Before I spend $300....

[britfish]

on the netbook we have been saving for. Can I use it at Disney? The person at Staples told me that you HAVE to have wifi to go online and I don't know if they have wifi at Disney. I also am not sure I want to trust the Staples guy.
I need it to go online for a class I am taking so online is a must at Dis.

 

[brandydandy]

Most all of the hotels have Wifi, but it is pay internet 9.99 per day.

Wifi just means internet signal.

 

[java]

where in disney are you looking for wifi- inside the parks- not that my son could find.
Hotels - some yes some no- some you have to pay for some not. I am sure someone will have better info that me.

 

[britfish]

we are staying at CBR if that makes a difference. Is that true, that a netbook can only go online with wifi?

 

[TheBeadPirate]

You may want to post this over on the resorts board also to see if CBR has wifi. If you haven't already.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I wouldn't trust the Staples guy. The only way I can think of for that to be true is if there were no usb ports, and if that's the case you don't want that netbook. And, I was just reading that when the new Windows OS comes out, it's going to be a real headache for netbooks especially. Here's the link to the article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204900904574304283334746634.html

Netbooks are so cute, but I'm waiting to buy.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

The Disney resorts do not have WiFi, except some of the convention resorts have it in the lobby areas. The rooms use wired access. None of it is free. You can get a wireless router to use in your room with the wired service.

 

[msmayor]

I wouldn't trust the Staples guy. The only way I can think of for that to be true is if there were no usb ports, and if that's the case you don't want that netbook. And, I was just reading that when the new Windows OS comes out, it's going to be a real headache for netbooks especially. Here's the link to the article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204900904574304283334746634.html

Netbooks are so cute, but I'm waiting to buy.

Actually, I don't think a USB port matters...USB ports are to enable you to connect peripheral hardware.

You need an ethernet port to connect to a hard-wire internet outlet OR an internal modem and a phone port to connect to a phone line.

 

[britfish]

Ok, so no wifi. Now I just need to find out if a netbook can access the internet w/ out wifi. I wonder if I could contact Acer since that is the brand netbook we are buying. I wish I was more "techie".

 

[TheBeadPirate]

I'm not sure which one you are looking at but the mini10 on Dell's website has an ethernet port- so you could get on the internet with the wired service using the ethernet cable Disney provides.

The Staples guy probably isn't paying that much attention- Dell didn't advertise anything other than wifi on their site. I saw the ethernet port in a pic in the photo gallery and when you bring up the tech specs page it mentions it there- but otherwise the push is all wifi and bluetooth.


Look on the website of the brand you're looking at.

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

My dh has the acer net book, and I just went and look..it does have an ethernet port, so you should be able to get on the internet.

 

[britfish]

thank you so much, we are looking at the Acer and the HP mini, I went to Staples to see them IRL and pick which on,but left because of what the salesman said about the internet. When I confirmed it with him he said there was even a mention of it in Consumer Reports recently. I hate to admit I wasn't sure what the ethernet port looked like so I just left. I have been saving too long to get somthing that won't work.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

we are staying at CBR if that makes a difference. Is that true, that a netbook can only go online with wifi?

no, a netbook can go online via Ethernet cable. Make sure the netbook you buy has built in modem.



here's one I thought you might like:

http://www.amazon.com/Disney-Netpal...34S/ref=sr_na_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1248806479&sr=1-2

also in blue

it is a Asus and from all I have read they get really good reviews


I am waiting to get one after windows 7 comes out, running 7 on my laptop and I love it.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Actually, I don't think a USB port matters...USB ports are to enable you to connect peripheral hardware.

You need an ethernet port to connect to a hard-wire internet outlet OR an internal modem and a phone port to connect to a phone line.

All true. And I use broadband internet that inserts into a usb port. Netbooks are so stripped down that while they may not have an ethernet port or a phone line port, I can't imagine them not having a usb port, especially for ipods, flash drives, etc.

OP, here is a link to cnet.com with some netbook reviews:

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-netbooks/?tag=mncol;txt

 

[speedyf]

I'm an IT Manager here at work. Most netbooks will have at least 3 USB ports, an ethernet port, and a wireless network card (to connect to wifi).

Disney only offers the wired ethernet connection at CBR for $9.99 per 24 hour period. I do remember reading awhile back that Disney was testing Wi-Fi at some of the convention resorts, but I don't remember reading anything more about it.

Most netbooks will NOT have a wired modem built in. Some of them have modems for wireless carriers like AT&T or Verizon built into the laptop. To be able to use this, you would need to sign up for service through a provider like AT&T, etc. for a monthly fee (usually around $40-$60 per month).

Speed

 

[TifffanyD]

I was looking at netbooks too but found some major limitations (slow speed, a lot didn't have cd/dvd drives). Anyways I found an Acer notebook that is tiny like a netbook and has long battery life but performance of a notebook. So maybe look for something like that! Mine is smallish, lightweight (under 3 lbs) and the battery can last up to 8 hours. I am loving it

 

[britfish]

I'm an IT Manager here at work. Most netbooks will have at least 3 USB ports, an ethernet port, and a wireless network card (to connect to wifi).

Disney only offers the wired ethernet connection at CBR for $9.99 per 24 hour period. I do remember reading awhile back that Disney was testing Wi-Fi at some of the convention resorts, but I don't remember reading anything more about it.

Most netbooks will NOT have a wired modem built in. Some of them have modems for wireless carriers like AT&T or Verizon built into the laptop. To be able to use this, you would need to sign up for service through a provider like AT&T, etc. for a monthly fee (usually around $40-$60 per month).

Speed

So in order to get on internet at a place like Disney would you need a wired modem in your computer? So at Disney a net book would not work unless I have my own wireless carrier.
thanks for helping me through this

 

[britfish]

I was looking at netbooks too but found some major limitations (slow speed, a lot didn't have cd/dvd drives). Anyways I found an Acer notebook that is tiny like a netbook and has long battery life but performance of a notebook. So maybe look for something like that! Mine is smallish, lightweight (under 3 lbs) and the battery can last up to 8 hours. I am loving it

Do you know the model number?

 

[speedyf]

So in order to get on internet at a place like Disney would you need a wired modem in your computer? So at Disney a net book would not work unless I have my own wireless carrier.
thanks for helping me through this

I'm sorry...I was probably a little vague in my post.

To connect to the internet at Disney, you would use the ethernet port on your laptop. The ethernet port (aka network card or NIC) looks like a regular phone jack on the side or back of your computer except that the jack size is bigger.

The rooms at CBR have a cable with instructions on how to connect. You plug that cable into your ethernet port on your laptop and it should connect without any problems.

Again...there is the $9.99 charge per 24 hour period.

A standard modem is almost obsolete. Unless you have dial-up at home for internet connection (meaning that you dial a phone number to connect to the internet), I can't see any other time you would ever use a modem. Most hotels that offer internet access have either wireless access (wi-fi) or (like CBR) the hotel has a wired ethernet connection in the room.

As for the speed of the Netbook, it really depends on what you want to do with it. If you are just looking to do basic word processing, maybe a basic spreadsheet, e-mail, and websurfing...they tend to be just fine.

Microsoft has permitted these companies to offer these Netbooks with Windows XP Home edition instead of the new memory intensive Windows Vista. The only problem is that they will not allow the companies to put more than 1GB of RAM (memory) in the computer. The chipset that most of these Netbooks use only allows up to 2GB of RAM. I purchased a 2GB module for around $27 and replaced my 1GB memory module with a 2GB memory module. My netbook runs like a dream. I have an MSI Wind 10" Netbook. I purchased it for $329. It has a 160gb Hard Drive (which is also the biggest Microsoft will allow in Netbooks being sold with Windows XP Home).

I purchased an external DVD burner drive for $50 and I was able to load all my programs using that drive. I just leave the drive at home.

Speed

 

[madge]

on the netbook we have been saving for. Can I use it at Disney? The person at Staples told me that you HAVE to have wifi to go online and I don't know if they have wifi at Disney. I also am not sure I want to trust the Staples guy.
I need it to go online for a class I am taking so online is a must at Dis.

the netbook you're buying doesn't have an ethernet jack? I thought that was pretty standard in all computers?