If I take a laptop

[devonwoody]

How can I get on line (doing google searches) using our laptop when on holiday in Europe?
What cables would I need to connect to the landline?

 

[mr]

You would need either a modem cable to connect to the telephone socket or if youre stayng in hotels with wireless networks then a network card.

the cable you need will depend on your laptop and the socket youre connecting to - the wall sockets vary from country to country. For use in the uk you need something like this
As I say connectors can vary depending on countries though - where are you going. Also bear in mind that if youre doing this from a hotel - hotel phone charges can be wicked expensive.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Or you could go wireless and look out for a hot-spot.

S

 

[devonwoody]

Or you could go wireless and look out for a hot-spot.

S

That sounds interesting , the laptop has wireless, but what is the hotspot all about please?

And then how do I get a server?

 

[RogerS]

Wireless hotspots are locations where there is a wireless signal that you can access ...either for free or for a small fee. Be warned though that your data can be eavesdropped if the owner of the wireless access point is that way inclined.

I get paranoid when using internet cafe's and the like especially when accessing any of my accounts that require a password and username. I usually look for the ability to clear the browser cache before I log out (although that won't stop a determined store owner perusing the hidden data left behind whenever you use a PC on the web....). When I recently used an Internet cafe in Italy I was alarmed to find out that clearing cache was not available. So as I'd just entered in my banking details I was none to chuffed. I'm watching the account like a hawk but gut feel says I'm OK. Just be careful.

Alternatively your hotel might have the room wired for ethernet...best ring and check beforehand.

If you go down the modem route be prepared for lots of shilly-shallying while you enter the various numbers to get out of the hotel and then to ring your ISP. You will almost certainly need to put in at least one comma in the dial string after the number you use to get a line in the hotel. Some hotel switchboards are modem unfriendly. Here speaks a retired 'road-warrior' who frequently travelled with laptop to Europe, Scandinavia, and the USA.

 

[Mike B]

Also be sure to check that your ISP does not have a different dial-up number for outside the UK.

Mine does as I once found out rather too late...

Mike

 

[mr]

An alternative is something like iberpass

http://www.iberpass.com/

which works with both modem dial up and wireless access. You set up an account with them depositing some cash in the account and you get a piece of software which gives you local numbers or local wireless hotspot connections worldwide pretty much.

Its much cheaper than paying for the long distance calls and frequently much cheaper than paying for hotspot connectivity where you find it.

 

[devonwoody]

Thanks for all the info above.
I think I'll leave the laptop at home for this trip and use tourist offices on route if I need bookings etc.

Will go a different route for OZ. but then I should be in a permanent address .