"rb" <rbig@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:cJTAh.5989$B8.4871@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
> I'm totally a newbie regarding laptops. I'm thinking of buying one to
> take on an extended tour to the Mid East. I'm wavering between buying a
> new one for maybe $475 or so, and one on Ebay for half that.
>
E-bay considerations
- does it work properly
- was it stolen
- reputation of seller
- technological age of unit


> My questions involve the huge volume of laptops for sale on Ebay. If it
> doesn't say its wireless equipped, does that mean it probably isn't?
>
Most laptops in the last few years have wireless built in, but it may be the
older B or G technology


> With wireless equpped laptops, is it as simple as turning the laptop on
> and then connecting to the internet, if I'm in an area with wireless hot
> spot coverage?
If here is adequate signal stenegth, and if the network is not secured, yes
However, I would be reluctant to allow my laptop to connect to a network
that is not secured, unless I had paranoid level security in operation on it

>
> What about the cards I read about that some seem to require? How do I
> know what kinds and how many I need?
I have a wireless pcmcia network card here, I needed it for my 1999 Compaq
To repeat, if the laptop you buy does not have built in woreless, it is
probably too old to serve you well.

Stuart