Computer experts..help needed.

[tinkerrn]

I had purchased 4 used laptops from my school in 2004. They are Fujitsu i series Lifebooks. I have never been able to use one because it had a borken modem, one modem went out last year, and the other had coffee split on the keyboard. Now, I am using the last workable one. I am have decided to upgrade from dial up to broadband. I will need to buy a wireless modem for this laptop. I am just curious....should I just go ahead and upgrade now to a fully functioning computer? I had thought about taking the other in and getting them fixed, but it seems like a waste of money. Any thoughts?

 

[tinkerrn]

Oh, they were really cheap...$200.00 each. So the cost I have lost is minimal. Just don't want to put more into the repairs than what I paid for them.

 

[BunsenH]

I would not put time and $$ into them. Get yourself a new laptop and it will have wireless access built in. You will also need a wireless router for your broadband connection.

 

[ransom]

I say go for the new laptop as well, if you can afford it. Pouring money into old laptops has, in my experience, never been a winning proposition.

 

[themarquis]

I would generally tend to agree that putting money into an old laptop is money wasted. However, from your post it seems like minimally, you just want to get the laptop wireless-ready. A wireless card will run you somewhere between 30-50 dollars (used for 10 bucks or so) -- not a lot of money! Another user pointed out you will also need a wireless router. True, but you will need one whether you buy a new laptop or not.

I should also note that if you just want broadband access, you don't need wireless. You can plug your laptop directly into the dsl modem you will get from the dsl provider. (I am doing this right now) You'll still be connected (a bit of an inconvenience), but you'll be getting high-speed internet, at the upgrade cost of $0 !

You will eventually need to buy a new laptop, but if the only thing bugging you about your old one is the wireless, why throw away something that is perfectly good? On the other hand, it could crash and burn tomorrow ... you never know!

 

[tinkerrn]

Thanks for the advise. I just hate buying a new laptop right now. We are in a pinch for cash right now. I would really rather wait until we are out of the 'mild' financial crisis and buy a laptop that is really what we want. I guess I can buy a card and a router. My mom had this same computer I am on a year ago, she had wirless broadband on it. I need to go to Best Buy this week. Thanks!

 

[twinklebug]

I had purchased 4 used laptops from my school in 2004. They are Fujitsu i series Lifebooks. I have never been able to use one because it had a borken modem, one modem went out last year, and the other had coffee split on the keyboard. Now, I am using the last workable one. I am have decided to upgrade from dial up to broadband. I will need to buy a wireless modem for this laptop. I am just curious....should I just go ahead and upgrade now to a fully functioning computer? I had thought about taking the other in and getting them fixed, but it seems like a waste of money. Any thoughts?

Sell all four on eBay (or better yet, CraigsList so you don't pay fees). You should be able to get at least $400 for all four. Use that to buy a new one.

Look what this guy is selling just one working one for:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fujitsu-I-Serie...ryZ18792QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[jsmith]

um to actually answer your question-there is no such thing as a wireless modem-if you are going to connect to wireless you would need a wireless router on your broadband modem and i wireless card=or wireless USB adapter on the laptop. You dont NEED any of those things to connect to broadband if you are using a hard wire connection-when the company comes to install your broad band they will install a broadband modem-its external to your computer-then all you NEED to connect is a piece of ethernet cable long enough to let you sit where wyou want to use the laptop. The ISP will also provide software that you will need to install.

 

[themarquis]

oh just to expand on the wireless/wired issue:

the hardware will usually be sent to you by the high-speed internet provider. if you, for example, sign up with yahoo sbc for dsl, they will send you either a) a dsl modem or b) a dsl wireless modem. With yahoo sbc (I don't know about other providers), the dsl modem costs 50 dollars and the wireless modem is about 90 I think; however, both ship with a 50 dollar rebate. So effectively a regular dsl modem is free. (whoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!) (other providers have recently had free setup deals, too). I'm mentioning this because it sounds like you're a bit strapped for cash (aren't we all??)

The difference between the two types of hardware is that a dsl modem is "wired" -- you plug it directly into the phone jack. Then if you want, you can use an ethernet cable (looks like a modem cable but thicker) you plug your laptop/desktop right into the modem. You can't wander freely about the house because you're still plugged in, but you're getting high-speed internet, which is the important part.

The wireless modem can be used the same way if you want; but it can also provide wireless reception if you have wireless cards in your laptops. (And in response to another poster, there IS such a thing as a wireless modem. Some high-speed internet providers can ship you a single device that functions both as a dsl modem and as a router. I have one sitting right next to me!)

Anyway, the point is that if you want to be ultra-cheap, you may be able to get the hardware for free -- you'll just pay for the monthly rates for dsl (no wireless card needed). If you want to be semi-ultra-cheap, we're just talking about the purchase of a wireless card plus either a wireless router (the traditional way to get wireless) or a wireless modem (as explained earlier) plus the monthly rates. PM me if you need any help getting set up! Hope that was not too much technobabble for you!

 

[tinkerrn]

Well, I am uber confused now. I spoke with the cable company and they told me that I need to buy the wireless modem. They have a reg modem, but its 39.00. He told me that since it is a laptop, I need to buy my own. i am having second thought on it all now. Maybe I just need to stick with my dial up. This is getting to be a bigger pain than i thought.

 

[themarquis]

hi tinkernn, I didn't realize you were getting broadband thru the cable company. I'm not totally sure how that works, but since you're an existing customer (I assume), they won't give you any good deals. You could look into regular dsl, since it is usually cheaper. Try sbc yahoo and check if its available in your area. It is about 12-14 dollars a mo, plus I think they're still offering free setup and a free modem. We looked into cable internet but decided it was a bit of a ripoff (tho it would depend on what rate they're offering you, of course!)

 

[BunsenH]

tinkerrn, the info from your cable co. sounds odd. It should not matter if you have a laptop or a desktop. They provide the cable modem and you attach it to your network port through an Ethernet cable. The cable modem should be 'free' or provided as an incentive to add their Internet service. You may need to negotiate or wait for a promotion. Don't be discouraged by the red tape. The technical part of the installation is simpler and you will wonder how you did without broadband for so long.