Google and Skype are supposed to be joining forces to bring "wi-fi" to every corner of the world.
Will some clever sod tell me what "wi-fi" is exactly and do I need it?
What are the pros and cons?
Please keep explanations simple or I'll get really cross.
Thank you.
Full Version: "WI-FI"
| QUOTE (Curmudgeon @ Feb 7 2006, 04:19 PM) |
| Google and Skype are supposed to be joining forces to bring "wi-fi" to every corner of the world. Will some clever sod tell me what "wi-fi" is exactly and do I need it? What are the pros and cons? Please keep explanations simple or I'll get really cross. Thank you. |
Basically - internet without plugging your computer into any sockets, or using wires. ("wi-fi" = "wireless fidelity". I think). So you can be in a coffee shop or down the pub and still use the internet on your laptop. But make sure you have a firewall - wi fi networks are notoriously open to hackers because people forget the basics.
You'll need a computer that is wireless internet connnection ready - if it isn't, you'll need to by a wireless card. At the moment, there are few public places that have wi-fi, but no doubt it'll happen over the next 5 years.
In the old days, technological advances were things like curing diseases and putting people on the moon. Now it's measured in the ability to download porn wherever you are.
Downloading porn is not my primary use for my pc, thank you 
So it's not something I need then?
So it's not something I need then?
| QUOTE (Curmudgeon @ Feb 7 2006, 04:41 PM) |
| So it's not something I need then? |
No.
Its something alot of people use if you have more than one pc in your house. Then you dont have to pay for more than one internet account.
You plug in a main base to one pc, and connect a transmitter into all the other pc's. Each time you turn your pc on, the internet is already connected.
You can do this without wi fi, ie without wires but it means drilling holes through walls and trailing wires everywhere.
Like Oolongcha said though you have to be very careful with the firewall. My dad and brother share a wi fi network and one day they found that some bloke over the road also had access to it
You plug in a main base to one pc, and connect a transmitter into all the other pc's. Each time you turn your pc on, the internet is already connected.
You can do this without wi fi, ie without wires but it means drilling holes through walls and trailing wires everywhere.
Like Oolongcha said though you have to be very careful with the firewall. My dad and brother share a wi fi network and one day they found that some bloke over the road also had access to it
I read in the local paper that Cardiff is on target to be the first City to become Totally "Wi-Fied". Anywhere you go in the cardiff city centre, you should be able to pick up a wi-fi signal. Of course you will need to pay BT an extortionate amout of money for the privillage of loggin on thought.
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