Aug 26 2006, 02:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We are wanting to also set up wireless internet in his home. He currently has an old Windows PC with High speed internet. Can someone explain what I will need to get him set up. I assume I will need the Airport Extreme Base Station? Is there any other brand base stations other than Apple that will work with a Mac?

I will also need to call his highspeed internet provider so they can walk me through the set up for his new Mac.

Ryan

In our house we have 2 Mac's. The desktop is a G5 Imac which connects via ethernet cable to a D-link wireless router (multiple port job), which in turn is hooked up to the ISP cable modem via ethernet cable. The Laptop connects to the router via its Airport card. ( I just power it down when I travel and it finds the WIFI ISP all by its self when it gets powered back up at the truckstop, airport, whatever) If it is your intention to make the house "wireless" there will be someone along to walk you thru the steps I am sure.

You are going to be extremely happy with how simple it is to set the Mac up with your ISP. If he already has hs internet it is almost "plug and play"

Good Luck and Happy Laptopping

Daryl

Reiddm · « **Reply #5 on:** August 26, 2006, 05:05:06 PM »

The company I work for uses Verizon wireless, it uses the cell sites in the local area, although in my truck I use a IBM thinkpad, not a Mac, it would work for the Mac’s also, don’t know, but it has it’s on modem that connects to the computer via USB cable and has a external antenna , it’s not bad when out in the field I can check information on the accounts that I work with and get pretty fast responses from the servers that our company uses, the only problem I've had is when you are out of range from the cell sites there is no communications, and if I don’t reconnect within about 30 minutes I have to reset the modem! I work for the local utility company and they give us text capability so if by chance the servers don’t have the information they can get it to us, it’s a cool set up even though I know big brother is watching me, I figure if I do my job I don’t have to worry about them watching!
Now when I'm at starbucks my Pismo works just fine, good luck!!

swhitset · « **Reply #6 on:** August 26, 2006, 05:12:21 PM »

The Verizon EVDO service requires a network card.... I don't know if they are out yet but they did say that they were working on a card for the Macbook Pro to go in the expresscard 34 slot. You need the Pro for this since the regular Macbook does not have this slot.

Steve

Mayo · « **Reply #7 on:** August 26, 2006, 06:58:55 PM »

Here's a vote for an Airport Extreme Base Station. Sure, it's $200 but it is typical Apple: Plug-and-Play vs. Plug-and-Pray. People with some wireless knowledge and time on their hands don't mind fussing with a third-party router. Sometimes they work fine and sometimes they don't...

Regarding set-up: the Apple Extreme Base Station essentially sets itself up. Apple also automatically updates the Base Station software and firmware via Software Update, which requires no input from a human if you want it that way. All other routers require some degree, more or less, of human attention and interaction in order to keep them current.

iGuy · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2006, 08:30:57 PM »

Thanks for all the replies. I have never owned a laptop or used wireless internet so you will all have to talk slow.

This will not only be the first Mac my brother has owned but his first laptop. He likes the sound of the Mac Book Pro because of the screen size and the graphics card. I can't try out either one of them so recommendations like gailwin gave on which model to select will be helpful.

Back to the Aiport Base Station. If I buy it, I can connect it to my brother's current High Speed Modem. Turn it on and the laptop will find the signal? Are there any passwords involved or settings on the laptop I will need to know about?

I am learning from these replies, thank you.

Ryan

Paddy · « **Reply #9 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:16:40 PM »

IAWM - though would add one caveat - unless you want your neighbors mooching off your wireless network - or worse, it is a good idea to password protect (close) your network. That's pretty straightforward too though.

With the PC, assuming that it currently is simply attached to the modem, I'd recommend either using the ethernet port (LAN) on the Apple Extreme for it (and use the laptop wirelessly) or buying a 4-port ethernet hub/switch so that both machines can be wired if desired. Ethernet hubs/switches are really cheap - yikes, I just found the one I have at TigerDirect and it's $4.99!!!! Now that IS cheap! Buy 2! (actually, not a bad idea if you need more than 4 'puters hooked up...)

Netgear FS-605

Parker · « **Reply #10 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:18:20 PM »

QUOTE

Plug-and-Play vs. Plug-and-Pray.

that is the funniest thing i've heard all night

uh... you can bluetooth to your EVDO phone i think now
i'm just not sure how
but i swear it can be done

mastercheif · « **Reply #11 on:** August 27, 2006, 03:36:54 AM »

The Express card EV-DO Adapter for Verizon is out.

http://www.verizonwireless.com:80/b2c/stor...tedPhoneId=2407

And yes gailwin, bluetooth to phone can be done, but the bluetooth connection bottlenecks the EV-DO connection.

swhitset · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2006, 08:13:23 AM »

QUOTE(mastercheif @ Aug 27 2006, 03:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Express card EV-DO Adapter for Verizon is out.

http://www.verizonwireless.com:80/b2c/stor...tedPhoneId=2407

And yes gailwin, bluetooth to phone can be done, but the bluetooth connection bottlenecks the EV-DO connection.

It is also less than an ideal situation considering that you need to tie up the phone each time you want to get on line. Although possible I would consider it too much trouble for regular use. The EVDO card makes everything seemless and much faster.

Steve

Parker · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2006, 11:48:59 AM »

QUOTE

And yes gailwin, bluetooth to phone can be done, but the bluetooth connection bottlenecks the EV-DO connection

that is sooo true jj
(we still need to figure out how to connect chocolate to my macbook

)

iGuy · « **Reply #14 on:** August 27, 2006, 11:51:44 AM »

From what I am reading, if my brother wants continues internet while on the road, he should get an EVDO card and plug it into the Mac Book Pro's express card 34 slot for best results? That is if a cell phone company will have such a card for the Mac in the future.

News:

Author Topic: Mac Laptop questions (Read 7266 times)