Ask
www.MrModem.com
Retrofit Laptop with Wireless
Q. Can an older laptop be made wireless
and use a wireless carrier such as Verizon? I would want everything to operate
the same as it is now using my desktop computer. Would I be able to use Internet
Explorer and be able to access all of the Web sites that I can with my current
computer? I am using Verizon for my cell phone and thought I might be able to
use their Internet access if I can use the same programs and visit the same Web
sites.
A.
While virtually all new laptops are configured for wireless connectivity, an
older laptop can generally have a wireless network card installed, if it doesn't
have one, to make it WiFi-ready. That's not a big deal, but it really depends on
the computer. Any reputable computer repair person or service can examine your
laptop and quickly determine what it will need, if anything. Even easier, since
you are using Verizon, take your laptop to a Verizon store and ask one of the
young techies -- who will try desperately to avoid making eye contact with you
-- to take a look.
Understanding wireless connectivity can be a bit confusing,
but "connecting wirelessly" means exactly that: It's establishing an Internet
connection that's wireless. What you do online or what programs you use, such as
Internet Explorer, is up to you. The connection doesn't care what sites you
visit or what programs you use with it. It's a bit like buying a new car and
asking "Will it drive to San Diego?" The car doesn't care where it goes.
Q. All of a sudden when I open a message, the screen
doesn't go all the way to the bottom and I can see the other screen behind it. I
can grab the edge and pull it down, but it's aggravating. Is there a way I can
fix it so it will be like it was?
A. It sounds like the window isn't
maximized if you can see another screen behind it. Click the middle button in
the upper right-hand corner or double click the Title Bar at the top to maximize
the window so it will then fill the screen. That should resolve it.
Q. My computer is
coming up on its third birthday. It's been working very well for me, but I would
like to avoid what has happened in the past, namely having to replace it after a
major problem occurs. How do you decide when it's time to replace your computer?
A. I'm probably not the best person
to ask because I love gadgets and technology, so when newer, better, faster,
shinier things come along, I tend to buy them, long before any major problems
arise. (Yes, it's a sickness.)
For most normal people, however, there are two options:
Periodic replacement within a typical three- to five-year window, or waiting
until a problem arises. For some users, being offline or without a computer for
a few days while one is being repaired, or until a new computer is purchased, is
not a problem. Mrs. Modem considers it a blessing.
If you're running a business or you have
a compelling need to be connected daily and cannot afford any down time, having
some redundancy is well advised. You might want to purchase another computer
when your current one is a few years old, just to have another system that's
configured and updated, so if a problem arises you can easily switch from one
system to the other.
For most typical users, having a desktop computer and a
laptop and/or an iPad or smartphone is a good combination and provides an
appropriate level of redundancy.
Mr. Modem’s DME (Don’t Miss ‘Em) Sites
of the Month
History of the Supreme Court
This site, hosted by the Supreme Court Historical Society,
is dedicated to the collection and preservation of the history of the Supreme
Court of the United States. It does this by sponsoring educational programs,
conducting historical research, publishing books, journals, electronic
materials, fixing parking tickets, and collecting antiques and artifacts related
to the Court's history.
www.supremecourthistory.org
PENoply
Keyboards may be today's preferred writing implements, but many people still
prefer a good, old-fashioned fountain pen, which just happens to be the focus of
this Web site. Here you’ll find information about the fountain pen’s history and
the many different manufacturers that still produce these elegant instruments,
such as Montblanc, Parker, Sheaffer, and Eversharp. Sharpie? Don't even think
about it.
www.rickconner.net/penoply
Road ID
If
you have ever been concerned about having a medical emergency and being unable
to communicate with friends, family, medical or emergency personnel, this line
of identification products can ease your mind. Hopefully, you’ll never need to
use one, but under the right circumstances, it could save your life. As an
avid-yet-sluggish cyclist, I never leave home without mine.
www.roadid.com
“Mr. Modem's Top 50 Computing Tips,”
and “Mr. Modem's Top 50 iPad Tips” are available on
amazon.com. Each
life-altering volume features 50 of Mr. M.'s all-time favorite tips.