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.
