OK Laptop owners I need your help...

[debden]

I just purchased a Compaq Presario Notebook laptop.I want to find out if you can connect to the internet while on a flight to your destination? I keep seeing people on planes with a laptop and it looks like they are connecting to the internet?But how can that be if you either need to be hooked up to a phone line or a cable line??
I'm sorry if this is a rediculous question but I know nothing about laptops or how they function.
Thanks for any helpful comments.
Debbie

 

[Galahad]

There may be rare exceptions on charter flights or even when somebody is perhaps breaking the law and connecting through a Verizon "celular" broadband connection, but typically, no, you can't get on the internet in flight.

 

[debden]

Galahad,Thank you for clearing that up for me.I thought these people were accessing the internet with their laptops but probably not.
I plan on downloading movies,games and music to play on long flights but that's probably as much as I'll be able to do in flight...
Thanks again,
Debbie

 

[ducklite]

I use my laptop all the time on flights, but the only time I'm on the Internet is if there's a connection before they close the door.

Why did you think they were on the Internet? A laptop is the same as a desktop only portable, and there are a ton of things you can do without being on the Internet.

As far as downloading music, games, and movies, just be careful not to chew through all your harddrive space. I have a lot of music on my laptop, but no movies, they take a lot of space.

Anne

 

[debden]

Anne,It's probably because when they turned on their laptop the first thing that comes up is Windows XP...so naturally I assumed they had a connection to the internet.But I noticed wether I'm plugged in for the internet or not that same screen comes up.Who knew? Not me obviously.I just got my laptop two days ago...
And yes I do realize that movies take up alot of space.I have a desktop and I only downloaded one movie and then deleted it because my memory was very low.Lesson learned.
Thank you for your reply and helpful suggestions.
Debbie

 

[ducklite]

Yup, Windows XP is just the operating system--the part of the computer that makes it understand how to interpret everything else. It's on most newer computers and laptops these days. It really has nothing to do with the Internet. My brother uses it, and has never connected that particular laptop to the Net.

Anne

 

[bicker]

What would indicate Internet use, more specifically, would be use of a web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer (or Firefox or Opera ...) Even then, it is possible to have applications and data resident on a laptop computer that use a web browser, even with no connection to the Internet.

 

[ducklite]

What would indicate Internet use, more specifically, would be use of a web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer (or Firefox or Opera ...) Even then, it is possible to have applications and data resident on a laptop computer that use a web browser, even with no connection to the Internet.

I agree. I often work on my web site on flights and use the browser to view the pages, even though they are only hosted locally and not online. This could certainly look like I was online to many people.

Anne

 

[DebbieB]

You can also setup your e-mail such as Outlook to download messages before you board, review them and reply offline while onboard and then upload the replies once you get off.

 

[PlutoPony]

Isn't Continental looking at adding internet access in the air next year? Don't know the details but thought I read that on Flyertalk.....

 

[Dan Murphy]

......I'm sorry if this is a rediculous question but I know nothing about laptops or how they function.
Thanks for any helpful comments.
Debbie

Not ridiculous at all, some good observations. Good wishes with your new laptop.

 

[MaeDisney]

I think the internet access is probably more common on international flights. We're flying out to Southeast Asia this summer, and we're taking Korean Airlines. And I read on the website that they do offer internet access while on the plane. Boeing started up this service for some airlines, like Korean Air.