Anywhere Computing with Laptops: Making Mobile Easier

Description:

You bought your Centrino laptop computer because of its ease-of-use and portability. But are you using your laptop to its maximum potential? Anywhere Computing with Laptops: Making Mobile Easier will show you what to expect when buying and configuring your laptop and how to use built-in features such as digital cameras and Internet telephones. When you're on the road, there are hotspots that will allow you to connect to multiple national networks for access to data and the Internet. This book will show you how to find these hotspots, as well as how to install and configure a wireless network for your home or office. Use your laptop the way it was intended — from anywhere!

 

Table of Contents:

Introduction.

I. MOBILE COMPUTING QUICK START.

1. Understanding Intel Centrino Mobile Technology.

    Intel Centrino Mobile Technology and Wi-Fi

    Platform Architecture

    The Benefits of Built-in Wi-Fi

      Alternative Wi-Fi Solutions

      Mobile Computers Compared to Desktop Computers

    The Importance of Performance

      Performance

      Enhanced Battery Life

    Changing the Way People Use Computers

    Clearing Bottlenecks and Roadblocks

    Intel's Mobile Technology Vision

    The Future Is Faster; Wireless Is Everywhere

      802.11n

      WiMAX

      3G CDMA Cellular Wireless Data

    Summary

2. Buying a Mobile Computer.

    Getting to Know Your Future Wi-Fi Laptop

    Trade-offs

    Buying a Mobile Computer

      Value-Priced Laptop Computers

      High Computing Performance

      Ultra-Long Battery Life

    Value-Priced Laptops: What You Need to Know When You're Ready to Buy

    What You Need to Know about Buying a High Computing Performance Laptop

    What to Know when Buying an Ultra Long Battery Life Laptop

    General Advice Regardless of the Type of Laptop You Buy

    Where to Buy

    Summary

3. Configuring Your Mobile Computer.

    Working with the Control Panel

    Help with Network Tasks

    Working with the New Connection Wizard

    Using the Network Setup Wizard

    Understanding the Network Connections Window

    Using Wireless Network Connections Properties

      Connecting to a Wireless Network

      Advanced Wireless Network Security Settings

      Testing the Network

      Connecting to a Wireless Network Automatically

      Advanced Preferred Network Features

    Enabling a Personal Firewall

    Bridging Wireless Connections

    Summary

II. GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR MOBILE COMPUTER.

4. Software That Makes the Most of Mobile Computing.

    Office Suites

    Powerful Presentations on the Go

      Creating the Slide Show

      Presentation Mechanics

    Email

      Auto-Responding

    Web Browsers

    Transferring and Synchronizing Files

      Getting Files

      Synchronizing Files

    Pop-Up and Spyware Blockers

    Summary

5. Taking Digital Pictures from Your Laptop.

    Picture Quality

    Locating the Camera

    Taking a Picture

      Using the Microsoft Scanner and Camera Wizard

    Working with Your Camera

    Saving the Photos

    Your Wi-Fi Photos on the Internet

      Sending Photos with Email

      Adding Your Pictures to Your Website

    Summary

6. Using Your Mobile Computer As a Telephone.

    Understanding Internet Telephony

    VoIP Vendors

    The Hardware You'll Need

    Bandwidth Considerations

    Installing VoIP Software and Making Your First Call

      Net2Phone

      Skype

    Summary

7. Let Your Laptop Entertain You: Streaming Media, Gaming, and More.

    Downloading and Playing Music

      iTunes

      MSN Music

      KaZaA

      Streaming Radio

    Downloading and Playing Movies

    Connecting to Home Entertainment Systems

    Online Gaming

    Summary

III. MOBILE COMPUTING ON THE ROAD.

8. Entering a World Without Wires.

    Understanding Wi-Fi

      Wireless Spectrums

      Wi-Fi Standard Layers

      The Free Spectrums

    802.11 and Its Variations

      The 802.11b Standard

      The 802.11a Standard

      The 802.11g Standard

      Centrino and 802.11

      Related Wireless Standards

      Transmission Speeds

    Understanding Wi-Fi Networks

    Hitting the Road with Wi-Fi

      Connecting

      Paying for It

      Finding Access Points

    Summary

9. Finding Hotspots.

    Where Are Hotspots Likely to Be?

    Finding Hotspots

      Searching a Chain

      Searching a Wi-Fi Service Provider

    Paying for Your Fun

    Surfing While You Sip

    Using Directories

      Where to Find the Directories

      Which Directory to Use

      Getting Around the "You Have to Be Connected" Barrier

      Tricks and Techniques

    Finding Free Hotspots

      Working with a Wi-Fi Finder

      War Driving and War Chalking

    Becoming a Hotspot

    Summary

10. Working with National Wi-Fi Networks.

    Wi-Fi Networks

    Special Pricing, Good and Bad

    What the Networks Charge

      Cingular Wireless

      Boingo Wireless

      Sprint PCS

      T-Mobile Hotspot

      Wayport

    Comparison Shopping

    Summary

IV. YOUR OWN WIRELESS NETWORK.

11. Networking Without Wires.

    Understanding Home and SOHO Networks

      In the Beginning, There Was the Connection

      To Serve or Not to Serve

      Hubs

      Switches

      Routers

      What Is the Network?

    Different Ways to Use Wi-Fi in a Network

    The Equipment You'll Need

    What's It Going to Cost?

    Summary

12. Buying a Wi-Fi Access Point or Router.

    Understanding the Different Pieces of Hardware

      Ad Hoc Versus Infrastructure Modes

      Wi-Fi Access Points

      Wireless Bridges

    Wireless Networking Kits

    Choosing a Wi-Fi Access Point

    Specific Brands and Models

      Linksys Wireless Broadband Router

      The Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station

      The AirPort Express Base Station

      D-Link XTreme G Wireless Router

    Summary

13. Setting Up Your Access Point.

    Preliminaries

    You Need a Working Internet Connection

    Collect Your Settings

      Windows XP

      Windows Me

    Plugging in the Hardware

    Configuring Your Access Point

      Linksys Wireless-Broadband Router

      D-Link AirPlus Xtreme

      Cloning MAC Addresses

      Airport Extreme

    Connecting to the Wi-Fi Network

    Setting Up a Wireless Network with Windows XP SP2

    Summary

14. Configuring Your Wi-Fi Network.

    Ad Hoc Networking

    Setting Up Ad Hoc Wireless Networking

    Connecting to the Ad Hoc Network

    When Ad Hoc Networking Has Problems

    Sharing a Connection Through a Computer

    Troubleshooting a Network

      Troubleshooting with Ipconfig

    Understanding Networks and Their Layouts

    Setting Up a Hotspot with a DMZ

    Summary

15. Advanced Access Point Configuration.

    Dynamic IP Addressing Versus Fixed IP Assignment

    Settings That Might Be Required by Your ISP

      Hostname and Domain Name Settings

      Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet

    Upgrading Your Firmware

    Access Control-Your LAN

      Changing the Administrative Password

      Understanding Wireless Security

      Don't Broadcast the SSID

      Remote Management and Providing Virtual Services

      Using MAC Filtering

    Access Control-The Internet

      IP Filtering

      Parental Control

    Understanding Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

    DNS

    More About Mixed Wired-Wireless Networks

      Changing the IP of Your Access Point

    Summary

16. Adding Wi-Fi Antennas to Your Network.

    Why Use an Antenna with Wi-Fi?

    Antenna Basics

      Frequency

      Power

      Radiation Pattern

      Gain

    Different Kinds of Antennas

      Omnidirectional Antennas

      Directional Antennas

      Multipolarized Antennas

    Antennas and the FCC

    Adding an Antenna to an Access Point

      What the Antenna Should Cost

      The Antenna in a Can

    Where to Buy Your Wi-Fi Antenna

    Summary

V. SECURING YOUR COMPUTER AND NETWORK.

17. Protecting Your Mobile Wi-Fi Computer.

    "Social" Engineering

    Physical Lockdown

    Using Password Protection

      Creating a Password in Windows XP

    File Sharing

    Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

    Personal Software for Protection

      Antivirus Programs

      Personal Firewall Programs

    Summary

18. Securing Your Wi-Fi Network.

    Understanding the Threat

    What Steps Should You Take?

      No-Brainer Security

      Middling Security

      Red-Alert Security

    Understanding Firewalls

    Setting Up a VPN

    Summary

VI. APPENDIXES.

A. Wireless Standards.

    Understanding 802.11 Wireless Standards

    The Flavors of 802.11

      802.11b

      802.11g

      802.11a

      802.11n

      802.11i

B. Where the Hotspots Are.

    Online Directories

    Wi-Fi Networks

    Retail Locations

    Hotels

    Airports

    Free Public Networks

C. Intel Centrino Mobile Technology Platform.

    Product Information and Components

    Processor and Chipset

      Intel Pentium M Processor

      Intel 855 Chipset

      Intel 915 Express Chipset

    Intel Wireless Network Connection

    Platform Benefits and Vision

D. Glossary.

Index.