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Hi everyone,
I’ve read around about dongles (a term I’d never heard of before reading this site) and connecting my NC-10 to the Internet and stuff, and I *think* I have a pretty good idea now of what’s required, but I still have a little bit of doubt in the back of my mind, so I thought I’d ask here to just double check before I spend any money.
I’m getting a NC-10 for Christmas and I want to sort everything I need beforehand, so it’s good to go on the day. I have a desktop at home that’s connected to Sky through a router. I know the NC-10 has a wireless card, so when I’m around the house, would I simply connect to the Internet via Sky…? Like I do at the moment with my PS3? Or will I need a dongle?
What about when I’m out of the house, though? I know there are Wi-fi hot spots in and around places, but what about in general…what would I use, then?
I’d like to get a dongle anyway, as I’d like to be able to files and hard drives, etc. Can anyone recommend a good dongle?
I think I’ve made sense with all of that… I feel a bit silly asking, but the NC-10 will be my first “laptop”, as I’ve always had a desktop, so I’m entering unfamiliar territory…
Thanks.
the dongle chat around here is specifically about usb 3g modems to enable wireless gsm internet access anywhere in the world (or at least where your provider has a network). its basically the same as using the internet on your phone.
if you want to connect to a wireless access point like your sky-supplied netgear router, you can do it without any extra gear, but this is only a short range connection and will basically only be useable to you within your house or garden. there are tons of freely available wifi networks around provided by establishments like pubs and mcdonalds you can connect to in the same fashion too, so really, unless you run a business and need to get your emails the second they come through regardless fo where you are int eh world there isnt that much point in getting a 3g dongle modem and paying extortionate ammounts of money just for the pleasure of calling your pal an asshole over msn or uploading your pictures to bebo while you’re on the beach in cornwall or at the top of a rollercoaster in blackpool.
Quote:I’d like to get a dongle anyway, as I’d like to be able to files and hard drives, etc. Can anyone recommend a good dongle?I think you may be a little bit confused about the “dongle”. A “dongle” is usually a USB 3G modem which as hef points out allows you to connect to the internet anywhere there is a GSM/3G network (provided you have the relevant subscription/contract).
Sharing files/hard drives over a home network can be done using WiFi (which the NC10 has built in). This can be done through your Sky router.
To sum up – the NC10 has everything built in that you need to access the internet at home through your sky router and share files / printers / hard drives on a home network. A “dongle” is only needed if you want to access the internet somewhere that you don’t have access to a WiFi network.
A dongle can be a bluetooth dongle too,but it sounds like you’re talking about a wi-fi “dongle”??
It you can explain more what you’re on about slightly it might help 🙂
Ah! Youth! 🙂
A dongle is any hardware attachment that plugs into a port to let software run (In the dark ages, some software came with a Parallel port dongle without which the software wouldn’t run as a form of primitive piracy control).
As the NC10 has built in wifi you won’t need a wifi dongle to connect to your Sky router, but you might want one for when you’re out and about.
M.
[quote1228753321=hef]so really, unless you run a business and need to get your emails the second they come through regardless fo where you are int eh world there isnt that much point in getting a 3g dongle modem and paying extortionate ammounts of money just for the pleasure of calling your pal an asshole over msn or uploading your pictures to bebo while you’re on the beach in cornwall or at the top of a rollercoaster in blackpool.[/quote1228753321]
Hahahaha! Thank you Hef, both for the helpful advice and for a good laugh! 🙂Thanks to everyone else as well, of course. It’s good to hear that I don’t need anything extra.
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