2SAM wrote: WIFI only way to go and usually FREE...after dial up, you'll think you've died and gone to heaven, much, much faster!
There's no guarantee that WIFI will be faster than dialup, it depends on how the owner of the hotspot connects to the internet. Most likely it will be a broadband connection but it could be dialup!
I never depend on WIFI at a campground. It's about a 50-50 chance that WIFI will be available. Then there's the chance that you won't be able to connect because you're too far from the office or whatever. If you get past hose two obstacles then it may or may not be free, some charge by the hour, some by the day, week, etc... IF a CG has WIFI and IF I can connect and IF it's free and IF it has a good speed I'll use it, otherwise I use my Verizon aircard which I find has a much better chance of giving me a decent connection.
The first question to ask is how critical is it TO YOU to get access to the internet anytime? If time is a factor then the Aircard (uses cell phone towers for access) is worth the money TO YOU. Just about anytime and anywhere you can get on line. Higher speed in cities and lower speeds out in rural areas.
Personally I can wait usually so I use free WiFi at campgrounds or places like "Panera Bread" that offer it for free. I've been known to do a little "war driving" but only to do a quick email download or upload.
2SAM wrote: WIFI only way to go and usually FREE...after dial up, you'll think you've died and gone to heaven, much, much faster!
Sorry I don't agree that it's the only way to go - not if you want to be able to access the internet most of the time.
We find free WIFI less than half the time in the RV parks we stay in and often you have to be close the office to connect. Also if a lot of people are using it at the same time it can slow to almost a stop at many places.
We have a Verizon aircard and in the last couple of years there have only been a couple of times we couldn't connect to the internet where we stopped for the night.
Have to disagree, last year over 20k miles(Mexico, West, Canada, Alaska) had minimal cell access(especially out West). Had WiFi at almost every RV park with great access, sending picture albums, etc. Had WiFi at many places that had NO cell access or land lines! It depends on where you go and where you stay.
Just picked up a laptop for the grandchildren; 2gb ram, 160gb hard drive, DVD, WiFi, and card reader for digital camera pictures, $350 at Best Buy.
2SAM wrote: WIFI only way to go and usually FREE...after dial up, you'll think you've died and gone to heaven, much, much faster!
2Sam.....Not really, At one park in Arizona I flipped the switch to WI-FI and it was much slower than my Sprint broadband card, The main WI-FI antenna was about 300 feet away also.
Back to the OP question.
Take a look at the Compaq Presario V6700TX. This one comes with XP, not Vista.It comes with wireless and an option is a Verizon air card. Compaq Presario V6700TX
They run cooler than most. I have an HP Evo I use for the MH and I have never had any problems with it.
2000 Sea Breeze with 1998 CRV Toad in Dawson Creek - Start of Alaska Highway
Don't Forget - USS Liberty, June 08, 1967
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