Laptops are now essential for college students as the books. Today many professors will assign online work and homework. Some colleges even now have online classes you can take. A common question from college students is “What is the best laptop computer for college students?” I want to say there is not exactly one laptop that is the best for all college students. There are a huge variety of laptops available to choose from. I am going to tell you what you should look for in a laptop and I provide a link to a recommendation where you can in my opinion buy the best laptop computer for college student.

Buy a laptop you can afford

There are a lot of fancy laptops out there, but you do not need to buy the most expensive laptop. As a college student you already have tuition, books, school materials, and possible loans to pay for. Most laptops now today can do pretty much the same thing, and provide what is needed for school, such internet access, word processing, basic tasks, music, and even games that you may be interested in.

A light and thin laptop is best

A common reason people love laptops is because of their portability. As a college student you most likely will have to carry multiple books with you throughout the campus for your class. You do not need a heavy fat machine adding extra weight to drag you down. Many up-to-date lightweight laptops are now on the market, and will make your walk through the campus a lot easier.

Buying a laptop with wireless internet is important

Today most colleges provide wireless internet on their campus, and offer the service to their students. So it is important for you to buy a laptop with wireless internet access. A laptop with wireless internet access can connect to the school’s wireless internet connection anywhere within the campus, regardless if you is outside or in one of the school’s facilities. If your school do not have wireless internet, it most likely will soon, so it is still important to buy a laptop with wireless internet access.

Space and Speed

I would like to also mention that if you plan on storing music and games on your laptop, you should consider the speed and hard drive capacity when buying a laptop. You should buy a laptop with at least 60-70 GB (Gigabites) of hard drive capacity (hard drive stores information) and processor speed of at least 1.46GHz (determines speed of laptop)

By: Terrell D. James

As a modern day entrepreneur you’re always on the go. That means video conferencing in the back of a cab, client research at your favorite coffee shop, and checking your e-mail while working out at the gym. You need a mobile broadband Internet service that can not only keep up with your fast-paced work life but also go everywhere you need to be. With 4G wireless Internet, you can have fast, reliable access to the Internet from anywhere around town, making your workday and business more productive and therefore, more successful.

4G wireless is a substitute for dial-up or Wi-Fi. It enables you to connect to the Internet regardless of where you are without being inhibited by plug-ins or unreliable service-all you need is your laptop and a provider. With 4G wireless Internet, the latest in WiMax technology is used to ensure the best coverage. WiMax is a wireless communication system that connects your computer to the Internet no matter where you are. It functions much like Wi-Fi; however, it actually has a much larger connection range, which lets you work without being restricted to one location. With WiMax technology and 4G wireless Internet service, your office is everywhere-the park, the store, even your friend’s apartment on the other side of town.

There is a package for every lifestyle and budget. Whether you work at home or all around town, there is a mobile broadband service to best suit your needs. With 4G in your home, you can access the Internet from every room, your garage, even your backyard. There is also a mobile broadband package option. This package lets you take your 4G wireless connection everywhere you go, giving you access to the Internet 24/7. A third package allows you to combine these options, giving you unlimited access at home and around town.

Setting up your 4G wireless access is as easy as using it. All you have to do is call a mobile broadband representative and they can hook you up to 4G wireless Internet service by the next day. There is no installation necessary and no need to make an appointment with a mobile broadband representative to come to your home. Everything can be done over the phone to set you up with your 4G wireless Internet service, getting you started with the latest in wireless technology as soon as possible.

When you’re always on the go, you need an Internet service that goes everywhere you need to be. With 4G wireless, your Internet is with you all of the time, all over the place. Whether you need mobile broadband all over town or all over your home, there is a 4G plan to fit your needs. And with the latest in WiMax technology, you can be rest assured that you’re getting the most of your Internet service. The modern day entrepreneur no longer has to rely on Wi-Fi; he or she can work without restriction in their home and across town. With 4G wireless Internet, you can be the entrepreneur that is productive and successful no matter where you are.

By: Jason Tandle

Technology has indeed come a long way; before you can only access the internet by way of a telephone line, and that means you have to be glued to your home or workplace in order to use the internet.

These days, you can use the internet even if you are mobile or are traveling. A recent breakthrough in technology features wireless internet for laptops. This is another innovation in which one can be connected to the internet and can surf through different sites without the cables anytime and anywhere.

This is especially beneficial to those who have laptops and who are constantly traveling, because this only means that you are connected to the internet 24/7. Even if you are traveling, or on vacation, you will still be able to check your emails, monitor your investments, do your assignments, make new friends in all the social networking sites, and so on. There is so much you can do if you are connected to the internet!

This particular technological breakthrough emphasizes versatility, mobility and connection – three things that characterize the modern way of living. People who are always on the go can also surf the internet using their laptops by simply going to a place where there is a Wi-Fi hot spot.

These days, if you have not yet heard of the term Wi-Fi, you are outdated. Wi-Fi is changing the way people are living, and it is making the world a lot smaller. Whether at home or at the office, wireless internet for laptops is a lot more convenient to use because you do not have cables to hook to a telephone line anymore; just turn on your laptop, and you are connected almost instantly.

There are several wireless internet service providers to choose from by people who are constantly on the go and those want to stay connected. Popular names for Wi-Fi include Verizon and AT&T.

By: Dwayne Van Den Heuvel

I don’t know how I ever did without broadband internet service. The amount of information I have access to is incredible. Any time, anywhere in my home, at the click of a button. I’m talking about downloading good quality Free video productions about science and nature, and several other categories, right on my computer. Free audio podcasts, and music, on my computer. I surf the web on my laptop from any room in my house. I recommend this freedom to anyone! So, how can you get broadband and even wireless internet connections in your house? It’s easy, and you do not have to spend a fortune.

AOL has it’s benefits, but one thing is for sure, it does not have SPEED. Any promise of faster AOL service is merely caching of frequently viewed pages, which simply means once a page has loaded AOL saves it for the next time you visit. This will make loading regular graphics and information faster, but new data and new advertisements will still take just as long, and it will not increase the download speed of video and audio content.

I lived with AOL for a few years and finally discovered how I could surf faster for even less money. I think AOL’s basic rate is still around $20 or $25 per month. My broadband service, through Verizon, costs about $17 or $18 per month (after taxes and USF fee, keep reading) and is 10 times faster. I’ve timed it. In my area, using existing phone lines, I can download 6 or 7 mb (that 6 or 7,000,000 bytes) in about one minute. Which means it takes me about 5-7 minutes to download a 5 or 6 minute video production, or 2-3 minutes for a one hour audio only podcast.

Why am I telling you all this? Because I hate seeing people spend too much money on internet services that don’t offer the speed and quality that is available elsewhere. AOL can continue to charge that higher rate because AOL customers are willing to pay it, mostly because they don’t understand how it all works, and that something else available, faster and cheaper. AOL is convenient and has a lot of great features, all presented nicely in a simple interface. That’s what you’re paying for. But if you know where to go online (for example… GOOGLE.com) you can find all of the information and news you need with a simple search. Haven’t you heard? Google rules!

Anyway, back to what I was talking about, wireless high speed internet for your computer. My wife and I decided to upgrade to Verizon DSL for $14.99 per month (with a one year contract, big deal), plus taxes and an additional fee (Universal Service Fund, a federal program that helps subsidize rural telephone service and provide Internet access to schools and libraries.) which brings it up to about $17 or $18. After weighing the options and benefits we thought it was worth it, and it has been. Check in your local area, I’m sure you can find a DSL service offering a similar plan, or check Verizon.

To take it one step further I installed a wireless router with ports for my old, ethernet-bound computers. Now my wife and I have 4 computer networked in our own home, and can take our laptops anywhere in the house, even outside in the back yard, and surf the web 10 times faster than we could before. Actually more than 10 times faster.

Average download speeds with our AOL service were around 4 to 5 KB per second (that’s 4 or 5 thousand bytes ber second). Even if they advertised higher, the rate most home owners were likely to get was much less due to the quality of phone lines in their home and around town. Sometimes if the wind blew hard enough we’d notice a lag in our connectivity with AOL. I’m not kidding.

Now, for less than what our AOL service cost, we’re downloading at speeds anywhere from 70,000 bytes to 90,000 bytes per second. That’s about twenty times faster than before! The number advertised by Verizon for our DSL plan is 768kbps. Notice the small b, that’s bits. That means 768,000 bits per second, which is (768 ? 96,000 Bytes per second. Of course, like dial up, DSL uses our phone lines so that rate will vary, but it will always be much faster than dial-up.

Sure we could have upgraded to cable broadband, but for that we would have had to upgrade our cable service (I’ll explain in a minute) and pay about $40 per month on top of that for cable internet speeds.

Yes, highest cable internet speeds dwarf our DLS speeds but I ask you, does a microwave cook fast enough? I hear people complaining at work who have to wait 2 minutes for their food to heat up. Give me a break! Sure, faster is better, but at what cost? Patience is relative.

I mentioned upgrading our cable TV service. My wife and I don’t watch too much TV, and we don’t need the premium channels. We learned that “antenna service” is available from our local cable company for about $12 per month. They don’t advertise that too loudly do they? Of course not, they want as many people as possible to pay $50 per month for full cable programming. I think it may even be more than that in some areas.

In order for us to get cable modem we would have to upgrade first to full cable, for $50 or so, then pay an additional $30 or so on top of that for cable modem. Let’s see, right now we pay $12 plus, say, $18 for our TV and internet services, that’s about $30 we spend each month for internet and TV. We have faster internet, and no extra channels we’ll never watch. Cable service would cost us $80 to $90! I can’t justify that expense.

Sure, when I visit my friend and connect to his wireless network with my laptop I can download stuff in the blink of an eye, maybe 10 mb (10,000,000) in the same amount of time it takes me to download 1 mb, and I get jealous. But we just can’t afford that right now, that’s why I’m sharing this with you.

If you would like to increase the speed at which you can access new information, new technology, videos, music and movies (yeah, I download movies sometimes – click download and walk away for a few hours, but I’m talking a FULL LENGTH MOVIE), but don’t want to spend too much, I’m here to tell you that it is possible.

if you are willing to save money, get faster internet speeds, and recharge some dormant brain cells getting used to the new technology and services online, then you can cut loose from overpriced dial-up service and switch to broadband. It can be done.

Oh, and if you want to save money on TV, consider this… Check with your local cable provider about antenna service, pay under $20 per month for basic TV channels (clean picture), and download iTunes (Free) because you can download a lot of TV shows — a growing collection from a number of networks — for only $3 each. To tell you the truth, I’d rather pay $3 for a TV episode I want to see, than pay $40 per month for shows I’ll never see.

And the future is here now! Consider Apple Computer, Inc, the wonderful company with a huge influence on society, and developer of iTunes, the software you can own for free to download music, podcasts, vidcasts, and those TV shows I told you about. Apple just released AppleTV, which will allow you to watch all of that iTunes content right on your television. Right now the unit runs about $300 (one time purchase price), but I guarantee you a year or two down the road, when you’re ready to tackle it, the price will be more affordable.

I also mentioned that my wife and I have wireless internet right in our home. It is definitely affordable, and you don’t need to be an IT specialist to hook it all up! It comes with instructions and a CD-ROM set-up disc that will walk you through it all. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

I bought a Wireless-G router from Linksys, but many brands are available. My father-in-law opted for the one that ships for a nominal fee (I think it may have even been free) with his Verizon DSL service. He can plug in 2 or 3 computers, plus multiple wireless laptop computers. He and my mother-in-law actually have two of the flat-screen iMacs that don’t even have to plug into anything but the power outlet. They are connected wirelessly to the internet.

Bottom line… Don’t be afraid of technology. Take your time, explore your options, and talk to someone who has done it. Anyone can enjoy the countless benefits of broadband internet service and a wireless network. Come on now, we’re in the 21st century you know! Buck Rogers was zipping around in his jet pack right around now, wasn’t he? Boy, how things change!

Technology grows exponentially, and becomes more affordable as the years pass. Mohr’s law at work. That’s all for now folks. See you on the flip side!

By: Drew Vics

We have all come a long way from connecting to the internet via the old 2400 baud telephone line modem to a slow AOL connection. Now, there are many ways to connect to high-speed internet at various costs and service levels. Today, the Cable TV provided high-speed internet access usually costs about $50 per month in the United States and provides speeds from 1 megabits per second to 3 megabits per second (in some locations). The baby bells have also jumped on the high-speed internet service bandwagon, with various DSL service offers. The DSL service is delivered to your home or office over a standard telephone line, and the cost can be as low as $25 per month for high-speed access.

The best thing about high-speed internet service (other than you don’t have to wait forever for your favorite web page to load) is the option to connect other users to your same internet connection – and share the service. There are two ways to share an internet connection – either hard wire network (using twisted (4) pair Cat 5 wire), or Wireless network. The old-fashioned hard-wire method is still the best for constant connectivity and security. With a hard-wire network and the correct security precautions, it is very difficult for a hacker to access your network from across the street! However, wiring your house or small business for hard-wired internet and network access can be a big job with big costs, and your computer is “stuck” in one location near the wire outlet. Today the wireless network solutions from Linksys? (a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc.) and CableOrganizer.com are affordable, reliable, and secure. Here is a fast primer on how to build your first indoor wireless network to share internet access.

The first thing you have to do is purchase a high-speed internet connection from your favorite local internet provider. Both DSL or Cable internet access will be delivered through a high-speed DSL or Cable modem. Now to set-up a simple wireless network you need two more things; a Wireless Router (to connect to your high-speed modem), and a way to receive the wireless signal at your computer, a wireless network card. Wireless Network Cards are available for internal installation as a PCI card, or, as an external plug-in card for your laptop, or as a USB port connection on any computer. I prefer the USB port connected network cards because they are easily portable to any computer (laptop or desktop). The instructions that are provided with the router and the network cards are relatively easy to understand. Just remember to follow the instructions carefully from the beginning. You will be connected wirelessly to the router and the internet very quickly, and you will be amazed at the quality of the 300 feet range connection.

Before completing your wireless network configuration, please don’t forget to install the recommended security precautions. The Linksys? Wireless Routers allow you to specify only the computers that you want to allow access to your network (via the network card MAC address). And, you can also configure 128-bit encryption of all the wireless traffic from your computers to the wireless router. This security is sufficient to deny access to the most malicious hacker attempts, and it is all provided free with your Linksys? Wireless network from CableOrganizer.com. There is nothing better than surfing the net wirelessly from your backyard patio on a nice day. Have fun!

By: Dennis Oley

Buying a new laptop or notebook can be an exhilarating time in a person’s life and despite the fact that that the new laptop might come with WiFi you still really should consider purchasing a wireless internet access card. This little device can come in very handy for people who are on the go. All you have to do is plug it in and it’ll immediately pick up a connection for you.

The WiFi access that comes with your portable device may, at first glance, seem as if it is enough to get by on. Whenever you go anywhere that provides free wireless internet access on an unsecured network you are going to be able to get on the web and do some web surfing and even chat with some friends, still for the serious internet user, using an unsecured network really won’t cut it.

Having a wireless internet access card will be able to make it possible for you the freedom to take care of your personal business on the web and make it possible for you to make use of a secured connection while doing so. While there are many things that you can do with an unsecured connection you don’t want to shop online or provide passwords and other personal information on an unsecured connection because this could make it possible for someone to steal your identity and commit fraud.

A wireless internet access card is also a fantastic device to use when you are visiting relatives that do not have an internet connection or those places that don’t allow you free internet access. You can purchase such a card from your internet provider or directly from your cell phone company and really it is a very simple device to use and is an investment that is well worth the cost considering it presents you with the freedom to utilize your portable laptop or notebook where ever you are and even while you are driving around town.

This is the kind of freedom that your standard WiFi access will not provide you. Accessing the net from any location for one low monthly cost is truly a blessing and while you might only be able to access a dial up connection in some remote locations you’ll find that overall you have a high speed connection in most places that you travel to which allows you to access information quickly and without hassle. While most laptops come with some form of internet access availability these days it’s a much wiser investment to purchase your own wireless internet access card and be assured that you will be able to receive a good high speed internet connection everywhere that you go.

By: Brian Lakeman

There are a number of factors that should be considered when shopping for a USB wireless card. This particular type of wireless card provides an individual with the capability of accessing the internet from any desktop or laptop through the USB port. The internet service is usually provided through a telecommunications carrier and the individual has the ability to access internet from any computer at anytime by simply connecting the wireless card to the computer. Picking the right wireless card that will operate via a usb port requires some research.

One of the biggest factors when choosing this type of wireless card is the provider of the internet service. Wireless cards are great but they really are only as good as the network that they are on. There are different carriers that provide data service. It is highly recommended that you conduct research to determine which network provides the best coverage and data service in your area. Some carriers have a greater presence in certain areas so it is best to find out about the coverage quality before committing to purchasing mobile internet service. Likewise, just like the coverage areas vary so do the speeds. Some carriers also have better connectivity for their internet services. Overall, you want to select a carrier that has quality coverage and connectivity in most areas. A usb wireless card is mainly used by those that need internet access while mobile so it is highly recommended that you select a carrier that has good service in most areas so that you can get the most from the card.

If you purchase a mobile internet service package from a telecommunications carrier you can obtain a wireless card that is operated through a usb port from the carrier. Some carriers offer this card for free as a perk to individuals that purchase the data service packages. However, you can purchase the card that suits you personally. It is best to choose a card that will be protected from damage so look for a card that has a cap or a turning function that will hide the connecting end to prevent possible damage. Also, some people worry about losing their cards because they are so small and unlike other wireless cards the usb type are not placed in the computer permanently. To avoid the loss of your wireless card you should consider purchasing a carrying strap that can be connected to the usb and worn around your wrist or your neck. In addition, for those who travel a lot and demand internet connectivity purchasing a usb card that has an antenna is a good option. As stated above the coverage between carriers can vary. This is the case as one travels. To assist yourself in obtaining the best connectivity in any location a usb wireless card with an antenna can locate signals better than the traditional cards. Cards with extras such as antennas do cost more money but are worthwhile for the benefits that they offer.

If you are unsure which usb card is best for wireless service you should consult with a salesperson at a local electronics store or at the store of the carrier that you are interested in using for internet service. These individuals should be able to help you pick the card that will meet you mobile internet needs.

By: Jennifer Waller

For many consumers, the process of buying a new cell phone is one wrought with excitement. With a myriad of new features, significantly faster speeds, the ability to access almost as many programs and applications as a laptop, it often seems as though a new cell phone will be life changing, freeing its new owner from the need to stay connected to the world by way of LAN cables. However, to date, the reality has been that these devices are usually limited by the strength of the nearest WiFi connection, often turning internet access into a jumbled page of headlines, limiting emails to text-only communications, and potentially turning a smart-phone into the same text-message and phone call only device that it was intended to replace.

The arrival of WiMax and 4G wireless internet, however, aims to change this. While much is made of the coming availability of 4G wireless internet access, many consumers do not yet realize that this technology will not necessarily require additional investment in a new phone, but will enable them to harness the power of the phone that they already have. On average, 4G wireless internet speeds powered by WiMax are four times faster than the speed currently offered by the fastest 3G networks today from cell phone providers. What this means for users is that many smart phone owners will be able to stream high definition video, watch high definition television, and download full-length feature films to their handsets in a matter of minutes. However, as, if not more important than the speed, is the overlapping coverage that WiMax networks offer users.

Part of the problem with accessing the internet using a cell phone is that users are reliant on either their actual phone service, or on a series of WiFi hotspots, such as those in libraries, cafes, or restaurants. These WiFi hotspots provide high-speed internet access; however, they have a very limited range, and tend to weaken quickly when users wander even a few feet from their center. WiMax technology is to the internet what cellular phone networks were for telephones. WiMax networks allow users to access high-speed internet wherever they are within a 4G network, meaning that users will be able to access high speed internet on their smart phones wherever they are within a 4G network.

The range of WiMax networks is also noteworthy. A single WiMax tower has a range of approximately 3,000 square miles, meaning that many rural blackout areas currently in effect due to the fact that phone and cable companies have not run the necessary wired connections to these areas will soon be eliminated. All of this means that in the very near future, cell phone users will finally be able to fully utilize the internet-based features of their cell phones, with rapid downloads, streaming capabilities and seamless transitions from place to place, without having to worry about rural or suburban blackout areas.

By: Jason Tandle

Schaumburg Computer Repair Service gets many phone calls from people saying that a family member set up their wireless connections and now it won’t work. Here are the following steps to trouble shoot your wireless router.

Schaumburg Computer Repair service will first walk into your home and perform a short wireless survey to see which wireless networks are in the area. Next we will see what wireless network your home computers are trying to connect to. If we see that your default wireless network is Linksys we will recommend that the SSID be changed . Linksys is the default name on all Linksys routers. This could make your computers connect to your neighbors wireless network.

If you wireless clients appear to be setup correctly we will begin trouble shooting your wireless network. Usually clients will say that they are unable to connect to the internet. So if the clients are connecting to the wireless router fine we will check the wired ethernet connections going from the wireless router to the cable or DSL modem. If the connections appear fine I will still reseat the ethernet cords because they might be loose. Next step is to restart your wireless router. Home wireless routers will have to be restarted once in awhile because the firmware will freeze up. So you will want to pull the power cord from the router, wait about 10 seconds and plug it back in. This will solve about 90% of the problems. Next if that doesn’t work you will want to restart the modem the same way.

Now go to your wireless laptop or wireless desktop and click on the start menu. Next click on the run box and type cmd. This will bring up the command prompt, now type in ipconfig/all. This will list all of your ip address information. You should have an ip address of something like 192.168.1.2 through 254. If you do, then great that means that you should be able to get to the internet now. If you receive an ip address of 169.0.0.0 then you are not getting an ip address from your wireless router’s dhcp server which assigns IP addresses. Now at the command promt type ipconfig/release ( this will release your IP address). Now type at the command prompt ipconfig/renew, this will pull a new IP address from your wireless router.

So before you call in a repair service first restart your client computer. Next check all your ethernet connections going to and from your wireless router. Then restart your wireless router and cable modem. Finally, restart your wireless computers one more time or try the command line commands listed above.

By: Eric Meyer